Tudor SĂLĂGEAN
Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei,
tsalagean@gmail.com
In Romania, Saint Andrew is linked to several legends that exemplify his significance in preChristian traditions. Three of these tales were collected by rural educators and published in periodicals dedicated to folklore from 1894 to 1914. The earliest legend, characterized by its ancient structure and popularity, was published in 1894 in the periodical Șezătoarea, being collected by Radu Marinescu and sourced from Heciu, Suceava. The second version, as documented by Ștefan Stelian Tuțescu, a teacher from Balota, Dolj, stands apart due to the lack of heroic components, emphasizing instead the distinct characteristics of the apostle Andrew as described in the oriental apocrypha. The third legend, which was published in 1914 by teacher Ion N. Popescu in the annual supplement of the Ion Creangă magazine, is likely to have originated from Vâlcea County. Their structure reflects the effects of the changes in society in the early 20th century and the personality of its transmitters.
Keywords: Saint Andrew, legend, rural educator, tale
