by Stefan, age 7, asks Mos Craciun do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?, about the Carpathian Mountains, and Romania’s folklore history
Dear Mos Craciun,
My name is Stefan and I am 7 years old. I live in Bucharest, Romania, where my bunica tells scary old stories about a count who lived in a castle in the mountains, right before we decorate our tree every year.
First, do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
Second, a geography question: what mountains is Dracula’s castle famous for standing in?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Romania have such strong folklore traditions like the Dracula legend?
I left you a slice of cozonac and tea.
Love, Stefan, age 7, Bucharest, Romania, Bucharest, Romania
From the Desk of Mos Craciun
Dear Stefan, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
Reindeer, most certainly, flying steadily over the Carpathian Mountains on the way to Bucharest each Christmas Eve.
What mountains is Dracula’s castle famous for standing in?
Bran Castle, the fortress often connected with the Dracula legend, sits in the Carpathian Mountains, a long, dramatic mountain range that curves through Romania, forested peaks and old stone towers alike.
Why does Romania have such strong folklore traditions like the Dracula legend?
The Dracula legend was inspired partly by a real historical Romanian ruler named Vlad the Impaler, who lived in the 1400s, though the vampire story itself was created later by the author Bram Stoker. Romania has a long, rich tradition of folklore passed down through storytelling in villages and mountain regions for centuries.
Craciun fericit, Stefan.
Ho ho ho, Mos Craciun
