What a fantastic year we have had once again! Came full circle right where we started – Yuletide. What a random thing to do in a new city in the Pacific North West. Pagan new year celebration was a big adventure and surprise! Actually right before that we went to a Russian speaking meetup that took place in the club house after the Thanksgiving, before Christmas. We met lots of people we are still in touch a year later, so it was definitely meant to be.
Koleda celebration was a great way to remember pagan Slavic new year traditions with fellow Ukrainians, russians and belorussians. Good times! Chinese new year was by far the most exciting free show we’ve been to, featuring music, dance and food, hoping to do it again in 2024. Concerts in Portland in general are something above average, I mean they are way better than what we usually get to see. David Nevue and Parov Stelar were best remembered musical performers both in quality and repertoire.
The highlight of the year was my trip to Nanjing, China, I wrote something like 12 posts about it, maybe more, now I can only dream of the next trip to China in 2024, it’s an obsession and I am not ashamed to admit it. I worked there with a team of teachers that were great folks and awesome teachers. Thank you, Portland State University, for providing this opportunity, best thing ever in adventure and surprise nomination.
Exploring the coast was probably as exciting as Washington and Oregon camping, I can’t even tell which one was better. The mature here is definitely worth checking out. Silver Falls State park was probably one of the best places we have seen here, and Falls Creek Falls in Washington are probably at the top of my best thing ever list. Other than that we did Succour Creek (OR) and Paradise Creek (WA), they are must see / visit for anyone and everyone crazy about camping. Spring, summer and fall are the best times to do those, I would happily go back whenever the opportunity presents itself. If only warm season was a bit longer…
The best of the books I chose to listen to/ read this year are:
The Body Keeps the Score, all time best read by Bessel van der Kolk. (hardcover)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa see. (eBook)
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by ETA Hoffman. (audiobook)
In terms of my cooking adventures, check out Kitchen Inspirations blog posts, the year was great for culinary creations just like any other year, to be honest. Portland food scene is wonderful, I have discovered some places in the city, my all time favorite is Hawthorn Asylum food court, it’s within walking distance from where we live. I usually go to Korean Twist or Pelmeni Pelmeni truck, both of them are worth your attention, all in all there are 22 trucks to pick and choose from. Another place I really liked is Dough Zone on the water front right where the views of the city scape are the best. High ceiling and quick service will leave you delighted. Chin’s Kitchen is one of the historic places with traditional Chinese fare, not fancy and definitely more authentic than any other place we came across, you are highly recommended to check it out.
In addition, I discovered the beauty of Japanese Gardens, convenience of PSU farmer’s market and charm of the Powell’s City of Books. All these are absolutely amazing for anyone and everyone visiting Portland. On the quirky side of things, we checked out Bagdad Theater and Kennedy School Hotel that are part of McMennamin’s entertainment program options, they are old school fun things to do if you are a movie buff and/or a bar fly. It’s an old charming way to celebrate trivial things in life.
TypeSpace is a store in Portland that offers typewriters, sale and service. The owner is very knowledgeable and willing to chat, the whole experience is like going to a museum with a private tour, it also feels like a time travel opportunity. Absolutely magical!
How was your year in retrospect? Any insights or lessons learned you want to share?
World Goth Day is observed around the world on May 22.
We have all seen goths — they prefer to dress up in dark clothing and pale makeup. A certain style of clothing and appearance is associated with goths. People mistake goths for those who are obsessed with death and all things morbid. However, this is not exactly true. World Goth Day encourages us to celebrate this culture and learn why goth culture is so popular. World Goth Day is a day to celebrate all things strange and wonderful according to Nationaltoday.com. Happy World Goth Day to everyone!
Definition
Put simply, a Goth is someone who finds beauty in things others consider dark. They love all that is dark and mysterious. That doesn’t mean Goths are evil, it just means they have a different perspective to many. And it also doesn’t mean Goths are unkind, violent or lacking in humor, in fact quite the opposite is true. Goths love to laugh but their humor is more of the black comedy sort. They aren’t sad because they like dark things – dark things make them happy and inspire them. Goths are often intelligent, romantic and artistic realists. Being Goth is not about how one dresses. Most of what you can find written about Goth is that it was something that was born out of the Punk movement in the late 70’s and that most Goths wear black. I disagree. Goth isn’t something that was created in the 70’s because it always was but it is when the term “Gothic” came about to describe the new bands that came about then.
The Goths were a nomadic Germanic people who fought against Roman rule in the late 300s and early 400s A.D., helping to bring about the downfall of the Roman Empire, which had controlled much of Europe for centuries. The ascendancy of the Goths is said to have marked the beginning of the medieval period in Europe. (Taken from History.com)
Colors
There isn’t a color code to Goth fashion and Goths definitely don’t always wear black. A Pastel Goth’s heart is as dark as a Goth’s who wears all black. Goths also don’t all listen to the same bands. Goth music comes in a wide variety of genres from Goth Pop to Neo-Classical to Goth Folk etc. They do not worship Satan and aren’t members of a cult. Goths can be found around the globe and come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities. The Goth culture is very prevalent in Japan and Germany.
DARKBEAUTY
Like every group, what they like and do varies from individual to individual. Having said that, Goths all have one thing in common…that they find beauty in what others consider dark. For example, I have always found dead trees beautiful and instead of having crushes on the good guys in films I tended towards the dark characters that seemed powerful, had deep booming voices and dark music always seemed to be playing when they were shown on screen (Darth Vader, Ra in Stargate). I always loved the dark music that I only heard in movie soundtracks as a child. You see, Goth to me isn’t something that one becomes but something one is.
I had never heard of Goth until one day when I was 14. I used to go into this record store and pick out CDs that I thought I would like based on the cover art (usually darker imagery). I never got what I was truly looking for…something dark/somber and I definitely wasn’t looking for Heavy Metal. Finally one day I gave up and decided to ask the manager for help. I explained my dilemma and he knew exactly what I wanted. He looked at me as if he thought “Ah, you’re one of those.” and said that I should to go to their other store. I did just that and found a heaven that I never knew existed. A world where I knew I belonged. Goth music and Goth magazines….nearly brought me to tears of joy. I had finally found everything I loved and knew what I was. (Taken from Whatisgoth.com)
Is it a Phase?
Goth is not a phase. It is something that you either are or aren’t. I don’t understand people who say “Oh, I used to be Goth.” Maybe they used to play the part to fit in for a while – but it isn’t something you grow out of! One doesn’t just change their likes and dislikes over night. I certainly have never changed who I fundamentally am.
I will attempt to describe what Goth is and what Goth isn’t. I will describe fashion, music, films and more that many Goth people like throughout this website. I intend this website to be a resource for Goths and non-Goths alike. I am creating the website that I always wished there was, with descriptions, lots of pictures, videos and links.
As there are many Goth bands, movies and Goth is even a part of the world of high fashion and graces the runways…many people like Goth things and don’t even realize that they are Goth. Please keep in mind as you are reading through this site that Goths are individual people and what each Goth likes varies.
How to Celebrate World Goth Day?
Read classic gothic literature. – The gothic culture gave birth to some of the most well-known works of literature. Celebrate World Goth Day by reading goth classics like Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, ‘The Raven’, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” “Jane Eyre,” or “Wuthering Heights.”
Host a goth party. – Celebrate World Goth Day by throwing your very own goth-themed party. Play goth music and get everyone to dress up in a black outfit and pale makeup. Don’t forget to do your hair! Watch this inspirational video to learn to dance like a goth:
Listen to goth music – The celebrations of World Goth Day are incomplete without grooving to goth music. Spend the day listening to some classic gothic songs by The Cure, The Doors, Velvet Underground, and other artists. (Taken from Natinaltoday.com)
Who were the first Gothic bands?
Musicians who initially shaped the aesthetics and musical conventions of gothic rock include Marc Bolan, the Velvet Underground, the Doors, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop and the Sex Pistols. Journalist Kurt Loder wrote that the song “All Tomorrow’s Parties” by the Velvet Underground is a “mesmerizing gothic-rock masterpiece”.
Critic John Stickney used the term “gothic rock” to describe the music of the Doors in October 1967, in a review published in The Williams Record. Stickney wrote that the band met the journalists “in the gloomy vaulted wine cellar of the Delmonico hotel, the perfect room to honor the gothic rock of the Doors”.
Nico’s 1969 album The Marble Index is sometimes described as “the first Goth album”. With its stark sound, somber lyrics, and Nico’s deliberate change in her look, the album became a crucial music and visual prototype for the gothic rock movement.
Black Sabbath’s 1969 debut album created a dark sound different from other bands at the time and has been called the first ever “Goth-rock” record (Baddeley 2002: 264).
In the late 1970s, the word “gothic” was used to describe the atmosphere of post-punk bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Magazine and Joy Division. In a live review about a Siouxsie and the Banshees’ concert in July 1978, critic Nick Kent wrote that concerning their performance, “parallels and comparisons can now be drawn with gothic rock architects like the Doors and, certainly, early Velvet Underground”.
Fashion
With the birth of this new music came the birth of a new fashion that was borrowed from the punk look and given a darker edge. But Goth fashion hasn’t just borrowed from the Punks. There are many different styles influenced by fashions of earlier eras…but you can read more about that on the fashion page. But this was just the birth of modern Goth music and fashion and not what Goth is. After all Goth is just beauty that is found in the darker things in life. Dark music has been around since music began and so have people who have found beauty in darkness. Who can honestly say that Carl Orff’s O Fortuna, which is often mistakenly called Carmina Burana (circa 1935) and the poem Gloomy Sunday that was originally written by the Hungarian László Jávor and made famous by the singer Billie Holliday are not everything that Goth is? The songs of Hildegard of Bingen (born 1098) are very similar sounding to some contemporary Goth songs by the band This Ascension and even Qntal. As for early Goth people, how about Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Addams, Edward Gorey and perhaps even the virgin Queen Elizabeth I? The Goth band Faith and the Muse have brought one of Elizabeth’s songs to life in the song entitled “Importune Me No More”. Her father Henry VIII also wrote the very haunting song “Greensleeves”. Lorenna McKennitt sings a nice version of this song. So Goth has always existed but the music, fashion and people weren’t labelled Goth until about the late 60s.
In Conclusion
In the 1980s, a youthful subculture emerged that used the word “gothic” or “goth” to describe itself. Dressed in black, often with hair dyed black against pale skin, these modern goths shared the dark, brooding tone of the gothic novels of the nineteenth century. Young people usually become goths because they feel alienated, or separate, from mainstream society. They are often rejected or ridiculed by their more “normal” peers for one reason or another. Goths embraced that rejection by dressing and acting outlandishly and forming their own separate society. The goth subculture is based not only on magic, mysticism, and romanticizing the dark sides of life but also on tolerance, free-thinking, and challenging traditional gender roles.
What do you think of goth subculture? Do you fancy Victorian fashion? Do you listen to dark music? Do you enjoy reading gothic lit or watching gothic movies?
This year I decided to buy a whole bunch of wooden eggs to paint them. It is supposed to be a good luck charm in a primitive culture where I am from. So I thought after sitting at home 7 days a week last year, I could waste some time painting eggs with others hoping it brings good luck to all parties involved in the process.
I painted those in January 2021 trying to attract good luck early in the year
To paint those I had to use a special brush made of cat fur. It’s a long gone tradition of Ukrainian folk art painting. I covered them with yellow base layer of acrylic and when it dried out I used the brush to “stamp” the flowery pattern on them. I didn’t think that those are Mardi Gras themed eggs but this is what they are. I have painted wooden eggs before, yet never with so much positivity and optimism as I did this year.
I managed to finish the trio
I am hosting an online class to share this art with others. It’s so nice to be able to share the good vibes with anyone who wants to join even if they are physically far-away. I ship the egg and the brush in an envelope to give instructions via Google Meet. I hope it works out great! My goal is to reach at least some folks who have never done it before. There is a bit of craft and a bit of magic involved which makes me so positive and optimistic, because it’s not always my natural state of mind any more. If it’s the cure, then I definitely have a prescription to share.
The symbol of the beginning of a new life is right here for you
Although this tradition goes back to pagan roots, egg painting is very popular within Christian culture to mark the beginning of spring and new life. We all need this hope to keep going and this year I feel it more than ever. I wish you all the best in trying new things and hope this year is better than the previous one.
In winter Minneapolis is cold and windy but feels really nice, Minnesota ice is everywhere pure and white. The city is planned with such precision, you can’t believe it, downtown is glam and glitzy. European influence is obvious when you dive into architecture, fashion and taste. They say it’s multinational and I can tell it should be really appealing to many. Rivers and lakes make it even better especially in summer, I bet you can easily find the place to hike there. Otherwise, parks and gardens in the twin cities will come in handy to cool and shade a tired tourist.
Busy streets and skyways make it the city of the future, at least you hope to come back one day to love it even more. Maybe in warm season when not only it’s beautiful but also walkable. Can you imagine trying to wander every single street and enjoy being a part of the promising city life? Might be a bit scary at night but still fun. Music scene has a lot to offer, culture and art are there to suit any taste. Dine in every single café you liked and peek into majestic churches and cathedrals just for a second. You might discover a new world!
My dream is to visit more American icons like Chicago and LA. Will they be all the same or not? Stunning architecture, fancy shops, beautiful people… You probably have to stay for a week or two to really feel the atmosphere. Seattle is another place I want to visit one day, I wish we had this kind of freedom… travel always brings the sense of adventure, it’s like a gust of wind in the face that brings you back to life. You look around with your eyes wide open and never stop wondering…
When you want to have a private conversation with someone just invite them for a cup of tea. It is always a pleasure to chat with an old or a new friend while drinking something as delicious as green, black, white or herbal tea.
I have been wanting to order a tea ceremony for a long time now since I really dreamed of something authentic. You know what, it is coming in May next year fingers crossed, or should I use legs crossed instead?
In my family tea drinking is like a religion, food for your soul. We are really serious about having it at least 5 times a day in spite of the season. The reason for it is to get enough caffeine in your body to keep it going. Or maybe having enough meaningful talks with each other to feel loved and appreciated?
Tea drinking is especially good in cold weather. Some people add sugar or honey into it. Some like it really hot with lemon but one thing they all have in common is that time stops when you indulge yourself in a cup of tea. Say, you are having a bad day at work or the weather is bringing you down, or you name it. After having just one cup of a good tea the world around you gets better. No you don’t have to add vodka into it but some people do so.
Why I quit my job 