"Dragobete" sarbatoarea iubirii la romani

Pe 24 februarie sarbatorim "Dragobetele" o sarbatoare cu origini stravechi;  fiind preluat se pare de la daci si transformat ulterior intr-un protector al tinerilor si patron al iubirii. Dupa anumite legende populare se pare ca Dragobetele era fiul Babei Dochia. Chipesul "Dragobete" numit si "Cap de primavara", "Navalnicul" sau "Logodnicul Pasarilor" era un petitor si a devenit protectorul iubirii celor ce se intalnesc si petrec de ziua lui.
     Aceasta sarbatoare simbolizeaza in esenta sa inceputul unui nou anotimp odata cu iesirea ursului din barlogul de iarna si reinsufletirea intregii naturi. In aceasta zi semnalul era dat de pasarile nemigratoare care se strangeau in stoluri, ciripeau, se imperecheau si incepeau sa-si construiasca cuiburile. Despre pasarile neinsotite se stia ca vor ramane singure pana in aceeasi zi a anului urmator. Asemeni zburatoarelor fetele si baietii de la sate sarbatoreau aceasta zi pentru a-si gasi perechea sau pentru a ramane indragostiti pe intreg parcursul anului. Ei obisnuiau sa se stranga in fata bisericii si porneau spre paduri unde culegeau in buchetele primele flori ale primaverii, in special ghiocei, continuand cu un fel de joc numit "zburatorit" cand fetele porneau in fuga spre sat iar baietii le fugareau incercand sa le prinda si sa le sarute. Daca baiatul ii era drag fetei aceasta se lasa prinsa si sarutata marcand astfel logodna lor. Cuplurile deja formate se sarutau pentru a ramane indragostite pe parcursul noului an.      
      Traditia spune ca cine participa la aceasta sarbatoare cu bucurie erau considerati binecuvantati in acel an si aveau parte de sanatate si un an imbelsugat. In aceasta zi nimeni nu are voie sa fie trist sau sa planga pentru ca va fi asa tot anul si va atrage ghinionul asupra sa iar fetele trebuie sa se intalneasca cu persoane de sex masculin pentru a avea parte de iubire si daca ating un barbat vor fi dragostoase  tot anul.
      Lucrarile campului, tesutul, cusutul nu sunt permise in aceasta zi, doar curatenia, fiind considerata aducatoare de noroc si prospetime. Fetele mari strangeau de cu seara ultimele ramasite de nea numita si "zapada zanelor" iar apa topita era folosita pe tot parcursul anului pentru infrumusetare si diferite descantece de dragoste. Se credea ca aceasta zapada s-a nascut din surasul zanelor, iar fetele care se clateau cu aceasta apa deveneau frumoase si fermecatoare ca acestea.
     Sarbatoarea Dragobetelui este socotita de toti de bun augur marcand un nou inceput si o noua sansa de a gasi iubirea adevarata sau a-si reinnoi juramintele de dragoste.

On the 24th of february we celebrate here in Romania the traditional holiday of "Dragobete" the love protector, a tradition dating back to our dacians anchestors that an archaic legend said to be the son of "Baba Dochia"( an old woman with another spring tradition linked to this figure). The handsome "Dragobete" also known as "Spring Head" or "The birds fiancee" was a matchmaker and became the protector of love and of those who celebrated him on this day.
    In its essence this holiday symbolises the beginning of the new year that started on march in the archaic times and the renaissance of all things in nature and in the human life.The nonmigrating birds were those who gave the signal and began courting and mating and making their nests, and those who didn't find pair remained single until the same day of the next year. Following the bird's example young people in the romanian villages used to gather in front of the church and walked in the woods where they picked up the first flowers, usually the snowdrops  and then played a game called "Zburatorit" a kind of flying inspired like ritual when girls ran back to the village and the boys followed them attempting to embrace and kiss them. If a girl liked the boy and received the kiss they were considered engaged and begun the relationship, announcing it to the families. Paired or married couples renewed their love commitments embracing and kissing on this day.
      Tradition says that those who participate to this holiday with joy and happiness is blessed with a good year and richness in their homes. On this day nobody is allowed to be sad or they will atract bad luck and all heavy works in the fields, sewing or weaving are forbidden, only cleaning up the house is allowed as it is thought to bring good luck and freshness. Girls have to meet a man this day to be lucky in love and if they touched the man they will be loveable all year. Unmarried girls gathered the last snow of the winter and stored the water all year long, thought to be the water of goddeses that made them look young and beautiful if they washed their face with it.
      This special day is considered by all the sign of good luck in the new year and the possibility of a new chance to find love or renew their love commitments.

"Dragobete" giveaway

Cherish Ceramics organizeaza un concurs cu ocazia sarbatorii traditionale romanesti "Dragobete", care celebreaza dragostea; tot ce trebuie sa faceti este sa dati share in mod public pozei de concurs de pe pagina de facebook si sa raspanditi vestea iar pe 24 februarie,  vom extrage un castigator care va intra in posesia bijuteriilor din imagine.
facebook.giveaway

Cherish Ceramics is having a giveaway with the ocasion of the romanian traditional holiday "Dragobete", a love celebration, and all you have to do is publicly share the photo and spread the good word to all your friends and on the 24th of february we will extract one winner for the jewelry set showcased in the image.
facebook.giveaway

The tea cup's story

via : a-chinese-tea-bowl-jian-ware-song-dynasty

via: Royal-Limoges

Ceasca de ceai este pentru multi un obiect folosit zilnic, ceaiul fiind bautura cea mai consumata in lume, indragita si savurata fie calda sau rece cu diferite arome, un deliciu in clipele de relaxare. Dar cum a fost inventata forma actuala a cestii de ceai este un mister poate pentru multi. Primele cesti de ceai au facut drumul spre Europa -mai precis Anglia importate fiind din China in secolul 16. Acestea erau boluri fara maner folosite in China de secole in timpul ceremoniei ceaiului: tea bowl Song dinasty 960-1279
In jurul anului 1750 un englez inspirat pe nume Robert Adams a ajuns la concluzia ca acestor boluri le lipseste un maner pentru sustinere pentru ca de cele mai multe ori englezii se ardeau la maini. El stabileste astfel ca regula  aceste manere -tortitele de astazi, si impreuna cu alte accesorii adaugate tot de el : farfurioara care aduna ceaiul scurs pe marginea canii, zaharnita si sosiera pentru frisca pentru ca preferau ceaiul indulcit,  lingurita pentru amestecat completeaza serviciul de ceai care a devenit astfel un set clasic respectat si preluat de toate tarile europene si de peste ocean fiind produse din portelan fin dar foarte rezistent. Unele tari vor continua insa si traditia bolurilor sau a cestilor fara torti, reinterpretandu-le in diferite forme.
Forma de bol initiala este in continuare preferata in China si tarile orientale si sunt fabricate dintr-o pasta ceramica de tip argila cu o forma ce poate fii cuprinsa intr-o mana stransa si peretii destul de grosi ca sa nu te arzi. In paralel chinezii au dezvoltat si forma occidentala cu torti dar i-au adaugat o mica sita peste ceasca cu capac pentru infuzarea directa a ceaiului.
Manufactura seturilor de ceai a cunoscut o dezvoltare deosebita in Anglia unde se stie ca servitul ceaiului a devenit un obicei de neinlocuit, forma lor fiind rafinata pe parcursul secolelor.
Parerea specialistilor englezi este ca trebuie creata ceasca perfecta pentru ca ceaiul sa isi pastreze toate proprietatile : British scientists work make perfect cup tea

Dupa aceasta poveste cred ca voi face un ceai cald potrivit pentru vremea de afara si il voi savura intr-una din cestile mele preferate, relaxandu-ma si va invit sa faceti acelasi lucru.

Curled up with a cup of tea and a good book  via: Etsy

❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂❂

With tea being the number one drink in the world, the tea cup is a much loved and used item that accompany us every day, all of us love to relax with a good cup of tea in our hands, whether hot or cold and in different aromas. But maybe you don't know the story behind this everyday object and how it evolved over the centuries.The first tea bowls were imported from China to Europe in the 1700 and were initially just bowls used for centuries in the most ceremonial way-  tea bowl Song dinasty 960-1279
Around 1750 an inspired englishman named Robert Adams came to realize that  the tea cups need handles because they often burned their hands on the tea bowls. The English thought this was quite unique and this became quickly the standard of what is known as the English Tea Service Set. Since the English loved to put cream and a bit of sugar in their tea, Robert Adams also inspired the tea pot, sugar holders, milk or creamer containers, and even tea spoons to match. English men made these tea cups from fine porcelain that was strong but delicate in its look.Even today the experts debate over which form is best suited for the best flavour to be achieved: British scientists work make perfect cup tea
Many other European and over seas countries embraced the porcelain sets that were inspired by Robert Adams, but some countries still will have the bowl type ones. These can be different sizes,  simple, streamlined and serve the same purpose of drinking tea.
In China, Japan and other oriental countries people still prefer to drink their tea in pottery ware used to brew directly the tea. The chinese are very proud of what is known as their “purple clay”.  These tea cups are handle-less and require the user to completely wrap hand around tea cup. The pottery-type tea cup is thicker  protecting in this way the hand from a burn. It is up to you which style you prefer.


After writing this tea cup story I am off to make a good tea to enjoy and hope you do the same.


Curled up with a cup of tea and a good book  via: Etsy