Although descriptions of this myth vary across literature, this article focuses on stories from the mining town of Roșia Montană.
Vâlva Băii is an apparition, a spirit in the form of a woman, that appears to miners, dressed either in white or in black. Her appearance foretells either help or harm: when clothed in white, she guides miners to hidden veins of gold; when dressed in black, she punishes them.
It is said that greed, taking too much gold from a mine, is often what summons the black vâlvă.
In the Apuseni Mountains, where she is believed to guard the gold mines, people say that a mine without a vâlvă holds no gold at all.
An account from a priest and writer:
‘My father used to say that vâlva is young and beautiful. She sets her eye on a young, vigorous man and when she encounters him alone in a corner of the mine, she shows herself… The young man is so stunned by her beauty that he is not able to speak. She begins to caress him, telling him that she finds him dear and that she will show him where the gold is. This is how some find themselves rich over night. The vâlvă asks for one thing: not to speak a word about their meeting, if they dare to do so, they’re finished. But you know how man is and when he stumbles upon luck he cannot keep bars to his mouth; and then vâlva strangles them like baby sparrows. Afterwards she feels sorry for them as what was once dear to you, remains dear. After she has killed a man she gives plenty of gold to all the other miners to atone for her sin. It is so why the boys believe that if the bath (the mine) takes a man, they will strike gold.’
The most famous story involving Vâlva albă (the white one) is Mihail Gritta and Vâlva Albă.