Romanian Folk Art: the Value of Ancient Tradition in a Modern World (Part 1)

       

    Today and in the next couple of days I will teach you some secrets about a side of Romania which exist far away in time and space, but during the past few years people have started bringing it back into modernity. After we, as a nation, had enough of modernity and the western world, we started looking towards the past, towards folklore - national costumes and all sorts traditional artefacts with national motives. 

     

     Every year, on the 24th of June, we celebrate the Sanziene, who in Romanian folklore are known to be good fairies, dancing and floating in the air, and blessing the inhabitants of the Earth. Of course, in this part of the year there is an abundancy of folklore events, such as festivals and fairs. And today I attended one of these fairs.

      

    For the last couple of years, this day has also been decided as the International Day of the Ie, which is the blouse of the Romanian popular costume, available both for men and women, and each model varying among the country's region - on a white fabric, different patterns and colours of embroidery. Therefore, this newly found tradition says that all proud Romanians, ladies and gentlemen, living in Romania or abroad, should wear it. And today, in our hectic and modern Bucharest, many people did. And it looked pretty. It looked like "something else" - a nice Ie in combination with a business-like pencil skirt and high-heels is not something you get to see every day. ;) The models and patterns are numerous - as you can see in the pictures. Besides, they are also used on other garnments, such as belts, skirts or trousers. 

          

        Apart from costumes, creativity is at home in Romania. Be it costumes, coloured wool carpets, painting on wood, ceramic art (which will all have special sections in the future), and handmade toys are being rediscovered these days, in their simple beauty, from a world that many young people may not even have met in first person. They are not cheap to buy - but, thinking about all the manoeuver that goes into making them, rightfully so. On the other hand, they give a pleasant feeling: a feeling of belonging. And it is great! :)