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!

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● Additional background info: Going beyond the religious significance of this holiday, here are few reference materials of general interest, depicting the secular and cultural facets of this feast. 

⚪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 English language): “Traditional Easter Eggs in Romania”

● My previous greetings on the same theme: EASTER – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

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). 

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.”

APRIL begins with a very humorous day

SPRING music for April

APRIL (the 4th month of the year) is known for its beautiful spring weather, blooming flowers and a multitude of festivals. The etymology behind the word “April” comes from the verb “aperire,” which means “to open” and it is commonly believed that the word refers to the season of trees and flowers beginning to “open” or bloom.

But, did you know that the 1^st day of April is called the “Fools’ Day”?

Yes… April 1^st 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 16^th 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.

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)

MARCH into a new spring

“Spring” – by Antonio Vivaldi (classical music)

MARCH (the 3rd month of the year), marks the transition from winter to spring, bringing along a profound sense of rejuvenation and hope, when days are getting longer, flowers are budding and weather is getting warmer and warmer.

This is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia and part of Africa) and the first month of fall or autumn in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and Oceania).

As winter fades and spring emerges, March brings a unique blend of history, traditions and lots of natural wonders.

March and the arrival of spring always served as a powerful source of inspiration for poets worldwide and through their verses, they captured the essence of revival, rebirth and the enchanting beauty that accompanies this time of the year. Whether it is the blooming flowers, the gentle breezes, or the delicate songs of birds, their poems celebrate the magic of March and the fantastic transformative power of spring.

A new cycle of life in nature is beautifully unfolding each spring and this holds a special place in the hearts of so many for its symbolic significance and the marvelous beauty that comes with it. 

Spring adds new colors and new beauty to everything…enjoy!

May you cheerfully march into spring, dear ones, as it is the season of renewal!

March 20, 2025: SPRING Equinox & World Happiness Day

 The beginning of a new cycle of life is graciously unfolding in front of our eyes….enjoy it, dear ones! 

Wishing you a beautiful spring time!

On March 20, 2025, the entire world is also observing the International Day of Happiness.

This year’s theme CARING AND SHARING reminds us that lasting happiness comes from caring for each other, feeling connected & being part of something bigger.

● Short scientific background on SPRING EQUINOX:

“Spring Equinox” is an astronomical event, nearly noticed by everyone, when the day and night are almost of an equal length, marking the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere; this is commonly regarded as the instant of time when the plane (extended indefinitely in all directions) of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun. This is one of the four seasonal turning points, when the strength of the old goes into the new as the power of life blossoms with grace while Nature springs again to LIFE. 

●My previous posts on the same themes: SPRING Equinox & World Happiness Day – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019