~ A yearly Romanian socio-cultural evening featuring Romania's National Day ~
Then, I presented my guests a short video I’ve prepared for this occasion, and
for your enjoyment here it is...
Also,
I would like to mention that today (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…please follow the links below for a more detailed reading about this
significant gesture…thank you!
- ARTICLE: Traditional Romanian blouse included in UNESCO patrimony
- ARTICLE: The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altiţă) - an element of cultural identity
- ARTICLE: Traditional Romanian blouse included in UNESCO patrimony
- ARTICLE: The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altiţă) - an element of cultural identity
Next,
my dear friend Dorina read us a
material called “The 10 commandments of the Romanian people” – fragment from a
newspaper from October 5, 1930
(Ro: “Cele 10 porunci ale poporului Român” – fragment dintr-un ziar din 5 Octombrie 1930), document which is fully published in the comments section.
Needless to say that after so long, those concepts are truer than ever!
(Ro: “Cele 10 porunci ale poporului Român” – fragment dintr-un ziar din 5 Octombrie 1930), document which is fully published in the comments section.
Needless to say that after so long, those concepts are truer than ever!
Furthermore, she wrote an article about our homeland, which was published by “Observatorul
Magazine”, from Toronto, and that link is here.
Also, under our section of “Famous Romanians”, as we proudly do each year, Dorina recapped George Enescu’s contribution to our
culture (1881-1955, he was a well-known Romanian composer, violonist, pianist, conductor and teacher, regarded as
Romania's most important musician, and one of the world's greatest composers of
the 20th century, as well as one of the greatest performers of his time). For your delight, here are two of Enescu’s compositions: “Rapsodia Română” and “Baladă pentru vioară”…few moments of classical music…enjoy!
Additionally, Dorina’s beautiful presentation reminded us that Bucharest (the capital city of Romania), around
1900 was called the “Little Paris”, because of its elegant architecture (mostly built in the period between the two
World Wars), but also “for the fact that locals greeted each other in
French, wearing the latest Paris fashions, and would frequently travel to and
study in France’s capital”.
For
your reference on Bucharest, here are few articles of general interest…enjoy this
documentative reading!
- ARTICLE: Bucharest – The Little Paris
- ARTICLE: 13 Places That Prove Bucharest Is The 'Little Paris of the East'
- ARTICLE: Bucharest – Romania’s ‘Little Paris of the East’ (by Rick Steves)
- ARTICLE: Bucharest – The Little Paris
- ARTICLE: 13 Places That Prove Bucharest Is The 'Little Paris of the East'
- ARTICLE: Bucharest – Romania’s ‘Little Paris of the East’ (by Rick Steves)
Further,
our dear friend Aura, shared her
views about the life of a Romanian in Canada and then reminded us all about a
well-known political figure who descended from her town (the place where she was borne)….his
name is August Treboniu Laurian (1810 – 1881; he was a politician,
historian, linguist, a revolutionary and one of the founding members of the
Romanian Academy). Aura
also referred to a beautiful poem written by Bogdan Petriceicu Haşdeu (1838
– 1907).
While at this page, I would like to expand a bit more “The Famous Romanians” section, and for
your reference here are few additional names of interest:
- Gheorghe Bibescu (1804 –1873) was a prince of Wallachia, between 1843 and 1849; his rule coincided with the revolutionary tide that culminated in the 1848, with the Wallachian revolution.
- Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei (1799 – 1869) was a member of the Bibescu family. In 1836 he was given the administration of the Justice Department, where he set up a new commercial code, based on the Napoleonic model, and improved the criminal and civil procedures of the country.
- Nicolae Bălcescu (1819 – 1852) was a Romanian Wallachian, soldier, historian, journalist and lider of the 1848 Wallachian Revolution.
- Constantin Brâncuși (1876 – 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century and a pioneer of modernism, Brâncuși is called the patriarch of modern sculpture.
- Nicolae Iorga (1871 – 1940) was a Romanian historian, politician, literary critic, memoirist, Albanologist, poet and playwright. He served as the member of the Romanian Parliament, President of the Deputies’ Assembly and the Senate, cabinet minister and briefly (1931 – 1932) as Prime Minister. A child prodigy, polymath and politologue, Iorga produced an unusually large body of scholarly works, establishing his international reputation as a medievalist, Byzantinist, Latinist, Slavist, as historian and philosopher of history. Holding reaching positions at the University of Bucharest, the Unversity of Paris and several other academic institutions, Iorga was the founder of the International Congress of Byzantine Studies and the Institute of South-East European Studies (ISSEE). His activity also included the transformation of "Vălenii de Munte" town into a cultural and academic center. Iorga has the five-generations-boyar status, received from his father’s side, and the “old boyar” roots from his mother (the Miclescu family), with having turned him into a political man. Based on his parallel studies, his is being related with noble Romanian families, such as the Cantacuzinos and the Craiovesti.
- Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea (1858 – 1918) was a Romanian writer and poet, considered one of the greatest figures in the National awakening of Romania.
He was also a former mayor of Bucharest.
- Octavian Goga (1881 – 1938) was a Romanian politician, poet, playwright, journalist and translator. He was also the Prime Minister of Romania.
- Ion Ghica (1816 – 1897) was a Romanian statesman, mathematician, diplomat and politician, who was Prime Minister of Romania five times. He was a full member of the Romanian Academy and its president many times (1876–1882, 1884–1887, 1890–1893 and 1894–1895). He was the older brother and associate of Pantazi Ghica, a prolific writer and politician.
- Mihail Kogălniceanu (1817 – 1891) was a statesman, lawyer, historian and publicist; he became Prime Minister of Romania on October 11, 1863, after the 1859 union of the Danubian Principalities under the “Domnitor” Alexandru Ioan Cuza, and later served as Foreign Minister under Carol I. He was several times Interior Minister under Cuza and Carol. A polymath, Kogălniceanu was one of the most influential Romanian intellectuals of his generation.
- C. A. Rosetti (1816 – 1885) was a Romanian literary and political leader, born in Bucharest into the princely Rosetti family. He was also the Mayor of Bucharest.
- Vasile Alecsandri (1821 – 1890) was a Romanian patriot, poet, dramatist, politician and diplomat. He was one of the key figures during the 1848 revolutions in Moldavia and Wallachia. He fought for the unification of the Romanian Principalities, writing "Hora Unirii" in 1856 and giving up his candidacy for the title of prince of Moldavia, in favor of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. He became the first minister of foreign affairs of Romania and was one of the founding members of the Romanian Academy. Alecsandri was a prolific writer, contributing to Romanian literature with poetry, prose, several plays, and collections of Romanian folklore, being considered, alongside Mihai Eminescu, which admired and was inspired by the writings of Alecsandri, as one of the most important Romanian writers in the second half of the 19th century.
- Lucian Blaga (1895 – 1961) was a Romanian philosopher, poet, playwright, poetry translator, novelist, journalist, university professor, diplomat and member of the Romanian Academy. He was a commanding personality of the Romanian culture of the interbellum period.
- Emil Cioran (1911 – 1995) was a Romanian philosopher, aphorist and essayist, who published works in both Romanian and French. His work has been noted for its pervasive philosophical pessimism, style, and aphorisms. His works frequently engaged with issues of suffering, decay, and nihilism. In 1937, Cioran moved to the Latin Quarter of Paris, which became his permanent residence, wherein he lived in seclusion, until his death in 1995.
- Mircea Eliade (1907 – 1986) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. He was a leading interpreter of religious experience, who established paradigms that persist to this day. Few of his literary works belong to the fantastic and autobiographical genres. The best known are the novels “Maitreyi” ('La Nuit Bengali' or 'Bengal Nights'), “Noaptea de Sânziene” ('The Forbidden Forest'), and “Romanul Adolescentului Miop” ('Novel of the Nearsighted Adolescent'); the novellas “Domnișoara Christina” ('Miss Christina') and “Tinerețe fără tinerețe” ('Youth Without Youth'); and the short stories “Secretul doctorului Honigberger” ('The Secret of Dr. Honigberger') and “La Țigănci” ('With the Gypsy Girls'). Noted for his vast erudition, Eliade had fluent command of five languages (Romanian, French, German, Italian, and English) and a reading knowledge of three others (Hebrew, Persian, and Sanskrit). He was elected a posthumous member of the Romanian Academy.
- Gheorghe Bibescu (1804 –1873) was a prince of Wallachia, between 1843 and 1849; his rule coincided with the revolutionary tide that culminated in the 1848, with the Wallachian revolution.
- Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei (1799 – 1869) was a member of the Bibescu family. In 1836 he was given the administration of the Justice Department, where he set up a new commercial code, based on the Napoleonic model, and improved the criminal and civil procedures of the country.
- Nicolae Bălcescu (1819 – 1852) was a Romanian Wallachian, soldier, historian, journalist and lider of the 1848 Wallachian Revolution.
- Constantin Brâncuși (1876 – 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century and a pioneer of modernism, Brâncuși is called the patriarch of modern sculpture.
- Nicolae Iorga (1871 – 1940) was a Romanian historian, politician, literary critic, memoirist, Albanologist, poet and playwright. He served as the member of the Romanian Parliament, President of the Deputies’ Assembly and the Senate, cabinet minister and briefly (1931 – 1932) as Prime Minister. A child prodigy, polymath and politologue, Iorga produced an unusually large body of scholarly works, establishing his international reputation as a medievalist, Byzantinist, Latinist, Slavist, as historian and philosopher of history. Holding reaching positions at the University of Bucharest, the Unversity of Paris and several other academic institutions, Iorga was the founder of the International Congress of Byzantine Studies and the Institute of South-East European Studies (ISSEE). His activity also included the transformation of "Vălenii de Munte" town into a cultural and academic center. Iorga has the five-generations-boyar status, received from his father’s side, and the “old boyar” roots from his mother (the Miclescu family), with having turned him into a political man. Based on his parallel studies, his is being related with noble Romanian families, such as the Cantacuzinos and the Craiovesti.
- Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea (1858 – 1918) was a Romanian writer and poet, considered one of the greatest figures in the National awakening of Romania.
He was also a former mayor of Bucharest.
- Octavian Goga (1881 – 1938) was a Romanian politician, poet, playwright, journalist and translator. He was also the Prime Minister of Romania.
- Ion Ghica (1816 – 1897) was a Romanian statesman, mathematician, diplomat and politician, who was Prime Minister of Romania five times. He was a full member of the Romanian Academy and its president many times (1876–1882, 1884–1887, 1890–1893 and 1894–1895). He was the older brother and associate of Pantazi Ghica, a prolific writer and politician.
- Mihail Kogălniceanu (1817 – 1891) was a statesman, lawyer, historian and publicist; he became Prime Minister of Romania on October 11, 1863, after the 1859 union of the Danubian Principalities under the “Domnitor” Alexandru Ioan Cuza, and later served as Foreign Minister under Carol I. He was several times Interior Minister under Cuza and Carol. A polymath, Kogălniceanu was one of the most influential Romanian intellectuals of his generation.
- C. A. Rosetti (1816 – 1885) was a Romanian literary and political leader, born in Bucharest into the princely Rosetti family. He was also the Mayor of Bucharest.
- Vasile Alecsandri (1821 – 1890) was a Romanian patriot, poet, dramatist, politician and diplomat. He was one of the key figures during the 1848 revolutions in Moldavia and Wallachia. He fought for the unification of the Romanian Principalities, writing "Hora Unirii" in 1856 and giving up his candidacy for the title of prince of Moldavia, in favor of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. He became the first minister of foreign affairs of Romania and was one of the founding members of the Romanian Academy. Alecsandri was a prolific writer, contributing to Romanian literature with poetry, prose, several plays, and collections of Romanian folklore, being considered, alongside Mihai Eminescu, which admired and was inspired by the writings of Alecsandri, as one of the most important Romanian writers in the second half of the 19th century.
- Lucian Blaga (1895 – 1961) was a Romanian philosopher, poet, playwright, poetry translator, novelist, journalist, university professor, diplomat and member of the Romanian Academy. He was a commanding personality of the Romanian culture of the interbellum period.
- Emil Cioran (1911 – 1995) was a Romanian philosopher, aphorist and essayist, who published works in both Romanian and French. His work has been noted for its pervasive philosophical pessimism, style, and aphorisms. His works frequently engaged with issues of suffering, decay, and nihilism. In 1937, Cioran moved to the Latin Quarter of Paris, which became his permanent residence, wherein he lived in seclusion, until his death in 1995.
- Mircea Eliade (1907 – 1986) was a Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago. He was a leading interpreter of religious experience, who established paradigms that persist to this day. Few of his literary works belong to the fantastic and autobiographical genres. The best known are the novels “Maitreyi” ('La Nuit Bengali' or 'Bengal Nights'), “Noaptea de Sânziene” ('The Forbidden Forest'), and “Romanul Adolescentului Miop” ('Novel of the Nearsighted Adolescent'); the novellas “Domnișoara Christina” ('Miss Christina') and “Tinerețe fără tinerețe” ('Youth Without Youth'); and the short stories “Secretul doctorului Honigberger” ('The Secret of Dr. Honigberger') and “La Țigănci” ('With the Gypsy Girls'). Noted for his vast erudition, Eliade had fluent command of five languages (Romanian, French, German, Italian, and English) and a reading knowledge of three others (Hebrew, Persian, and Sanskrit). He was elected a posthumous member of the Romanian Academy.
Following the beautiful presentations of the evening, the other
guests came along with lots of personal remarks as well as dear memories
emphasizing that no matter how far one travels from home, the roots will always play a
special role.
As usual, the time we spent together was pleasing, and once again I was truly grateful to be able to offer my friends another occasion to create new memories!
As usual, the time we spent together was pleasing, and once again I was truly grateful to be able to offer my friends another occasion to create new memories!
In
closing, I’m sending along a big ‘THANK YOU!’ to all my guests who were able to
honor my invitation, wishing them again blessed & happy winter holidays!
Alice
Dragii mei,
Şi anul acesta a fost o reală bucurie să putem petrece împreună câteva ore de suflet, într-o ambianţă caldă şi prietenoasă, onorând Ziua Naţională a României!
Scopul acestei întâlniri se poate exprima într-un mod foarte concis şi relevant: Tradiţie – Identitate – Conectare, toate având la bază frumosul românesc, de trăire şi simţire…procedând astfel am reuşit să ne oferim unii altora câteva alese bucurii de suflet!
Vă mulţumesc la fiecare în parte pentru devotamentul, verticalitatea, dragostea de obârşie, receptivitatea şi onestitatea de care aţi dat dovadă pe parcursul discuţiilor de grup, cât şi pentru continua susţinere acordată Cercului "ALICE & Friends"!
Cu apreciere,
Alice
“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” AliceFriendsCircle.blogspot.com”Our customs, behaviours and values are
by-products of our culture.”
This event has been delivered in Romanian Language, featuring Romanian culture.
NOTE: 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).
