Celebrating the Feast of Saint George. © Jürgen Sauer

"For today also marks the Feast of St. George, which according to Romanian folklore—despite Bram Stoker’s warnings of evil doings—is the most favorable time for finding buried treasure. For only on this night do the gems, jewelry, and silver and gold coins that were buried under the roots of trees or tucked under rocks or stashed in caverns by many a fleeing or fallen king, noble, knight, or bandit—be they Darius of Persia, or Decebalus of Dacia, or even Attila the Hun himself (there are legends for them all)—emit a bluish flame..."

— page 106, Into the Carpathians, Part 1
© Alan E. Sparks