Balkazaar

25/03/2026

🇬🇷 Happy Independence Day, Greece!

Today we honor the courage, history, and spirit of freedom that define this great nation.
Discover more about the iconic Evzones — the Presidential Guard of Greece — in our article.

📖 Read it now in the first comment!

08/01/2026

Winter has finally come to Bucharest 🌨🌨🌨

06/01/2026

🙏On 6th January, Christians all around Greece take part at various traditions to celebrate the Epiphany that is also called Theophania and commemorates the Christ's Baptism.

🌊One of the most important and impressive ritual of the day is the great blessing of the water which is made by a Greek Orthodox priest that throws a special cross in the sea and many brave young man dive into the cold water to return the cross.

🍀The lucky man that gets the cross is said that will have plenty of luck in the new year.

At the end of the ceremony, the priest releases a white dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 🕊

01/12/2025

Torchlight Retreat. Happy National Day, Romania!

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05/10/2025

20/04/2025

Christ is risen!

19/04/2025

Color, Heart, and an Open Gate: An Easter Rooted in Kindness and Tradition

From that spirit, the “An Easter for Them” project was born — a collaboration between Balkazaar and the Dimitrie Gusti Technological High School. The students' creations became part of an online fair with a real purpose. Those who purchased them weren’t just buying handmade gifts — they were sending a message of warmth, hope, and a quiet form of solidarity.

There are gestures that make no noise but change everything. That’s how this Easter story began —quietly, in a simple workshop, with young hands and honest ideas.

At the Dimitrie Gusti Technological High School in Bucharest, during the Green Week, the Dochia in Style workshop came to life. A group of students started creating: hand-painted bottles, soulful T-shirts, meaningful artworks. Beyond colors and shapes, each piece carried an intention — to reach someone in a place where joy doesn’t come easily.

Read more in the first comment 👇👇👇

13/04/2025

The Journeymen's Pole of Sibiu: A Living Symbol of Craftsmanship

Nestled in the heart of Sibiu, near the Evangelical Church in Huet Square, stands a unique wooden monument known as the Journeymen's Pole. This pole is adorned with numerous nails and small metal objects, each representing a journeyman's passage through the city. The tradition harks back to medieval times when young craftsmen, after completing their apprenticeships, embarked on a journey lasting at least three years and a day to hone their skills across various regions. Before departing a city, it was customary for each journeyman to hammer a nail into a designated pole, symbolizing their visit and seeking good fortune for their onward travels. Such poles, known in German as "Stock im Eisen," can also be found in cities like Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.

Sibiu's Journeymen's Pole is situated adjacent to the "Casa Calfelor" or Journeymen's House at Piața Huet No. 3. This house serves as a residence and workshop for traveling journeymen from countries like Germany, Switzerland, and France. Since 2002, these craftsmen have been contributing to the restoration of the building and other projects in the city, often collaborating with local communities.

The presence of the Journeymen's Pole and House in Sibiu underscores the city's commitment to preserving and celebrating traditional crafts. Visitors can witness this living heritage, especially during events organized by the Casa Calfelor Association, which often include workshops, demonstrations, and cultural exchanges.

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08/04/2025

The beautiful Spiral Staircase at the Romanian Athenaeum, (Ateneul Român), in Bucharest, Romania

A landmark of the Romanian capital city, the Romanian Athenaeum is a symbol of Romanian culture. Its stunning Baroque-style dome rises elegantly in one of the most beautiful public squares in Bucharest.

It features four monumental spiral staircases crafted from pink Carrara marble. These Baroque-style staircases elegantly connect the ground floor's impressive circular lobby.

The idea of building the Romanian Athenaeum was born from the desire to establish an elite musical cultural institution in Bucharest.

The funds needed for the construction of the Romanian Athenaeum were gathered almost entirely through public donations, under the motto “Give a leu for the Ateneu”

Construction began in 1886, based on the plans of French architect Albert Galleron, and it was inaugurated two years later, on February 26, 1888. The grand concert hall is decorated with a fresco that depicts key moments in the history of the Romanian people, created by the painter Costin Petrescu.

Throughout its existence, the Romanian Athenaeum has been a silent witness to Romania’s modern and contemporary history. During World War II, the German air force (Luftwaffe).

Today, the Romanian Athenaeum is home to the “George Enescu” Philharmonic and is a venue where some of the most renowned conductors and soloist of the 20th century have performed: Arthur Rubinstein, Dinu Lipatti, Erich Kleiber, Herbert von Karajan, Ionel Perlea, Yehudi Menuhin, Pablo Casals, and Sergiu Celibidache.

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roman

06/04/2025

Tile with representation of Shaman.
Early 9th c. Madara, Shumen region, Bulgaria.