Unbegotten water” – magic remedy, springing from the well of Jordan

In Romanian folk medicine, unbegotten water was used as a magic remedy to treat illnesses and soul troubles. The sources of unbegotten water were clean springs, flowing waters, morning dew and Jordan’s fountain, the last one having this quality due to the sanctification of the waters on Epiphany, the tradition being also called Jordan (6/19 January). On this day all wells, houses and everything around them, and graves, were sprinkled with holy water. In the texts of the incantations – ”Of the evil clock”, ”The snake incantation”, ”The hair incantation”, ”Of the lock”, ”Of the return of the milk” – the source of the unbegotten water is invoked: ”On Adam’s way / To the well of Jordan”. Dimitrie Cantemir in his ”Description of Moldova” uses the phrase ”water that nobody tasted” – a remedy which, through the intercession of an enchantress, helped to cure a horse bitten by a snake. According to the story ”Lady’s Well”, collected in the village of Holercani, the source of the unbegotten water is in the first splash of the newly dug well in front of the manor house. This unbegotten water is life-giving because the lady who tasted it becomes pregnant and within the prescribed time gives birth to a beautiful baby girl who, having reached the age of 18, is saved from death thanks to the advice of the enchantress and the help of the villagers

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Folklore · Fountain · Incantation · Literature · MAGIC (telescope · Soul · Theology · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

• Fântâna în contextul unor percepții ecologice, sanitare și etnoculturale

  Open Access•Valentin Arapu•Journal of Ethnology and…•2026

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