Disclaimer

Disclaimer

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.


ponedjeljak, 24. veljače 2014.

Dragobete

Dragobete is a traditional Romanian holiday originating from Dacian times and celebrated on February, the 24th. It is around this time that the birds begin to build their nests and mate, so that this day is particularly known as "the day when the birds are betrothed", or the "Romanian's day of love", when Romanians celebrate not only the ancient love day, but also the rebirth of nature and the symbol of protection against diseases . Anyhow, the Romanian "Dragobete" is a positive character originated from Romanian folklore considered symbol of pure love or the Romanian counterpart of Greek "Eros". "Dragobete", named also "Dragomir", was the son of Baba Dochia (a Daco-Thracian tale said that Dochia was the sister of Decebal, the Dacian ruler). Dochia took her sheep and her son up in the mountains to seek refuge from the invasion of the Romans. Although she carried 12 lambskins, when she runs away in the mountains, she looses them and freezes, latter being metamorphosed into a stone. Her son, Dragobete, was a handsom guy, lover of wild nature, who liked to kiss girls; that is why a special saying is dedicated to this custom ‘Dragobete kisses the girls.’ Also called Spring’s Sign, he is assimilated to the Cupid in the Roman mythology. Folk tales describe him as a merry young man, with a good heart and a native talent for playing the flute. There are many beliefs referring to this holiday. For instance, they say that attendants to this holiday would be protected from diseases, and especially fever, and that Dragobete helps people to have a successful year. On this day, considered locally the first day of spring, boys and girls gather vernal flowers and sing together. Maidens used to collect the snow that still lies on the ground in many villages and then melt it, using the water in magic potions throughout the rest of the year. If the weather allows, girls and boys go to the woods and pick snowdrops or other early spring plants for the person they are courting. When the girls are heading home, the boys are supposed to steal a kiss from them. The couple that kissed in front of the others are considered engaged for a whole year. During the evening, the girls and boys gather round a fire and they tell stories and sing songs.

četvrtak, 13. veljače 2014.

THE WORLD RADIO DAY


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World Radio Day is on 13 February. It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO's 36th General Conference. It was originally proposed by Spain. The General Conference proclaimed that this day be celebrated by UNESCO on 13 February, the anniversary of the day the United Nations established United Nations Radio in 1946. The World Radio Day seeks raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters. Radio has to be recognized as a low cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. The first radio transmission was broadcast on November 1, 1928, 5:00 PM. The first official radio show was inaugurated by the Romanian physicist and professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu, who became the president of the Administration Council of The Radiotelephonic Broadcasting Company.