The complete briefing will be available soon. Thank you!
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Saturday, May 24, 2025
About the TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN BLOUSE
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| A traditional Romanian blouse ("Ie românească") |
This
type of blouse it is entirely hand-made, from a special fabric (called approx. in English "sheer
lawn"), with exquisite embroideries on the chest, back and
sleeves, with designs preserved for centuries. The signs and symbols
embroidered on each traditional Romanian blouse aren’t just random decorations,
but each has its own significance, depending on the region, the seamstress, and
the person who wore it. For example, among the symbols embellished on each blouse
there could be a tree or a tree-like design, which is the symbol of life,
wisdom and rebirth. The fir tree is particularly drawn on the Romanian
blouse, especially in the mountain rural areas, and symbolizes the immortality,
a motif seldom found in Romanian mythology.
The circle or a sunflower represent the sun, day or Divinity; in Romanian tradition, the sun was at the core of life and often associated with abundance.
Other motifs related to daily activities can be found ranging from one region to another: water (either as a river or as sea waves) and fish in the fishing villages along the rivers and sea coast, wheat or corn stems in agricultural villages, wheels or coin in crafting traders’ villages, and so on. At the same time, the colors on the blouse also vary according to the geographic region; green and gold symbolize the plains, gray, red and brown for the mountains and blue for the rivers.
The circle or a sunflower represent the sun, day or Divinity; in Romanian tradition, the sun was at the core of life and often associated with abundance.
Other motifs related to daily activities can be found ranging from one region to another: water (either as a river or as sea waves) and fish in the fishing villages along the rivers and sea coast, wheat or corn stems in agricultural villages, wheels or coin in crafting traders’ villages, and so on. At the same time, the colors on the blouse also vary according to the geographic region; green and gold symbolize the plains, gray, red and brown for the mountains and blue for the rivers.
For
instance, in the past, young girls from the countryside, who were not married
used to wear merry colors on their blouses, combinations of red, yellow, pink
& light colors, while the dark ones (brown, black, dark green) & gold were usually worn by
older women, married and / or having a certain social statute.
Generally
speaking, this traditional Romanian blouse ("ie"
– pronounced "ee-eh") is
a pretty simple blouse, commonly worn by Romanian girls and women, but has
overcome its historic peasant confines, and it became an important source of
inspiration for many fashion designers (ranging from less known to very well known) in Romania and abroad (for instance, high-ranking names, such as Tom Ford based
his 2012 collection on the Romanian traditional motifs).
On
December 1, 2022, (on Romania’s
National Day), UNESCO has decided to inscribe
the Romanian traditional blouse on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and on the same list, in 2017, “Mărțișor” was added.
the Romanian traditional blouse on their list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and on the same list, in 2017, “Mărțișor” was added.
Since
2013, on each June 24, Romanians around the world celebrate The
Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, occasion which allows them to
bring forward the richness of their cultural heritage, their traditional
customs, and the timeless wisdom of their ancestors as well as their Romanian
beautiful identity outfit – “ia”.
This type of celebration it is a good opportunity for all Romanians around the world to further promote this old and beautiful Romanian cultural artifact.
This type of celebration it is a good opportunity for all Romanians around the world to further promote this old and beautiful Romanian cultural artifact.
The tradition is alive, and the story goes on....
Symbols represented on the Romanian traditional blouses
The Romanian blouse, known as "ie," is adorned with a variety of symbols and motifs that hold a deep cultural significance. These symbols are often linked to the region of Romania where the blouse originates from and they can represent various aspects of life, such as age, marital status and social standing.
For your convenience, here are:
1)
Few EVENTS I personally organized at my Circle, featuring the traditional Romanian blouse – 2023, 2022, 2021
2) The 1st event organized in partnership with few other groups from Vancouver, featuring the Romanian blouse – 2024
3) Few promotional GREETING cards I’ve put together featuring the Romanian blouse – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
Sunday, May 11, 2025
May 2025: “Happy MOTHER’s Day!”
Today
(May 11, 2025) we celebrate the love,
the strength and the endless support of all the incredible mothers out there – the
quiet warriors, the tireless nurturers, the everyday heroes. Today,
we celebrate you – the ones who gave us love before we even knew what it meant…
who stood by us with strength, warmth, and endless patience. Whether
you're a mom, remembering a mom, a grandma, a mother figure, or celebrating a
mother figure in your life, or someone who’s poured love into others – this day
is for you.
Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible mothers out there!
Thursday, May 1, 2025
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!
MAY….we be happy!
The
spiritual meaning of May encompasses themes of renewal, growth, fertility
(alongside love and relationships),
abundance, and
prosperity celebrations, while honoring old traditions in various
cultures around the world.
May it
is seen as a time when nature fully awakens – the blossoming of so many flowers,
the emergence of new leaves, and the return of wildlife all serve as powerful
reminders of the cycle of life (the
cyclical nature of life) and the interconnectedness of all living beings. These
interpretations reflect the month’s vibrancy and importance in contemporary
life.
On
the other hand, the month of May isn’t just a transition into summer; this
period invites us to connect with nature and to embrace the
dynamic energy of change (it could serve as a catalyst for personal
transformation).
It’s a perfect time to embrace change (to change what needs to be changed) and to reflect on our personal journey while appreciating the beauty around us. Activities like gardening and nature walks during May allow people to connect with the earth and promote mental clarity. For instance, starting a new exercise routine or picking up a hobby aligns with the season’s spirit of growth. Many can also benefit from the various workshops or community events, fostering not just personal advancement, but also social connections.
This month it is also
marked by few important celebrations,
such as International Workers’ Day and Mother’s
Day.
Whether
you’re honoring your mother or participating in cultural festivities, May
offers countless opportunities to connect with others and nature. As you enjoy
the blooms and longer days, remember to take a moment for yourself – set new
goals or just simply enjoy the present moment.
MAY is all about fresh
beginnings and deepening relationships,
so let its spirit
inspire you to cultivate joy and gratitude in your everyday life!
Friday, April 25, 2025
The relevance of staying connected
Social
connections are an important part of living a healthy life, and mostly refers
to our relationships with the people in our network.
Extrapolating further, we can safely imply that social connections are truly about
connectedness – the extent to which we engage with important, supportive people
in our lives in ways that heighten our sense of belonging and well-being.
Many
scientists believe that the need to connect with other human beings is
programmed in our DNA and we are “wired” for social connection.
Since prehistoric time, people have lived together in (larger or smaller) groups where they found protection, help, support, common identity and shared knowledge.
Since prehistoric time, people have lived together in (larger or smaller) groups where they found protection, help, support, common identity and shared knowledge.
However,
our gregarious behavior changed with the development of big urban centers,
frequent job changes, family disintegration or physical distancing, progress of
technology, hectic lifestyles and intense work schedules and demands.
These days, we
are more “connected” than ever via social media (for example WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.), but we lack connectedness or a
sense of belonging to a group or community. Plenty of research documents show
that many adults feel more isolated and lonelier than ever. Sadly,
loneliness and isolation can create a reinforcing cycle that makes meaningful
social connection and a feeling of connectedness harder to achieve. This
slowly, but steadily, takes a toll on our physical and mental well-being. The
negative effects show up in the performance at work, in people's personal lives, and
in the ability to handle disruptions, uncertainty, and setbacks.
It
isn’t so much the struggles with external factors that bring people down as it
is the sense of facing difficulties alone versus being in it together.
Medical
science has been writing for years about the importance of social interactions
as a critical component for health, happiness and longevity.
The
effect of social connectedness in our lives is so strong that when we feel
rejected or suffer some other type of negative social interaction, our brain
feels “hurt” in the same way than when we feel physical pain. Social pain is
more similar to physical pain than we think.
To
give you an idea of how to stay connected and prevent
loneliness, consider the following suggestions, highly recommended by many
specialists:
- Start with
yourself…becoming aware of
why you act and react in certain ways may be helpful for developing more
healthy ways of interacting with others.
- Watch for your
thoughts….decreasing negative
self-talk will
help you have a brighter outlook for life and attract people you want to
interact with.
- Say “yes” more
often……participate in
social events (even the online ones)
or activities that interest you.
- Get outside of
your house and your head….go for a walk or run at a local park; start
talking to people...you’ll make an acquaintance and possibly a new friend.
- Be proactive…even if you are an
introvert; make a list of people you care about and reach out...don't
wait for others to initiate contact.
- Be friendly at
work….work relationships
can be a source of care and comradery and a place to get support when setbacks
happen. If you work in a physical office, be open to chatting for a few minutes
with whomever you encounter at the water cooler or coffee machine; consider
making a habit of eating lunch together each week instead of working through
it.
- Be present…whenever possible,
shut your computer down and meet a friend or an acquaintance for a coffee or a drink; face-to-face communication, eye contact, a smile, and closeness have
amazing benefits.
- Stay close to
your inner circle….having a group of close friends promotes
mental health and a quicker recovery from physical illness. It also could
enhance your quality of life with good conversations and feeling supported and
understood.
- Speak regularly
to immediate or extended family…these are people who in some ways know you
best and often will help you in challenging times.
- Spend quality
time with your loved ones….organize a weekly Zoom movie club
spanning 3 generations of your extended family, where each one selects a movie
that everybody has to watch with a discussion to follow.
- Prioritize
social connections in your schedule…set time each week
on your calendar to connect with people you care about whether personally or
electronically.
- Remember the
“little things”….sending a quick birthday note or a
congratulation for a happy event make people know
that you care about them.
- Re-establish
past social connections….reliving experiences and events is a great
tool to be more resilient and emotionally healthy.
- Maintain present
social connections….relationships go through periods of ups and
downs; however, you can keep them alive by being more patient, less judgmental,
and giving people the temporary space they need.
- Join a formal
group….consider enrolling
in a new class, join a book club, volunteer, chat with or help a neighbor. If
you are a foreigner living in an adopted country, join an expat group. There
are plenty of them that cater to all ages...personal and professional
interests.
Finally,
remember that life teaches us every day that our most wonderful, inspiring,
happy, funny, sad, or dreadful moments have to do with people in our lives.
What keeps us healthy, meaningful, and fulfilled in our life is not money, power, or fame, but the quality of our social ties.
What keeps us healthy, meaningful, and fulfilled in our life is not money, power, or fame, but the quality of our social ties.
Making an effort
to nurture and strengthen our relationships
will have the most impact on our lives and the biggest return in our happiness.
will have the most impact on our lives and the biggest return in our happiness.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
April 22, 2025: INTERNATIONAL EARTH Day
“Earth Day 2025: Today,
Tuesday, April 22, countries all over the world come
together to commemorate World Earth Day, which will be celebrated for the 55th
year running in 2025. This year’s theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, to achieve the ‘triple
clean electricity’ target by 2030 through the usage of renewable energy.
This occasion is
more than just a celebration; it is an important day for raising awareness,
advocating, and engaging people in activities aimed at addressing the
global climate changes and supporting environmental lifestyle adjustments.”
Happy Earth Day! May we all be inspired to
care for our planet with the same love and respect it provides us!
● Basic
background info:
Earth Day is an
annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events in
more than 193 countries, focusing on engaging more than 1 billion people, governments, institutions and
businesses to recognize our collective responsibility and to help accelerate
the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all.
Sunday, April 20, 2025
April 2025: Happy EASTER!
EASTER (Pascha) –
a special moment of the year reemphasizing the
significance of light, trust, hope and renewal.
Wishing you only the best!
֍ HAPPY EASTER! ֍ PAŞTE
FERICIT! ֍ FROHE OSTERN! ֍ ΚΑΛΌ ΠΆΣΧΑ! ֍ JOYEUSES
PÂQUES! ֍ BUONA PASQUA! ֍
NOTE:
Dear friends, as per your suggestions, for a little while, I left the comments section open for this card to help the ones who don't have any social media accounts but wish to express in direct a reply (or reflection) about this occasion. Many thanks!
Dear friends, as per your suggestions, for a little while, I left the comments section open for this card to help the ones who don't have any social media accounts but wish to express in direct a reply (or reflection) about this occasion. Many thanks!
════════════════════════
⚪ARTICLES:
“Easter Traditions in Romania” | “Romanian Orthodox Easter Traditions” | “Romanian traditions at Easter Time”
| “Easter Traditions from Around the World” | “Easter Foods From Around the World” | “Traditions From Around the World to Celebrate Easter” | “How Different Countries Around the World Celebrate Easter”
⚪ VIDEOS:
(In
English language): “Incredible Egg Art Will Awe You” (Short Film done by National Geographic) |
(In
English language): “Exclusiv în România: Cel mai mare muzeu din lume dedicat ouălor încondeiate”
(In Ro language): “Taina încondeierii ouălor sau, cum o numesc localnicii, ‘scrierea ouălor’”
(In Ro language): “Taina încondeierii ouălor sau, cum o numesc localnicii, ‘scrierea ouălor’”
(In
English language): “Traditional Easter Eggs in Romania”
Friendly reminder: 
Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).
Friday, April 11, 2025
Alice’s Book Club – SPRING session of 2025
“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.”
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
APRIL begins with a very humorous day
 |
But,
did you know that the 1st day of April is called the “Fools’ Day”?
Yes…
April 1st is a day of big and small mischiefs all around the world,
and the meaning of the tricks is to point out that you could be quite a gullible
person.
It
is not exactly known how it began, but most people believe that the origin of
“April Fools’ Day” dates back to the 16th century, and it came into
existence when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (the calendar switch happed on April 1,
1563).
“People who were
slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had
moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March
through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes
and were called ‘April fools’”, wrote “History” about this very day.
and were called ‘April fools’”, wrote “History” about this very day.
Aside of that, the timing of April Fools’ is suspiciously close to the Vernal Equinox – the time of the year when nature is known to play tricks on people with the unpredictable changes of the weather.
On the other hand, April is a month that feels like a breath of fresh air, and
from a scientific perspective, it represents the full awakening of spring,
which becomes a crucial time for all gardeners. The cherry blossoms are truly iconic for April in many parts of the world, especially in Japan, while Paris (at this time of the year) is considered the epitome of romance and elegance. Also,
since this month is known for its weather fluctuations, in many cultures and
traditions around the world, April represents a period of profound renewal
encompassing the perfect blend of new beginnings, blossoming hope, and an
invitation to embrace change.
Spiritually
speaking, Easter often falls in April, which is also a time of profound joy and
elaborated celebrations for many.
So, dear friends, if the charm of the month inspires you, please try to put
your thoughts on a piece of paper and let your heart deeply absorb the beauty
that’s in the air....and don’t forget that “April showers bring May flowers”.
“April places the
spirit of youth in everything around us.” (William
Shakespeare)
