Information provided by Dominique Peters. Transcribed by Nicole Pierre
On Monday 30th March, there was an amazing collaboration between the Fondation L’Amité- Club da La Haye and the Romanian Embassy in The Netherlands. A lecture-demonstration was held at the Muzee Scheveningen as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Amité Club de La Haye and the Orthodox Easer celebration of Romania. This was a perfect way to bring the Francophone month, March, to a festive close.
Mr. Marius Boranescu, Minister-Consellor at the Romanian Embassy substituted as the conférencier during the absence of S.E. Mme Ireny Comaroschi, Ambassador of Romania. The traditions of this very special celebration were highlighted and the most fascinating tradition of egg-painting were also described and demonstrated.
We discovered that the eggs are first emptied before patterns are drawn on them with melted wax in order to protect its original color. Mythical, religious and cosmic symbols are then painted on the eggs, using a vapor bath, in white, black, yellow and red on a red or black background. This is a process which is passed on from generation to generation and is as enchanting as it is original to the Romanian tradition.
We also learnt that the eggs are decorated with a 15 cm, wood based instrument called a “chișiță”, at the end of which is a copper tube fastened with hemp thread and that in the final phase, the wax which was previously applied, is removed revealing the beautiful, vibrant colors which were impeccably preserved. Two artists, Cristina Timu and Maria Zinici, from Bucovina were invited to explain the ancestral techniques and they also demonstrated some of the different symbols used. As with everything else, the art of decorating eggs has evolved over time and the techniques have become more diversified with the incorporation of complex decorating patterns. However, and most importantly, the symbolic value of this tradition has been kept intact.
Thanks to the Amité-Club de la Haye, which organizes very informative conferences throughout the year, we got to discover this magnificent Romanian tradition. Under the direction of its President, Dominique Peters, the Fondation L’Amité-Club de La Haye is one of the main organizations in defense of the French language in The Hague. Bringing the French and Dutch cultures together for intellectual meetings, and safeguarding the importance of French language and the Francophnie, the Amité- Club brings us into contact with amazing cultures and traditions.
