Zână

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Zana (plural Zane) is the Romanian equivalent of the Greek Charites. They are the opposite of monsters like Muma Padurii.These characters are positive appearances in fairy tales and reside mostly in the woods. They can be considered the Romanian equivalent of fairies.

They give life to fetuses in utero and bestow upon them great gifts like: the art of dancing, beauty, kindness or luck. In folk tales it is told not to upset them because they have also the power to do bad things or put a curse on the wrong doer. They are like guardian angels especially for children who enter the woods or for other good people.

Zana also means beauty. She is the one whom has all the beauty, and is the one that gives it away.