The magic fairy which comes to visit 3 days after a Romanian Baby is Born

by Peter Fogarty
(Bucharest)

Usitoare

Three nights after little Victor was born, I had to prepare for a special Romanian fairy called 'Usitoare', which comes to visit my home after 3 nights.

As you can see in the picture, I had to prepare a tray containing all sorts of different objects. The oddest being an old silver coin, and a good, small book to read.

The other objects are things you find around the house, like rice, flour, water, wine, vegetables etc - the idea being that the little fairy comes in and eats what it likes and grants your child a wonderful life.

We sat around drank a few beers, and went to bed. During the night my father-in-law heard the fairy buzzing about and assures me that little Victor will now have a really wonderful life.

I was so excited about getting him home and away from the hospital where I seem to spend all my time adding money to different pockets to do that job they were in fact already paid to do by my taxes...