Apa Sâmbetei
Encyclopedia
In Romanian mythology
, Apa Sâmbetei (ˈapa ˈsɨmbetej; lit. saturday's water) is the name given to the World Ocean
, the ocean that was said to encompass the entire earth. Its description varies by region, being described as boiling due to the proximity of hell
(in Bucovina), or as cold, as the Kingdom of God
is said to be built upon it.
It is said that the souls of the deceased follow the course of rivers into the Apa Sâmbetei. The currents of this ocean encircle the earth three times before descending into hell for the purpose of transporting the souls to the afterlife
. It is because of this belief that Romanians make the sign of the cross
before drinking from a stream, in order to ensure that they do not "drink" one such soul.
Also in Bucovina, it is believed that a woman is unable to cross the Apa Sâmbetei, but only men, especially the monks who were considered to live a pious life.
Folklore of Romania
A feature of Romanian culture is the special relationship between folklore and the learned culture, determined by two factors. First, the rural character of the Romanian communities resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. Folk creations were the main literary genre...
, Apa Sâmbetei (ˈapa ˈsɨmbetej; lit. saturday's water) is the name given to the World Ocean
World Ocean
The World Ocean, world ocean, or global ocean, is the interconnected system of the Earth's oceanic waters, and comprises the bulk of the hydrosphere, covering almost 71% of the Earth's surface, with a total volume of 1.332 billion cubic kilometres.The unity and continuity of the World Ocean, with...
, the ocean that was said to encompass the entire earth. Its description varies by region, being described as boiling due to the proximity of hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
(in Bucovina), or as cold, as the Kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
is said to be built upon it.
It is said that the souls of the deceased follow the course of rivers into the Apa Sâmbetei. The currents of this ocean encircle the earth three times before descending into hell for the purpose of transporting the souls to the afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
. It is because of this belief that Romanians make the sign of the cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
before drinking from a stream, in order to ensure that they do not "drink" one such soul.
Also in Bucovina, it is believed that a woman is unable to cross the Apa Sâmbetei, but only men, especially the monks who were considered to live a pious life.