The Association for Digital Education Bigger Picture has announced the launch of the project 'The Map of Romania Woven from Traditions', an initiative aimed at transforming Romania's intangible cultural heritage into a'living story' accessible to both children and adults.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, the project is developed in partnership with the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, the National Heritage Institute, and the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. It showcases ten Romanian elements inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: the doina (traditional Romanian musical genre — a type of melancholic, free-flowing song that expresses deep emotion, often sadness, longing (dor), or nostalgia, editor's note), scoarta (a handwoven traditional rug, often richly patterned and historically used for floor coverings, bedding, or wall decoration in rural homes, editor's note), camasa cu altita (a traditional Romanian blouse, part of the national costume, distinguished by its intricate hand-embroidered patterns, editor's note), Lipizzaner horses, Horezu pottery (handmade, brightly decorated, and often featuring distinctive motifs), jocul fecioresc (the lads' dance, a ritual and festive dance, usually presented during winter holidays, weddings, and other community celebrations, with the dancers — young unmarried men, or 'lads' (feciori) — performing in groups, showcasing coordination, agility, and strength through complex footwork, jumps, and rhythmic clapping, editor's note), the calusului ritual (traditional Romanian dance and ritual, performed by a group of men known as the 'Calusari', usually around Easter or on other springtime festivities, involving intricate steps, leaps, and acrobatic movements, often accompanied by traditional music played on instruments like the violin, flute, or drum, editor's note), the martisor (small decorative talisman, usually a red and white string tied into a bow or knot, sometimes with a charm or small ornament attached, the red symbolising life, vitality, and love, and white purity, light, and renewal, editor's note), the men's carolling group, and transhumance (the traditional practice of seasonal movement of livestock between different grazing areas, editor's note).

On the platform afostodata.ro/patrimoniu, the public will be able to listen to an audio collection of stories that turn these traditions into a captivating sound experience, told with warmth and attention to detail.

The project, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration, will be launched on Friday, 17 October, at 11:00 a.m., during the Festival of Traditions at the Village Museum, marking the Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Visitors will be able to take part in pottery, weaving and braiding workshops, traditional dance demonstrations, and meetings with authentic craftsmen.

Among those introducing children to the secrets of Romanian traditions are the Giubega couple from Olari-Horezu, craftsman Flory Buia, choreographer Simona Leasa, folklorist Cornelia Tihon, and artist Brandusa Trifan.

On the same day, the illustrated volume ''he Map of Romania Woven from Traditions' will also be launched — a book designed to inspire a love of reading and curiosity about Romania's cultural roots, the release notes.

'This initiative is fully in line with the spirit of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which defines safeguarding as the transmission of this heritage between generations. Living culture exists only through education, and the link between the two is indissoluble: through education, traditions become an active part of the present and a resource for the future. The combination of written text, narration, music and striking illustration makes this one of the most creative initiatives for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage,' Ligia Deca, Secretary-General of the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO was quoted as saying in the press release.

The Association for Digital Education Bigger Picture aims to develop and promote high-quality educational content in a modern, accessible and inclusive way for all children. Since 2018, it has been running the project A fost odata/Once upon a time - afostodata.ro, a unique concept in Romania offering children and educators an interactive way to discover culture, literature and national values.AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)