Socializing: Summer picnic 2025, ikebana & jazz music

 COMUNICAT DE PRESĂ oferit de Alice, c/o ALICE & Friends Circle™

15 august 2025: Evenimentul social anual al Cercului – Picnic estival 2025, cu demonstrație de artă ikebana și ritmuri de jazz

Pe data de 15 august 2025, sub egida ALICE & Friends Circle™ am organizat, în Vancouver, picnicul anual al Cercului, în pitorescul cadru al insulei Granville Island, într-o atmosferă care celebrează rafinamentul și echilibrul estetic. Evenimentul s-a desfășurat sub semnul artei florale japoneze Ikebana, precum și al sonorităților suave ale muzicii de jazz, menite să învăluie conversațiile și momentele de contemplare într-o tonalitate elegantă. Acest picnic tematic, dedicat artei tradiționale japoneze a ikebanei, a reunit prieteni dragi - oameni pasionați de artă, cultură, natură și creativitate.

Tot cu această ocazie am avut avut plăcerea să am alături câțiva invitați speciali, ca spre exemplu:

- Consulatul General al României la Vancouver a susținut acest eveniment al Cercului prin prezența doamnei Consul General Adjunct al României la Vancouver / Ministru Plenipotențiar, doamna Ștefana Rotaru, care printr-un frumos cuvânt și-a arătat aprecierea față de acest eveniment, față de tematica aleasă, față de audiența formată din români cu suflete frumoase, cât și față de invitata specială a acestei întâlniri – dna. Kati Horvath.

Prin dedicare și profesionalism, Consulatul reprezintă interesele României în vestul Canadei, sprijinind comunitatea românească și promovând colaborarea româno-canadiană în diverse domenii, inclusiv cel cultural, iar prezența oficialilor români la evenimentele Cercului aduce un suflu vibrant și o legătură puternică între România și diaspora din regiune, oferind totodată posibilitatea unei comunicări valoroase cu țara mamă.
- Invitata specială a picnic-ului anual a fost dna. Adelina Șuvagău, reprezentând Rompost TV. Evenimentul a fost filmat pentru televiziunea OMNI BC oferind ocazia de a aduce în prim-plan comunitatea românească din Vancouver. Cu experiența sa de peste 30 de ani în media, Adelina a contribuit prin profesionalism și implicare la crearea unei atmosfere deschise și autentice.
- Și nu în ultimul rând, invitata foarte specială a picnicului anual al Cercului, dna. Kati Horvath (biografia sa concisă în rubrica comentariilor), a adus o notă aparte evenimentului, ce a avut ca tematică arta florală. Prin măiestria și pasiunea ei pentru flori, dna. K. Horvath a reușit să transforme spațiul respectiv într-un veritabil tablou viu, plin de culoare și armonie, ce a reflectat idealurile estetice ale artei în toate formele sale. Prezența ei a fost o sursă de inspirație pentru toți participanții, iar talentul său a subliniat cât de mult poate natura să-și găsească expresia artistică prin aranjamentele florale. Astfel, dna. K. Horvath a reușit să fie un adevărat ambasador al artei în viața cotidiană, oferind o experiență de neuitat tuturor celor prezenți.

Tot cu această ocazie, aș dori să aduc în prim plan faptul că dna. Kati Horvath este fiica dnei. Marta Horvath (1935-2013; fostă balerină principală la Opera Națională Română, profesoară de balet la Alberta Ballet și profesoară/coregrafă la mai multe școli din Toronto și Vancouver; dna. Marta a fost un membru iubit al fiecărei comunități de care a aparținut; strălucirea, generozitatea, compasiunea și optimismul ei neclintit vor fi amintite cu bucurie și recunoștință de toți cei care au cunoscut-o.) & dlui. Ștefan Horvath [(1929-2021; fost director de imagine în Televiziunea Română, cunoscut pentru filmele ”Săgeata căpitanului Ion” (în 1973), ”Vin cicliștii” (în 1968) și ”Povestea dragostei”(în 1977)].

Ulterior o să revin cu un tablou mult mai amplu la adresa acestor distinse personaje ale României (fam. Marta & Ștefan Horvath). 

Acest eveniment al Cercului a oferit participanților ocazia de a explora și experimenta această formă rafinată de aranjament floral japonez, concentrându-se pe echilibrul liniilor, spațiului și armoniei cu mediul înconjurător.

Luând forma unui atelier interactiv focusat pe ikebana, într-o exprimare contemporană, prezentarea a fost moderată cu dibăcie de către dna. Kati Horvath, care a explicat cu multă grație și elocință originile, tehnicile esențiale ale acestei arte ancestrale, cât și principiile sale fundamentale – echilibrul, liniile și utilizarea spațiului.

Pe parcursul acestei întâlniri, invitații mei au avut parte de o sesiune practică, discuții și schimburi de idei, precum și momente de relaxare în aer liber, promovând totodată conexiunea între oameni și natură. Atmosfera a fost completată de muzică ambientală subtilă de jazz și gustări specifice, creând un cadru propice pentru inspirație și dialog cultural.

Acest eveniment al Cercului a consolidat și mai mult importanța patrimoniului cultural în comunitate, dar și angajamentul Cercului în a promova diversitatea artistică și educațională în Vancouver și împrejurimi.

Caldele mele mulțumiri tuturor participanților care au făcut acest eveniment memorabil!

Cu apreciere,

Alice

Founder & Executive Director of ALICE & Friends Circle™ (a Romanian-Canadian literary & socio-cultural GROUP) 

PS #1: Într-un viitor nu foarte îndepărtat o să revin cu un colaj foto mult mai detaliat.

PS #2: Aici vă includ link-urile unor articole recent scrise în aliniament cu tematica în speță, cât și o poezie pe care doar ce am compus-o. Vă doresc lectură plăcută!

POEM: "The Sensibility of Flowers" (composed by Alice V.) |     What is IKEBANA? |     The influence of flowers in our everyday lives

PS #3: În rubrica comentariilor găsiți mesajul trimis înspre publicare din partea invitatei mele speciale – dna. Kati Horvath.
PS #4: Dragii mei, tot referitor la comentariile din cadrul secțiunii respective: de obicei evenimentele sociale ale Cercului nu au această rubrică deschisă, însă în acest caz am făcut o excepție pentru a da posibilitatea invitaților mei de a-și exprima în direct impresiile dobândite. Mulțumiri anticipate pentru aportul scontat!

PS #5: Dear friends, if you wish to translate the content of this press release into any other language, please use the automated translator installed at the bottom of this page. Thank you!

Socializing: CANADA Day 2025 – Morning Coffee Talks

The complete briefing will be available soon. Thank you!

Meanwhile, from me only the best!

PARTNERSHIP: June 2025 – The ROMANIAN BLOUSE Day

 Ziua Iei 2025: COMUNICAT DE PRESĂ oferit de Alice, c/o ALICE & Friends Circle™

Iunie 2025 – Ziua Universală a Iei la Vancouver, BC / Canada – o sărbătoare a identității și patrimoniului cultural românesc 

Pe data de 21 iunie 2025, în zona metropolitană a orașului Vancouver, a avut loc o nouă ediție a unei manifestări emblematice, dedicată promovării și valorificării unei piese reprezentative a portului tradițional românesc – Ziua Universală a Iei.
Acest eveniment a fost organizat de către Cercul literar româno-canadian ALICE & Friends Circle™, Camera de Comerț Româno-Canadiană din BC (BCRCCC), Grupul on-line (numai pe  face-book), “DACIA”, Biserica Ortodoxă Română “Sfânta Treime”, Biserica Ortodoxă Română ”Sf. Gheorghe”, partener media ROMPOST TV, în colaborare cu distinsul Consulat General al României la Vancouver.
Sponsori au fost: ”A&D Deli European Market” (rep. Antonio Dominic), RE/MAX City Realty (rep. Camelia Manea) & “Insurance by Dana” (rep. Dana Ciocan).
Printr-un demers dedicat și pasionat, aceasta festivitate a reușit să aducă la viață frumoase tradiții Românești, chiar în inima Canadei.
Evenimentul nostru a fost compus din doua mari secțiuni: partea culturală (care a durat între ora 11 am-2 pm) și partea de picnic și socializare (care a durat între ora 2-7 pm).

Deschiderea oficială a acestei manifestări a inclus mesajul consulului general al României la Vancouver, dl. Gabriel Rotaru, care în cuvântul său s-a referit la semnificația iei în cultura și tradițiile populare românești, la rolul femeii în arta artizanatului și meșteșugului românesc, la importanța promovării tradițiilor culturale în comunitatea românească din Vancouver, precum și la recunoașterea oficială a Zilei Universale Iei Românești de către Primăria orașului Vancouver prin emiterea, în iunie 2024, la solicitarea sa, a unei Proclamații, gest care onorează pe deplin românii-canadieni de pe aceste meleaguri.  

Alături de maestrul de ceremonii, dna. Alice Vasile (care în această ipostază a reprezentat ALICE & Friends Circle™ - unul din partenerii organizatori), au fost prezenți: întreaga echipă a Consulatului General al RO la Vancouver, conducerea BCRCCC, coordonatorul grupului de face-book, on-line ”Dacia”, artistul fotograf Roland Szasz cât și numeroși membri ai comunității care au purtat costume sau bluze tradiționale românești.  

Programul cultural al zilei a fost susținut de către dl. Teodor Trandafir (unul din decanii de vârstă ai comunității românești de la Vancouver), de către Grupul Tezaur Românesc (care a oferit audienței un mănunchi bogat de cântece populare românești), de artizanii români prezenți, precum dna. Lucreția Cioată (recunoscută în comunitate pentru măiestria de a țese ii), sau de autori de beletristică precum dna. Cleopatra Luca.
Această secțiune (programul cultural al zilei) s-a închis cu o splendidă horă românească și alte câteva jocuri tradiționale, primite cu mare bucurie de către toți cei prezenți (de-a lungul zilei am avut peste 200 de participanți). A fost cu adevărat o zi a bucuriei!
Tot cu această ocazie am reușit să organizăm și o mică ”Grădină a copiilor”, unde după încheierea programului cultural, cei mici (sub egida dnei. Cameliei Manea) au reușit să petreacă o vreme împreună la o masă special dedicată lor, unde s-au delectat cu materiale didactice alese în concordanță cu tematica zilei (adică, Ziua Iei).
Și tot la acest eveniment, am desemnat și o zonă anume, unde câțiva mici antreprenori locali și-au putut promova micile afaceri.
De asemenea, am creat și un spațiu rezonabil unde invitații au putut degusta produse tradiționale românești aduse de companiile locale specializate în domeniu, precum A&D Deli.

Este important de evidențiat că acest eveniment a fost realizat în exclusivitate de către românii localnici din Vancouver, pentru românii din zona metropolitană a Vancouverului.  
O frumoasă realizare de grup, ce promite un viitor încurajator! Fie că suntem la Vancouver, în București, Montreal, Londra sau în satul bunicilor, prin gesturi de acest gen reafirmăm apartenența la o cultură care încă respiră prin simboluri cusute cu grijă și sens.
Pentru mulți dintre noi Ziua Universală a Iei este un simbol al patrimoniului imaterial românesc dar și emblema unei identități care transcende granițele geografice.
Mulțumiri tuturor celor care ne-au fost aproape, celor care au ieșit din casele lor pentru a fi alături de noi... și iată cum IA noastră strămoșească ne aduce împreună și ne ține conectați!

Cu prețuire,
Alice
Founder & Executive Director of ALICE & Friends Circle™  (a Romanian-Canadian literary & socio-cultural GROUP) 

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Heartfelt appreciation to all Romanians who participated on June 21 at “ZIUA IEI 2025” event!

Although it was a cloudy day, with few brief showers, many of us went through it with glowing hearts!

Soon I will publish a detailed summary for this occasion, but until then I leave here a relevant group photo as well as the opportunity to share your comments about this beautiful event aimed at bringing to everyone's attention the beautiful cultural richness of Romania.

Also, I would like to highlight that the partners who contributed to the realization of this event are (listed in alphabetical order):

ALICE & Friends Circle™, BC Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Consulate General of Romania in Vancouver, “Dacia” group, 
Holy Trinity Church & St. George Church. Media partner: RompostTV.

It is important to emphasize that this event has been put together exclusively by local Romanians from Vancouver, for the Romanians from the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area. A beautiful group achievement, which promises an encouraging future!

Until you hear from me again, I wish you only the best!

Alice

Calde mulțumiri tuturor acelor români care pe data de 21 iunie au participat la ZIUA IEI 2025!

Cu toate că a fost o zi cu nori și pe alocuri chiar și cu ușoare averse de ploaie, mulți dintre noi am parcurs-o cu mult soare în suflet!

În curând o să public un rezumat detaliat pentru această ocazie, dar până atunci vă las aici o relevantă fotografie de grup cât și posibilitatea de a transmite în direct comentariile dv. la adresa acestui frumos eveniment menit să aducă în atenția tuturor frumoasa bogăție culturală a României.

De asemenea, doresc să aduc în prim plan că partenerii care au contribuit la realizarea acestui eveniment sunt (listați în ordine alfabetică):

ALICE & Friends Circle™, BC Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Biserica Sf. Gheorghe, Biserica Sf. Treime, Consulatul General al României la Vancouver
și grupul “Dacia”. Media partner: RompostTV.

Este important de evidențiat că acest eveniment a fost realizat în exclusivitate de către românii localnici din Vancouver, pentru românii din zona metropolitană a Vancouverului.  O frumoasă realizare de grup, ce promite un viitor încurajator!

Până la proxima revedere, vă doresc la toți numai bine!

Alice

Here is the promotional talk show that RompostTV put together for this event...enjoy!

COLLABORATION: 2025 – “Eminescu Year”

 The complete briefing will be available very soon. Thank you!

Philosophers’ Café with ALICE & Friends: Spring 2025

 The complete briefing will be available soon. Thank you!

7 Years Anniversary of ALICE & FRIENDS CIRCLE™

 The complete briefing will be available very soon. Thank you!

Meanwhile, please continue to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful spring!

Alice’s Book Club – SPRING session of 2025

Spring is peacefully unfolding in our part of the world, allowing me to organize on Friday (April 11, 2025) the session of the current season for my Book Club series, having as guest speaker a dear friend – Daciana Healey (her biography in comments section), who spoke to our fairly large group about retirement planning and investment opportunities.

“It is not always easy to think about retirement because retirement plans do not carry the excitement usually associated with one’s life ambitions and professional goals. Yet any prudent person knows retirement planning is one of the most important decisions in life, even more now as people are living longer and social security system may not be sustainable in the long term. Planning for the long term may continue to evolve according to life circumstances which are naturally hard to predict.”

Our guest speaker this evening graciously delivered an interesting presentation, adopting the interactive approach - addressing questions as arise.

It was clearly understood that retirement planning is a very structured process, and in order to do it right you need to have a proper framework and access to a trusted financial advisor.

On the other hand, briefly talking about investment/s it helps to refresh that investing is “the act of putting money into something with the expectation of gaining a profit or income”. It can involve purchasing stocks (stocks represent ownership in a company; when you buy stocks, you can earn money if the company does well), bonds (bonds are loans to companies or governments; you earn interest over time), real estate (real estate involves buying property to rent or sell at a higher price), or even starting a business.

“The goal of investing is to grow wealth over time. However, it does come with risks….understanding these risks and potential rewards is crucial for anyone considering investment options. It is important to understand that people invest for many reasons. One common reason is to build wealth for the future. Many individuals want to save for retirement. Investing can help grow their savings over time. Others may want to reach specific financial goals, such as buying a home or funding education. Some investors seek to generate additional income through dividends or rental payments. Understanding personal financial goals helps determine the best investment strategy.”

Every investment carries some level of risk (risk refers to the chance of losing money or not achieving the expected returns).

Generally, higher potential returns come with higher risks. For example, stocks can provide great returns, but their prices can also fluctuate significantly. On the other hand, bonds are usually considered safer, but their returns are often lower. Balancing risk and return is essential for successful investing. Before investing, it’s important to conduct thorough research. Understanding the market, companies, and economic conditions can help make informed decisions. For instance, when investing in stocks, knowing a company’s performance, industry trends, and competition can be beneficial. Many investors also analyze historical data and financial statements to gauge potential risks and returns. Knowledge is key to successful investing.

Diversification (involves spreading investments across different asset types or industries) is a strategy to reduce risk. By diversifying, investors can protect themselves against losses in one area. For example, if someone invests only in technology stocks, a downturn in that sector could lead to significant losses. However, if they also invest in bonds, real estate, and other stocks, they may not lose as much. Diversification can lead to a more stable overall portfolio.

Time plays a crucial role in investing. The longer you invest, the more potential your money has to grow. This is due to a concept called compound interest (compound interest means you earn interest on both your initial investment and the interest that accumulates over time). For many, starting to invest early can lead to a more comfortable financial future, as the effects of compounding can be significant.

In summary, investing involves putting money into various assets with the hope of earning a profit. Different types of investments come with unique risks and rewards. Understanding personal financial goals and conducting research is vital. Diversifying investments can help manage risk. Finally, leveraging time can significantly enhance the growth potential of investments. Making informed choices can lead to successful investment outcomes.

Wrapping up my briefing, for your convenience, here is a “retirement financial checklist” (offered by the Government of Canada) which might help you with the process. Additionally, here is another document, called “Basics of investing” (also offered by the Government of Canada) which might bring along supplementary insights. Once again, dear friends, thank you for joining our event this evening! Until next time, from me, only the best!

Alice

“Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials: much to live on and much to live for.”

Alice’s Book Club – WINTER session of 2025

“Reading gives life more life.”

Before the astronomical winter it is completely over in our part of the world, on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) I was happy to be able to organize the winter session of the year for the Book Club of our Circle.

I truly enjoyed the company of those 16 beautiful and intelligent ladies, and together (using an open voting system) we chose three books this time (yes, you’ve heard it well…3 books were chosen to read as a group), books which we will discuss (together) by the end of the year….needless to say how interesting those sessions are!

On the other hand, while at this page, I would like to quickly mention again few valid points the scholars usually emphasize in their papers about the benefits of reading (in essence, why it helps to read at least a bit every day):

 - Reading books allow readers to gain better insights into human nature (you could gain interesting and helpful knowledge that never can be taken away from you)

- Readers become more sensitive to the emotions of other people, quality which seems to disappear in today’s world

- Good literature of any language improve and expand the comprehension skills; also, at the same time, by considering all the aspects involved, you could become even more versed with your critical and analytical thinking (the more skills you have, the better equipped you are to tackle any challenges that sometimes life might present). Additionally, a well written novel could 'transport' you to different places, while an engaging article might distract or keep you in the present moment allowing relaxation to occur. 

- A book always stimulates the brain (amazingly enough, through reading new brain pathways are created and the existing ones become even stronger, facts that assist with the short-term memory recalls as well as mood stabilization).  

So, dear friends, please be kindly reminded that the journey of a life time starts with the turning of a page. 

Once again, I am grateful to share that it is a true delight to continue to stay in touch with likeminded fellows who are passionate about arts and culture, about reading and harmonious conversations. Until next time, dear beautiful readers and members of our Book Club, my warmest regards to each of you!

Alice

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

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 

Celebrating “Mărțișor” 2025 with ALICE & Friends

Time is flying by very fast, but despite that, on Saturday (March 1, 2025) I was absolutely delighted to meet in person with a number of 15 dear friends to offer them “mărțișoare“ (March amulets), while we were enjoying together a freshly brewed cup of coffee accompanied by several freshly backed pastries.

As most of you might know, this is one of those perfect recipes for a happy life...nice gifts for everyone, good coffee, good food, good friends, sharing spring related poems & definitively good, lengthy talks….what else was I to wish for my literary & socio-cultural Circle on a beautiful, chilly but sunny Saturday!

Definitively I consider myself blessed to be surrounded by so many beautiful souls carried by these beautiful and wise ladies, who are my dear friends! My deepest gratitude to each for their lovely presence in my life!

“A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.”

This event has been delivered in Romanian Language, featuring Romanian culture.

● For quick reference, here is a brief historical background:

    🌿 “Mărțișor” (March 1) or March amulet:

The name “Mărțișor” (mərt͡siˈʃor) is the diminutive of “Marț”, the old folk name for March (“martie”, in modern Romanian language), & literally means "the little March". The actual “Mărțișor” is made of a small decorative object, tied to a white & red string, with two hanging tassels, which is offered customarily on the 1st day of March to girls, women & men (in some parts of the country) as it is believed that the wearer will stay strong & healthy throughout the entire year ahead. In the old times “Mărțișor” was regarded more as a protective talisman, but in modern days, & especially in the urban areas, most of its talisman properties got lost and “Mărțișor” became more of a symbol of friendship, love, appreciation & respect, as well as a symbol of the coming spring in addition to the snowdrop flowers.

NOTE: In 2017, UNESCO decided to inscribe “Mărțișor“ on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Please follow the links below for a more detailed reading about this significant gesture…thank you!

– Related ARTICLE: Romanian spring tradition included on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list

– Related ARTICLE: UNESCO adds Mărțișor to its ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ list

● Previous events I organized on the same concept: “Mărțișor”– 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

● Some of my additional greetings referring to the same theme: “Mărțișor“ – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019