Giants in romanian mythology: Jidovii - The Kind Ones

The Romanian Giants known as Jidovi, are probably one of the most beloved folklore creatures. Jidovii are described in Romanian legends as kind and patient, walking with huge steps from one hill to another. Their presence in Romania is well maintained by the multitude of places that were named after them. Wherever you go, their memory is well preserved and you must not be surprised to hear that there are still many people who believe in their past existence.
In the Carpathians, Jidovii are often named Blajini, which means the Kind Ones, or Novaci, which means the Powerful Ones as they could snatch a tree without any effort. They lived in caves and thick woods, enjoyed talking and respected the little humans, which they considered their successors, the next owners of all the rivers and mountains.
At the beginning of 1900, there were still some people who claimed to have heard real stories about Jidovi from their grandparents who saw them in person. According to their stories, there were few giants left but lived in good communion with humans. When great floods came, Jidovii took care of people and their animals without asking for any reward.
Let's here a genuine story about the last daughter of the Giants!
Also, there is a story which repeats regardless of region, when giants seeing people plowing the land, took them in their hands as little toys, smiled at them and then put them back carefully. But the best legend ever is that of the famous agreement between the great Dacian king Burebista and all the Jidovi from the mountains. They were left to live in the mountains only if they promised to guard with their life the great Dacian gold treasures. So, it is believed, that in the deepest caves of the Carpathians Mountains may still live some Jidovi, protecting the treasures for generations to come.

[@Mithologica]

[@bluemoondiadochi]

I find the word jid, where letter "Ž" is close to "Đ" (dyid), to be interesting, because from one point i see linguistic similarity (Đ->Ž->J) to norse "giants" called yoethuun (t and d can be interchangea, but y-d/th root stays), and from another, "j" as "dy" also corresponds to slavic word for grandfather, djed or in some accents đed or did. So, i think one meaning might be of jidovi as predecessors of humanity, their grandfathers, so to say. "grandfather" can also be a common form of adressing someone who is older in a respectful manner, so perhaps, this is why. it would further prove their benevolent nature and closeness to early humans.

[@themythologydude]

@bluemoondiadochi In proto-indo-european, "deiwos" is "god" and through proto-indo-iranian we have serbo-croatian "div" as "giant". The sense in Eastern Europe is linked to ancestors cult and worship.

[@rain-cy6ve]

Just a curiosity. In my area, people called jews, jidovii, idk if or how it is connected to this shit

[@themythologydude]

@rain-cy6ve The "Jews" or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group originating from the Israelites of the ancient Near East, and whose traditional religion is Judaism. The "Jidovi" are mythological beings, giants in romanian folklore represented in the south rural areas of the country. Also, all the Balkanic region has some sort of giants in their popular beliefs system.

[@cristiangaban960]

@@themythologydude DEX says Jidov, Jidan actually means Jew and it comes from old Slavic ''židovinŭ'' which is also translated to Jew. So there clearly is a connection. How exactly this came to be, I have no idea, maybe it has something to do with Jewish Golems or it also could be a mistake.

[@Forevertrue-z2w]

​@@themythologydudeit is Div , not Jid