Baba Dochia is an old woman from Romanian and Moldavian tradition whose ascent into the mountains is linked to the coming of spring. She is said to shed nine or twelve heavy coats during deceptively warm days, only to be trapped by returning frost and transformed into stone. In poetry, Baba Dochia can personify capricious weather, stubborn age, seasonal renewal, or the danger of mistaking a brief thaw for lasting change. Her discarded garments also lend themselves to images of gradual revelation and endurance.

Baba Dochia is a figure in Romanian spring folklore, often linked to legends explaining the unpredictable weather of early March. Her story commonly involves shedding several layers of clothing during a brief warm spell, only to be caught by returning cold. The tale gives a personified form to seasonal change and is associated with the traditional “Babele” days. Related concepts include weather folklore, seasonal myths, and the old woman archetype.