Youth Without Age and Life Without Death #Im4Ro

If you enjoyed the eerie feeling and local color of Romanian folktale Emperor Aleodor you will love reading Youth Without Age and Life Without Death. Enjoy it and remember, the magic of Romanian folktales starts with the first words.

16/03/202029/04/2022

A Forgotten Spring Legend and a Romanian Tradition #Im4Ro

Knee deep in research I lost my way between dusty manuscripts but I am excited to have discovered a forgotten Spring legend tied to a Romanian tradition.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, for if it wouldn’t have happened it wouldn’t have been told…

13/03/202017/10/2021

Emperor Aleodor, Romanian Folktale, The End

Emperor Aleodor, Aleodor Imparat, is a Romanian folktale gathered by Romanian folklorist and writer Petre Ispirescu in 1875 and translated into English in 19th by historian and linguist Robert Nisbet Bain. I did very little to edit Nisbet Bain’s skillful translation. I liked his choice of early modern English, I thought it gives Emperor Aleodor a charming old-fashioned patina.
Read part one here and part two here.

01/03/202029/04/2022

1 March, Martisor – Tradition and Symbolism in Romania #Im4Ro

Martie - Martisor - red and white string tied to snowdrops

Part of the UNESCO cultural heritage, the tradition of 1 March, Martisor, and its symbolism, are a millennial tradition in Romania.

27/02/202029/04/2022

The Journey of Initiation in Romanian Fairy Tales #Im4Ro

A strong sense of the place, a memorable, relatable character, a journey of initiation we are eager to follow – are the markings of retellable Romanian fairy tales.

Romanian folk tales are filled with active characters involved in amazing journeys. Perhaps an influence of the millennial transhumance and of a local history forged in battles, seen through the Romanian metaphysical view on religion, what better way to explain the connection between the sacred and the profane but through stories?