On our short 2020 summer trip, my intention was to show Aleck more about Romanian culture, food and traditions. It is extremely hard to do a lot in such a short period of time, but I managed to do as much as I could. The only museum we visited was “Muzeul de Panze si Povesti” (Museum of Canvases and Stories) as it was on my list since we left Canada.
The story behind this museum is magic! We have a say in Romanian – omul sfinteste locul – translated literally to “the person sanctifies the place”, and this is exactly what the two sisters did! In simple words, the museum is a collection of traditional Romanian clothes, stories and creative workshops for children. For example, the story about Mother Ruta Suveica and storytelling workshops called “Mandra Chic.”
The museum is open anytime online, but if you ever go to Romania, ask your guide to take you in a small village named “Mandra” in the middle of Fagaras Country to see, touch and feel the magic! There is no place like “Mandra Muzeul de Panze si Povesti.” And all of this was created, supported and sustained by two sisters, Ioana and Alina. Between all the magical stories born at this location, “Mother Ruta’s Suveica” drew me in! “Suveica ” is a tool which mama Ruta used to weave the dowry in the loom, that already crossed almost 1 million kilometres around the world, as to fulfill the grandmother’s wish of seeing what is beyond the horizon she knew growing up.
However, for almost half of the year, Mother Ruta’s “Suveica” didn’t go anywhere! The COVID19 pandemic put a stop to everything including all her trips! But 10 days ago, “Suveica” was back on the road! Picked up by two boys, one Canadian and one American, both born in Romanian families, “Suveica” is now in Ontario, Canada with a goal in mind to see all important places from Canada!
We spent a few hours at the museum! At the store, we bought and wore three beautiful t-shirts made by “MandraChic” with priceless messages. We listened to Ioana, telling us about the amazing stories that were built under her grandparents’ roof. The picture with her grandfather’s ticket to a boat that took him to the US, and his copy of the cheque holding the USD1000 he brought home and built a great life, here in Mandra with his family. The mama Ruta picture with her husband. Her box with all the goodies she made for her daughters. The daughters’ wedding dresses made by her…and I can go on and on about all the treasures from the museum. We listened to Ioana’s stories about her family and we remembered (my sister and I) about our childhood. About summers with our grandmothers, we remembered everything they taught us, and yes, we did work at the loom and they did have a “Suveica.” The memories brought us tears thinking that like Ioana and Alina, we can create our own museum or maybe each and every village in Romania needs to have a “Museum of Canvases and Stories,” because, beyond the homeland in this globalized world, everyone has their #homeawayfromhome .
SUVEICA- The Shuttle Loom, lives in Burlington for now, but she will travel around Canada to carry and bring stories of people and local culture!
For the Romanian speakers, an interview with the founder and creator of the movement Alina Zara Prunean, at OMNITV Canada.
