Flower Power

The dahlia is painted onto Dalian's name day cake. Nice touch.

Football!


Floriile is a special day in Romania. On the last Sunday before Easter custom calls for Romanians to celebrate those they know who were named after a flower. Some examples: Florin, Florina, Margareta, Dalia, Viorica, Crina. The literal translation would be that this is their "flower name day". It is very similar to a birthday- you receive phone calls wishing you a happy name day, friends visit your house and you could even receive gifts. More detail about this day can be read here. We were invited to a barbecue on Floriile to celebrate Dalian's "flower name day". Although it sounds very strange to have a day celebrating your name, it is quite commonplace here.


*I should also note that if you are named after a saint, the saint's day is also your "name day". Thus the same activities apply. To me these are like bonus birthdays.