Lighting candles

I don't know whether Romanians are religious or superstitious... Or both. But there are some religious habits that have struck me. First thing I noticed is that a lot of people cross themselves (three fast times in a row) when passing along a church... either walking, on bus or by car. If you are on a full bus with, let´s say, 50 more people, and you pass a church, you´ll notice at least 3-4 people, from all ages (that´s what is the most surprising thing to me, by the way), crossing themselves. And I´ve seen people driving and talking by the phone in other countries, but driving and crossing themselves... only here. (The truth is that you won't get a fine for driving one-handed here, so... why not).

Churches here are usually very small, and have a porch at the entrance... Thus, sometimes gets to see, just passing by, some rituals. The other day, for example, there was a big queue yo get holy water. But the most curious thing is that you don't light candles inside the church, but outside, and you ut them in a cage made of tin (see photos). It looks like an oven, doesn´t it? Cooking living and death souls... separatedly. Because every church has two, on the top of one it's writen "Dead" and on the top of the other "Alive". I asked a Romanian girl about this, and she confirmed me that yes, I was right, when you light a candle for someone, you choose the right "oven"... And beware of mistakes, because lighting a candle for a living person in the wrong place is like wishing death to that person. I was wondering the other day what would happen if you make the mistake the other way round... maybe it'd be a good beginning for a Romanian zombie terror movie... if Dracula leaves some room for innovation.