BALKANBEATSBALKANBEATSBALKANBEATSEdition 11

Thessaloniki It’s impossible to choose a better place for this spectacular mix of art from Balkans like the Block 33, another ancient factory restored to be used for culture: simply gorgeous.

The 4th edition of the Balkan Fest, celebrated last 20th of february and promoted by the NGO “Kids in action” and the on-line magazine “Exostis” is the first festival in the Balkans that combines art, culture and cuisine. As the organization says “[it] is organised to promote the culture of the balkan countries, to fight the discrimination and to promote population diversity”. The music is the focus, but the value and other art forms such as cinema, photography, art, and gastronomy are also involved. The Festival lasts one day and is dedicated to freedom of expression, to entertainment quality, to exchange of views, to meeting people and discovering new differents ways of art and cultures. The event started at 19h with the cinematography section in the cute and improvised cinema projecting shortfilms about balkan filmmakers and at 21h, more or less, it was totally full with around 500 people enjoying the photographic exhibitions of Tania Koleska in one side with “Kastoriá, Lady of the Lake”, great

landscapes and very sensitive job, and Sophia Kamplioni and Athanasios Xristou in another with “Koudounoforoi”, a very artistic work that reminds a mix of thrash metal music and the japanese anime. When first the young trio of Ta Xálkina tis Kastoriás and then the Folklore Dance Group of Thessaloniki, called

Ampelokipon, surprised the assistants in the patio of Block 33 among the food and the awesome environment and decoration, all started to change. The unexpected dancers and their band joined the crowd so as to dance beautiful and traditional dances with their elegant costumes. The Balkan party started. Concerts in two scenes, traditional music, a lot to discover about that culture. Drinking, eating, jumping, laughing, happiness and a lot of people dancing along with unknown people. Friends with friends. It’s amazing how the music can connect people not familiar to each other. The music bands of the night were: Kottarashky, from Bulgaria, Bucharest Klezmer Band, from Romania, Osmanovi Orchestar, from F.Y.R.O.M., and Folk ‘n’ Roll, Dysanatolia, DJ Spery, Rom Royale and DJ Thios Fanias, from Greece. All of them had the excitement and the hope in their eyes, to be a peaceful community with all of their country neighbours. The freedom and the respect were totally present in the Festival, in every milimeter of the place and also in the feelings of every assistant along with the happiness of everyone dancing, eating, drinking, singing... no matter where you came from. That’s the way to do the things, to make a better world and a nice place to live in. Balkan Fest is the perfect example to build a peaceful world without racism, homophobia, xenophobia and sexism.Text and photos: Aurora Real

The difficult situation at the border between Greece and FYROM

Hundreds of migrants living in the woodsSome organisations started bringing them food, clothes and medicines

Idomeni is a small village in the north of Greece. It is a group of houses in the middle

of the countryside, rounded by fields, at some hundred meters from the border with FYROM. Close to Idomeni whole families of migrants live in the woods, waiting and attempting to cross the border and leave Greece. Every day tens of migrants of every gender and every age come in this strip of land finding improper shelters to pass the nights. Some of them live in Greece for many years and speak basic Greek, others have just arrived, but all of them are trying to reach Central Europe. The majority of them are Asians, especially Syrians and Afghans.

The final destination of everyone seems to be Germany. The route of this hidden way of immigration isn’t fixed. In the Balkans border’s vulnerability changes and the traffickers change their route according to it. In their case, once someone gets to enter Fyrom, the next step is Serbia, after Hungary, from which you can go to Slovenia and then enter Italy, or Slovakia,

Czech Republic and Austria to try to reach the “dream”: Germany. “There we can find a job” a young Afghan says, having escaped because of the war and recently entered Greece from Turkey. Almost everyone comes through Turkey, crossing the Evros river. The traffickers who manage the migrant business in that border are for the most part Turks. They ask to be paid between 800 and 2000 Euros in order to offer a seat on an improper boat, usually an inflatable raft, and to get to the Greek bank of the river. During the winter, when some sections of the river freeze, the danger not to reach the other bank of it is even higher. Another Afghan who lives for two months in the woods of Idomeni lost his wife during the crossing. When she fell into the water, he begged the traffickers to stop and try to search for her; they replied that if he didn’t stop, they would have thrown in the water both him and his children, two and four years old. Another young migrant, from Ivory Coast, told us that one of the two inflatable rafts, with which they were crossing

the river, was damaged. “The passengers shouted for help, the boat sank and we couldn’t see any of them after that”.

Those who get to cross the river often try to continue their long journey and Idomeni (400 kilometres far from the Turkey-Greece border), its woods and the Vardar river represent their next challenge. Some migrants try to cross the border using the railway that passes along those woods. They hide themselves under the trains and in the last three months two people died, crushed by the train. There are hundreds living along the border, divided in small groups, often by nationality. They are lying waiting that the traffickers will let them pass, or trying by themselves. Like a young Syrian, around twenty years old, we met there. He has entered Greece one month before and he intends to go to Germany. He lost sight of his brother during the long journey. “We will meet again in Germany”, he said to us with certainty.

A group of migrants taking food and clothes, among them also some children

In the woods of Idomeni, hundreds of migrants live under the same conditions, suffering from the cold, the hunger, the thirst, under insecure health conditions, left to their own devices. Yet, there is someone who has begun helping them. Individual people and some associations have started collecting and bringing them food, blankets, clothes and medicines. On Sunday 18 of January we joined one of these “caravan of solidarity”. Departing from Thessaloniki with “Stop the Racism” and the doctors of “Social Practice” and stopping over Kilkis, where other local associations joined us, we went up until Idomeni. There were around twenty cars full of food, clothes, shoes, blankets, medicines and some toys for the children. At first, we stopped at the centre of Idomeni and a delegation of us

went to the police office before going to the woods. Through the small path we reached three to four groups of migrants leaving them the things the associations collected during the week. However “even if we had whole containers” said to us Vassilis Tsartsanis, a journalist resident in the area, “they couldn’t solve the problem of these people. They are waifs of the bureaucracy, of the traffickers, who have created a huge ‘money feast’. The police in Skopje often beats them. We have provided shelter to people with open heads, broken arms. They have no blankets in the cold”. “Every time we go there, we get cold” – said a young student who tries to help those people for two months – “when we came in December, it was very cold. We went there for a few hours and I felt my legs numb from the cold.

And I remember once it started having a very strong wind and I heard a baby crying. It cried so loudly, because it was scared and cold, and we left. We went to the car and turned on the air conditioning, and I said, what do these people do out there?” We asked the doctors of social practise about the common health problems that they have seen among the migrants. Viruses and common colds, problems with their stomachs, gastroenteritis, caused mostly by the lack of drinking water and the bad habit of drinking from the river. Some men have bruises and haematomas, “they said they were beaten by the police from here (Greece) or there (Fyrom) but nothing serious”, one of the doctors told us.

A group of young Afghans coming back from a failed attempt to cross the border

The situation is alarming and even if the meteorological conditions will be better during the spring, for the same reason more and more people will try to cross the border. Finding a proper solution is not easy and it also includes political decisions and the general immigration policies in Greece and Europe. However, the care of the people and the civil society might give relief, as the experience we described shows. Some of the volunteers told us that lots of people don’t understand why the volunteers are doing that, why they help someone who is just crossing their country since they face all the problems Greece and Greeks are dealing with. They are migrants, people who travel in very bad ways and conditions to escape from something. They are victims of poverty or war in their home countries. They are trying to pass the borders to reach a place where they can start a new life. We should try to break the border of indifference and lend them a helping hand.Christian Cibba

A camp on the bank of the Vardar

The “caravan of solidarity” on a path along the border

The railway that connect Idomeni (last stop in Greece) with FYROM

This is the name of this article; I’m writing this in Tbilisi, capital-city of Georgia. In 70 km from here there is the occupation border

of Russia. And today it’s the same problem in Ukraine.Why do we have the same scenario again?

from GEORGIAto UKRAINE

Since Soviet Union got collapsed, the political map of the world has immediately changed. Wars caused by Ethnic, areas and other reasons. First, there were post-soviet countries, Azerbaijan versus Armenia for the Nagoro- karabakh (1988-1994), Moldova The Transnistria war (1992), Georgia war for Abkhazia (1992-1993) and Samachablo “South Osettia” (1991-1992), Georgia VS Russia (2008) and today is Ukraine in war for the same reason and top European countries and USA are not able to stop occupation of Ukraine. Of course, everyone seems to know that behind each war until 2008 Russia was involved. It was in 2008 when they directly attacked against Georgia. Today, Russia has occupied 20% of Georgian’s territory. That’s “The big brother” strategy in Easter- South Europe. “Frozen conflicts”. All wars have one reason; to stop these countries’ interests to NATO and European Union and to restore Soviet Union, again. It is a dream of V. Putin. He said many times that he will try to create a kind of Soviet Union system again and we have a first example, which is “Eurasian Union”: Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russian federation used his power and forced them, especially Armenia and Belarus, to go into the “Eurasian Union”. In these wars there is just one winner and that’s Russia. Lots of innocent victims, refugees, wires, closed borders; these are the

results of Russian “Peace Policy”. European Union and NATO are obliged to help Ukraine and that’s because Ukrainian people chose a European way; and for this reason they are now paying that price with their blood and life. As Georgia and Moldova did.Yes, the Sanctions works against Russia step by step. But we need more actions, in order to stop war. If fathers of EU and USA would like and wouldn’t be afraid of cold winter. I think if Ukraine agreed in the “Peace Plan” of Russia, then, we would have a new “Frozen Conflict” close to border of NATO. At least, that’s my personal opinion. And last but not least, remember that, if Russia won’t be stopped in Ukraine, Baltic countries will be next.Badri Pataraia

These two cities being only 600km distance away from each other makes it a must for residents of Thessaloniki to finally go and explore Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents - Europe and Asia-, inhabited by more or less 15 million people and offering so much to see and experience that it is hard to imagine!

Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace, Princess’ Islands, Istanbul Archaeology Museum and so on… all of the “must-see” places you find in any travel guide of Istanbul. Without any doubts, these places are breathtaking and you should see as many of them as possible! However, if you are staying in this magnificent city more than two days, there are more sites to visit and explore. Besides, most of them are free of charge and give you a different perspective towards the city.

Without lots of historical background or excessive praises, here are some tips for your trip TO and stay IN Istanbul.

Take a night bus: Thessaloniki - IstanbulIt is a relatively cheap, comfortable and easy way to get to your destination. Alpar Turizm, Zorpidis Travel Services and maybe some more companies will bring you to Istanbul’s main bus station (Buyuk Otogar, Bayrampasa district) in 10 hours for 45€ (35€ if you are a student). Take the bus at 9-10 p.m. at Thessaloniki’s railway station or at Aristotelous square, bring as much kilos of luggage as you want and print out some facts and history regarding the city – you’ll have plenty of time for reading. Start your Istanbul’s experience at 7 a.m. in Taksim square, where you are brought by a free shuttle bus from the main bus station.

Walk around!Despite the enormous size and population of the city, you can still visit a lot of places by simply walking around!

Besiktas & OrtakoyIf starting at Taksim square and going up, walk around Besiktas, one of the oldest districts and neighbourhoods of Istanbul. Have some 2 hours (or more) lasting Turkish breakfast in a breakfast café somewhere around the fish market (Besiktas Balik Pazari), mainly in the street of Celebioglu. Walk up and explore the neighbourhood of Ortakoy – here you should pay a visit to Ortakoy Mosque (Buyuk Mecidiye Camii), which had been under construction for a few years but is now open for prayers and visitors. Drink a glass of deep brownish red or, as locals call it, rabbit blood colour Turkish tea while sitting almost under the Bosphorus bridge. When you get hungry, have a Baked Potato (Kumpir) for lunch since Ortakoy is the best place for it!

Beyoglu & EminonuWalk down from Taksim square through Istiklal Avenue – 1.4 kilometers long pedestrian street, visited by a million or more people in a single day and probably even more during night time, since it is full of bars and clubs! If you are a lover of antiques, swing by Cukurcuma neighbourhood, which is also a home of novelist Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence. When it is time for Turkish tea break, sit down around Galata tower or go for tea and Baklava at Karakoy Gulluoglu. When you are on the way to Eminonu, cross the Golden Horn by passing through Galata bridge, which is usually occupied by hundreds of fishermen. Thanks to that, you can have some cheap lunch nearby – get one of the Fish Sandwiches (Balik Ekmek), which are directly grilled on the boat and are waiting to be thrown at you, literally! Once you are in Eminonu, you will, of course, visit all the “must-see” places. Meanwhile, do not forget Mimar Sinan, probably the greatest architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, and his famous work - Suleymaniye mosque (by the way, Thessaloniki’s White Tower also falls under his work pieces). After the walk, chill out at Mimar Sinan Teras Café, where you should smoke a water-piper or drink some tea (again) enjoying one of the best panoramic views of the city!

Take the ferry!Take the ferry to the Asian side of the city. Take as many ferries as you can – it is one of the most relaxing things you could possibly do - crossing the continents while drinking some tea and counting dozens of seagulls.

KadikoyWhen you cross the Bosphorus, stay and explore the neighbourhoods in the Asian part. A lot of people assume that all the places to see are located in European side; this belief is a mistake though. If you are in Kadikoy, a really lively neighbourhood, pay a visit to an old Kadikoy Tuesday market, which used to take place in Altiyol, but some years ago it moved to Fikirtepe. Visit Haydarpasa terminal – a railway terminal but also one of the symbols of Istanbul, famous in all Middle East for its history and architecture. For a usual tea or coffee time go to Moda, sit down at Moda pier (Moda Iskele) café and appreciate the view overlooking the sea of Marmara. When looking for a charming nightlife, Bar Street (Barlar Sokak) is the place! What could be better than a Turkish bath (Hamam) after a night out? Aziziye Hamam is a place to go – small, cosy, and a lot cheaper than those located on the European side but with a good-quality scrubbing and massage! Moreover, the staff speaks English – so no misunderstandings.

UskudarThe neighbourhood of Uskudar is said to be rather conservative, however, it has the most modern mosque in the whole Turkey! Şakirin Mosque is located at one of the entrances of Karacaahmet Cemetery in Uskudar. Its interior designer is the first female interior designer of a mosque, as well as the first woman to design a mosque in modern Turkey. After visiting the mosque, the highest point of the city is nearby – the Big Hill (Buyuk Camlica) – where you can relax, have a picnic and a glass of tea, of course. From the terraces of the hill you simply see all the skyline of old Istanbul together with Bosphorus winding its way to the Black Sea. The view is priceless!

Last tip: make a contact with local people – they know the cheapest, nicest, cosiest places worth visiting and they are always happy to help or accompany you! Good luck!

“Either I conquer Istanbul or Istanbul conquers me.”Fatih Sultan Mehmet II

Kristina Gruodytė

« Valentine’s day »the story of a symbol

Nowadays, most of the peoples think that Valentine’s Day is like a shamefully commercial day, invented by some florist who wanted to make more profit. But the reality is different, as you will be able to see reading

this article.

Why Valentine ’s day is the day of love?The date that we celebrate Valentine’s Day is an antique Rome heritage. Organized every 15 of February, lupercales celebrated Faunus Lupercus, fertility, shepherd and flock god. Purification rite, organized at the end of the roman year (which start on first on march), this pagan celebration take place in three steps. First of all, priest sacrifice billy goat in the Lupercal natural cave, where, according to the legend, she-wolf suckled the creator of Rome, Romulus and Rémus. Then they coated the noble young people with the sacrifice blood in a rite which symbolize the purification of the shepherd. Then, there is the « lupercs run », during which, the priest and the nobles young, cover by the skin of the sacrificed animals, run in the street and flog the passerby. They flog them with some thong which were cutting in the skin of the same animals. the women in particular placed theirself in the way of the run to be flog because it was a symbol of a successfully and lucky pregnancy. Well, celebration is ending by a big banquet, where the young men draw their women partner for the night. A custom which lead sometimes the formation of lasting relation, even sometimes as far as the wedding.

A christian’s commemoration:the legend said that Valentine’s day had been instituted by Church only in order to block the pagan celebration. This hypothesis is not prouve by any historic paper. The only fact that we are sure,

is that at the end of the fifth century, the lupercales are the last pagan rite which is observed in a predominantly christian Rome. The Pope Gélase first, sent a « letter against the Lupercales » to the senator Andromaque, who was really attached to this traditional celebration. In this letter, the Pope critique the immoral attitude which take places during this celebration. However, contrary to what we can think, the pope didn’t forbid this pagan celebration, he just showed the contradiction which exist between the christian faith and the celebration of this pagan Lupercales. Gélase choose to commemorate, on 14 of February, Valentine’s day, which became the saint boss of the lovers.

Who is Valentin ? A third century roman Priest ?The historian point of view differ about the Valentin identity. In effect, exist more than 7 saints who are called Valentin and who are celebrated on the 14 of February. For lack of be able to present each of them, let’s be concentred on the first one. The first Valentin quote in the martyrology on the 14 of February is a roman priest from the third century. He’s living under the reign of Claude second the gothic, pagan emperor who, during is short reign (268-270), is engaged in some bloody military campaign. In 268, on the pretext of spare the

strength of the soldier, he declare forbidden the fact to get married. But the soldier continue to receive, secretly the wedding benediction given by the Valentin Priest. Quickly he will be uncover and incarcerate. During his captivity, Valentin priest meet Augustine, the daughter of his prison guard. The legend said that he give again the vision at the blind young girl. From then on, she take care of him: grateful, he send to her a message before to be executed, signed « your Valentin’s ». It’s from this period that would arise the tradition to send a message on the occasion of Valentine’s day. This Character is assimilate as the boss of the lovers since the 15th.

The lovers day : One Valentin selected at random : The fact to associate Valentine’s day and love celebration is a bit

delayed: it date back from the middle age. At this Epoch, the tradition want that the young people played at a kind of « love lottery ». Every 14 of February, young men drawed the name of their partner and hanged it on their sleeve during all the celebration (one week). Then, the « Valentin » became the rider that one young girl choose in order to be escort the first carême Sunday, during the « Brandons » celebration. this celebration consisted of a procession, during which, the crowd wandered the countryside and went hunting field mouse, mole, which guaranteed a good gathering for the next year.

what about « Valentine »: The « Valentine’s » designed at the origin, the love or friendship message that people sent for

Valentine’s day. It’s in United Kingdom, during the 14th century, that this custom appear. During the 18th century appear the first card decorated by hearts and cupidon. One century later, it’s the « valentine’s card » decorated by poems which are broadcasting all around Europe.

The Valentine’s day symbol : CupidonIn the roman mythologie, cupidon is the equivalent of the greek love god Eros. Love desire personified, cupidon is represented very often under the form of a child, armed with a bow and quiver full of arrow, faithful companion of his mother « Venus », love and beauty love.

Valentine’s day all around the world :

-> In Europe :

most of the rites and ceremony associated at the valentine’s day disappeared, this celebration is nowadays mostly commercial. This standardisation doesn’t avoid some folkloric traditions to survive. In Germany for example, we commemorate « Valentine’s day of Réthie » protective of epileptic people. In Italie, we offer some chocolate coat by a love message called « Baci Perugini ». In Austria, the lovers parade in the street during this day.

-> In China :

The commercial « Valentine’s day », celebrated, like in all around the world on 14 of February, arrived in China on the 1980’s. But exist as well, a traditional celebration commemorate on the seventh day of the seventh moony month of the Chinese schedule. According to the legend, a fairy got married with a human despite of it mother disagreement. This mother obligate the fairy to join again the sky and separate the lovers by a infinite river, the milky way. Touched by the sincerity of their love, feet decided to form one time per year a bridge which cross the milky way in order that both of the young lovers could meet again.

-> In Japan :

The « Valentine’s day », Japanese girl offer chocolate to the man who they love. This tradition extent even in the professional world. Nowadays, the Japanese woman should even offer this chocolate to all of their masculin colleague, we speak about « Giri Choco » or obligated chocolate. But Japan celebrated also the same commemoration than China, in July and August, acording to the moony schedule. The stars celebration or « Tanabata » celebrated the meeting between « Orihime » and « Hikoboshi ». We hang up so, some bamboo decorated by big lanterne and paper flame above the street.

Because « Valentine’s day » is not just commercial : A bit of romanticism:

Because it’s many cases where some calligraphic words place on a paper have more value than the most expensive present. Just because, exist some stuffs that even the richest person will never be able to buy, like the sentiment and their more honest expression. Here is so, according to this affirmation some examples of the most beautiful letters written by famous person for their lovers.

1. Ernest Hemingway to Marlene Dietrich“I can’t say how every time I ever put my arms around you I felt that I was home.”

2. Napoleon to Josephine“Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed. My happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude. The charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle continually a burning and a glowing flame in my heart. When, free from all solicitude, all harassing care, shall I be able to pass all my time with you, having only to love you, and to think only of the happiness of so saying, and of proving it to you?”

3. Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera“Nothing compares to your hands, nothing like the green-gold of your eyes. My body is filled with you for days and days. You are the mirror of the night. The violent flash of lightning. The dampness of the earth. The hollow of your armpits is my shelter. My fingers touch your blood. All my joy is to feel life spring from your flower-fountain that mine keeps to fill all the paths of my nerves which are yours.”

4. Georgia O’Keeffe to Alfred Stieglitz“Dearest — my body is simply crazy with wanting you — If you don’t come tomorrow — I don’t see how I can wait for you — I wonder if your body wants mine the way mine wants yours — the kisses — the hotness — the wetness — all melting together — the being held so tight that it hurts — the strangle and the struggle.”

5. Beethoven to his “Immortal Beloved”“Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my

Immortal Beloved, Be calm-love me-today-yesterday-what tearful longings for you-you-you-my life-my all-farewell. Oh continue to love me-never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”

7. Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan“The important thing is I don’t want to be without you for the next 20 years, or 40, or however many there are. I’ve gotten very used to being happy and I love you very much indeed.”

8. Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas“Everyone is furious with me for going back to you, but they don’t understand us. I feel that it is only with you that I can do anything at all. Do remake my ruined life for me, and then our friendship and love will have a different meaning to the world. I wish that when we met at Rouen we had not parted at all. There are such wide abysses now of space and land between us. But we love each other.”

9. Henry VII to Anne Boleyn“But if you please to do the office of a true loyal mistress and friend, and to give up yourself body and heart to me, who will be, and have been, your most loyal servant, (if your rigour does not forbid me) I promise you that not only the name shall be given you, but also that I will take you for my only mistress, casting off all others besides you out of my thoughts and affections, and serve you only. I beseech you to give an entire answer to this my rude letter, that I may know on what and how far I may depend. And if it does not please you to answer me in writing, appoint some place where I may have it by word of mouth, and I will go thither with all my heart. No more, for fear of tiring you.”

10. Vita Sackville-West to Virginia Woolf“But oh my dear, I can’t be clever and stand-offish with you: I love you too much for that. Too truly. You have no idea how stand-offish I can be with people I don’t love. I have brought it to a fine art. But you have broken down my defenses. And I don’t really resent it.” Kevin Cassé

Genious people and

great opportunities

Valentine’s Day could be a symbolic day for lovers, but nowadays it’s becoming a nightmare for people who think that they have to buy a gift or send a card to their lover. Why do they feel this obligation? The pressure of society makes them worry about superficialities, forget the essence of their relationship and feel insufficient if they are not able to do enough. What they should know is that they have so many days to express themselves in so many ways that are not related with consumption. Although they have so many days to open up their souls, somehow they are affected by the advertisements all over the streets and the media. They tend to feel guilty because of them. Perhaps they are not that good at expressing themselves. Maybe not, but Valentine’s week has the highest shopping ratio for February.

Nowadays, the only question is how it suddenly became that famous and valuable. It was an incredible opportunity like every innovative approach of the developing industrialization period. A British publisher got inspiration from the previous celebrations of Valentine’s Day and then he issued “The Young Man’s Valentine Writer”, which contained scores of suggested romantic verses for the young lovers who were unable to compose their own verses. Printers started working on a limited number of these cards with small verses and sketches, called “mechanical valentines“. Paper Valentines became popular in England in the 19th century, when they were assembled in factories. Fancy Valentines were made with real lace and ribbons. In 1835, 60000 cards were sent by post in Britain in spite of the expensive postage. In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of paper and lace were produced and sold shortly after, in 1847. Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers, marked by sending cards, flowers, simple gifts and often ending the day with a small gathering or a ball. So, like Christmas, Valentine’s Day has become a mega-commercial hype with special Valentine dances throughout the cities and one billion valentine cards exchanging hands on a single day throughout the world, thus making just the perfect excuse to make lots of people spend even more money to avoid feeling disappointed or insecure.

On the other hand, Valentine’s Day is a really good chance to refresh trade; for this reason all owners of shops are pleased for sure. Moreover, people who are taking gifts from someone enjoy this day. If you are looking for some reason to enjoy time with your lover or family, you have so many chances to visit gift shops. One of these days can be Mother’s day.

As Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day is celebrated all around the world in various dates depending on the country. People consider the day an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and to thank them for all their love and support. The day has become hugely popular and in several countries phone lines witness maximum traffic. There is also a tradition of giving flowers, cards and other gifts to mothers on Mother’s Day. The celebration has become commercialized to a great extent. Florists, card manufacturers and gift sellers see huge business potential in the day and http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/mothers-day-history.html makes good money through a rigorous advertising campaign. As a result, Valentine’s Day has affected Mother’s day and, moreover, Father’s day has got inspiration as well as other celebrations.Ozan Mert Balcı

The roadof the

bells

Hideous monsters, men and women dressed in traditional clothes, the bells’ sound ringing everywhere…

Are we inside a film? No, we are just in the seaside of Thessaloniki where ‘Οι δρόμοι του κουδουνιού ‘, literally ‘The streets of Bells’ is taking place. It is a celebration that recalls the rites of the ancient people who inhabited these lands. The protagonists of this day are absolutely the “Κουδουνοφόροι”, meaning ‘those who bring the bells’, men (and sometimes women and children) that bring these huge bells by wearing traditional costumes. They come mostly from Greece (Kabala, Drama, Heraklion) but also from Bulgaria and Serbia. The more frightening the mask is and the louder the sound of the bell will be, the stronger the protection will be against bad luck, fear, death, everything the human being is afraid of today as it was 5000 years ago. Take a look at this unconventional Parade that opens the Carnival season.Michela Sartini

The United Societies of Balkans, NGO, does not necessarily share the opinions expressed in Balkan Beats. It is illegal to reproduce any part of this publication without referring to the source. This magazine is distributed free of charge.

United Societies of Balkans is a Non Governmental Organization, founded in Thessaloniki in 2008, by a team of active young people.The organization was created as a response to the pressure of constant changes in the Balkan and Eastern European region and under the need for the creation of a better social environment. Key areas of the organization’s activities concern the defense of human rights, the organization of youth exchanges and training courses, which will bring young people from Balkans and Europe together, the organization of local educational seminars and multimedia production (web radio, videos, documentaries).

Main goals of the organizationTo promote the values of non formal learning, volunteering, active citizenship and democracy for the creation of a better future for European youth.To promote human rights, solidarity and respect for diversity.To build healthy cooperation bridges between countries of the Balkan area and that of Eastern Europe with the rest of Europe.To locate and multiply the special cultural attributes of our societies.The break down of prejudices and stereotypes between Balkan countries.

General Director: Aristodimos ParaschouHuman Resources: Olympia DatsiPress Officer: Korina BraniotiManagers: Matteo Scarpa, Jelena Vujanovic

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Youth in Action programme, Action 2 - European Voluntary Service. This project has been funded with support

from the European Commision. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commision can not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained

therein.

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