Socializing: 2025 – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’s Day

Classical music for INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’s DAY

(celebrating women composers)

On Saturday (March 8, 2025) I was delighted to organize a morning gathering with a number of 16 dear friends and loyal supporters of our literary and socio-cultural Circle, featuring the International Women’s Day for the current year. Generally speaking, this particular day it is super busy for most women (none of us being an exception), but despite the busyness, we still did manage to put some time aside to meet and wish one another only the best as we each are further progressing with our lives.

At this gathering, my special guest was Deputy Consul General, Hon. Stefana Rotaru & Plenipotentiary Minister of Romania in Vancouver (who is participating for the 2^nd consecutive year at the International Women's Day organized by our Circle), who brought a beautiful message – as an official diplomat representing Romania abroad, and as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, dear friend & valuable supporter of our literary & socio-cultural group.

Our meeting was simply delightful, each of us being showered with several cultural manifestations! For instance, few of my beautiful guests recited poems (original compositions - an original poem posted in comments & few from classics), a dear lady sang a little heart-touching song we all remembered from our young days, others shared old words of wisdom (either from personal life experience or from scholars) & other ladies shared meaningful remarks about life in general & about women in particular.

The honest and generous messages of gratitude I’ve received at the meeting and then privately (after the meeting) from all the participating ladies, denoted appreciation, loyalty, trust, hope, and an urge to continue with these activities (with the already known perseverance) because they all consider that the existence of our Circle it is increasingly beneficial to more and more souls!

Over the last seven years of existence (yes, year 2025 marks the 7^th consecutive year that "ALICE & Friends" Circle is organizing a fairly large diversity of events, in various formats, including the International Women's Day), our literary and socio-cultural Circle has become a tangible oasis of peace and joy, inclusivist and culturally driven, where meaningful discussions (mutually respectful) are truly heart and mind opening!

For me, as a simple human being, who laid the first brick (metaphorically speaking) at the foundation of this wonderful group, the shared comments were music to my heart and all that remains (for me) to do at this moment it is to pass along a heart-felt THANK YOU to all those who have been, are and will continue to be by my side, because only together we can travel far!

Until our paths will meet again on the same wave length, my warmest personal regards to all my friends!

● Prominent feminine personalities:
Since the focus of this meeting was International Women’s Day, here I’m glad to share with you few more new names of famous women who changed the world.
This is something I do each year, in order to further promote the achievements of women throughout the world and throughout time!

    ✰ Few prominent WOMEN who adopted Romania as their own country:

– Queen Marie of Romania (1914 – 1927): She was the wife of Ferdinand I of Romania and Former Queen Consort of Romania. She was a descendant of Queen Victoria and born as the Princess of Edinburgh, before she married King Ferdinand I and became the last queen of Romania. A visual artist and a patron of the Art Nouveau movement, she was also a skilled equestrian and driver.

– Queen Anne of Romania (1923 – 2016): Princess Anne Antoinette came to be known as the Queen of Romania after her marriage to Romanian king Michael I. However, she was actually an uncrowned queen, since her husband was forced to abdicate by the Communists shortly before their marriage. She had also been a Free French forces nurse.

– Helen of Greece and Denmark (1896 – 1982): She was the Queen Mother of Romania during the Reign of Her Son King Michael I (1940–1947). Considered a Romanian hero, Helen of Greece and Denmark is remembered for her selfless act of saving Romanian Jews during World War II. She was also the daughter of Greek king Constantine I.

    ✰ Few prominent ROMANIAN WOMEN:

– Maria Tănase (1913 – 1963): she was a Romanian actress and singer. As a versatile singer, Tănase's music ranged from operetta to traditional Romanian music. During her long and illustrious career, Maria Tănase became known as Romania's national diva. She was admired for her voice, charisma, originality, and good looks. She is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's major cultural icons.

– Maia Morgenstern (1962 – present): she is best known to fans as “the Virgin Mary” from the 2004 biblical drama “The Passion of the Christ”. She has also appeared in series such as “Aniela” and “Las Fierbinți”. She has also won multiple awards for her role in “Balanța”, or “The Oak”.

– Elisabeta Polihroniade (1935 – 2016): she was a well-known Romanian chess player holding the title of “Woman Grandmaster” (WGM), and an “International Arbiter” (1986). She won the “Romanian Women's Championship” in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1977. Polihroniade played for Romania in the “Women's Chess Olympiads” of 1966, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1988. Her peak rating was 2391, achieved in February 1992. Polihroniade was a journalist and broadcaster, with her own daily radio programme on contemporary culture. She was the editor of “Gambit” (the Romanian chess magazine), and wrote many books.

    ✰ Few prominent WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD: 

– Charlotte Brontë (1816 – 1855): she was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels became classics of English literature. She is best known for her novel “Jane Eyre”, which she published under the male pseudonym “Currer Bell”. “Jane Eyre” went on to become a success in publication, and is widely held in high regard in the gothic fiction genre of literature.

– Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886): she was an inventive American poet and a recluse. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. She was born into a prominent family with strong ties to its community. Evidence suggests that Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation. Although Dickinson was a prolific writer, her only publications during her lifetime were one letter and 10 of her nearly 1,800 poems.

– Elizabeth Blackwell (1821 – 1910): she was an English-American physician, notable as the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, and the first woman on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council for the United Kingdom. Blackwell played an important role in both the United States and the United Kingdom as a social reformer, and was a pioneer in promoting education for women in medicine. Her contributions remain celebrated with the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, awarded annually to a woman who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of women in medicine.

● Reference ARTICLES about International Women’s Day:

“Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on International Women’s Day” (Source: Government of Canada – Office of the Prime Minister)

“International Women's Day: 8 March” (Source: United Nations)

 “International Women’s Day: What is it and why do we need it?” (Source: World Economic Forum)

“International Women’s Day is a celebration and a call to action. Here are things to know.” (Source: The Canadian Press)

“Why do we have International Women's Day?” (Source: BBC News)

● Previous events I organized on the same theme:

Socializing – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’s Day: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

● Some of my additional greetings referring to the same matter:

Happy INTERNATIONAL WOMEN's Day! – March 8: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019