The Bear Dance: A Literary Celebration in 2024 🎶🐻✨

Tradition & Unity

Celebrating with an Exclusive Carol: The New Year Bear

🌟✨ Hello, Wonderful Writers and Readers!

As we close off this great year, I’m happy to celebrate an amazing milestone with all of you. 5,000 members strong! This voyage has been extraordinary, with fascinating stories, remarkable friendships, and a sense of community that crosses borders.

In this piece, I offered an exclusive carol, recognized our collaborative talent, and left you with a nice surprise! 🎁🎄🎶

If you’d prefer not to be tagged in future updates, please let me know.

Here’s to future accomplishments, innovation, and teamwork.

Thank you, dear writers, followers, and friends — you’re the heart of our community!

And as a special thank-you, I’ve got a surprise for you at the end of this piece.💖🌍.

View at Medium.com

Looking Back on a Year of Writing and Community

It’s been a year and a half since I started Medium, including a year with FOM and the New Literary Society. Along the road, I’ve read a zillion stories and met some wonderful creators. 
Many thanks to our editors, Sal Gallaher and D. Denise Dianaty, for their advice and assistance.
Our community has given us strength, both personally and professionally. We recently hit 650 readers and have approximately 200 writers. We’ve had some exciting Author Interviews, many of which have been translated into Romanian or German, as well as the S Summer Memoir Contest. The Winter Wonders Drabble Contest is continuing. 
 
Looking ahead, we anticipate the next series of featured stories and intriguing new projects in 2025.

To brighten our spirits, these days, I’m sharing a few Christmas carols that I translated into English last year. Stay tuned for a unique literary surprise at the conclusion!

The Bear Dance

The Bear Dance is a mesmerizing practice that transports us back to ancient times when nature was highly revered. Early communities believed the bear, a symbol of strength and elegance, to be magical and healing. This respect is conveyed in dances and rituals that honor the bear’s spirit.
 
Drumbeats fill the air in Bukovina’s scenic highlands. A figure in straw or bear fur appears, accompanied by a leader with a whip. They perform a tremendous dance of control and liberation, combining athleticism with playfulness.

The dance finishes in a symbolic ritual in which the straw bear mask is thrown into a fire, representing death and rebirth. This traditional performance depicts nature’s cycles and our deep connection to the world around us, honoring the bear as a sacred and respected power.

Good Evening, Dear Hosts!

Good evening, dear hosts, gather ‘round,

From the hills, our bear is renowned.

With your kind assent, we decree,

A warm welcome to our bear, with glee!

Na! Na! Na! Martine, sway!

Don’t resist, come join the play.

A sturdy switch, I firmly hold,

Its bewitching tales, let them be told.

Come, Martine, step down,

Hear the song, no need to frown.

Once a child so sweet and small,

Now you tower, make me fall!

Na! Na! Na! Martine, hey!

Turn around, my dear, my ray.

Dance, dance, old man Martine,

I’ll offer honey, oh, how serene.

Dance, dance, to the lively beat,

Like a gypsy, nimble and fleet.

My bear from Spain, you should know,

Sleigh-pulled through the winter snow.

Dance, dance, you wild bear,

Or I’ll turn your skin to flare!

Na! Na! Na! Martine, sway!

Dance on, don’t delay!

Green leaves of the fir so fine,

My bear has cubs, a precious line.

Green leaves of the mulberry tree,

From Bacau, my bear’s journeyed to thee.

For you, Martine, he’s come to play,

To dance a bearish jig today.

Na! Na! Na! Martine, sway!

Join the dance, don’t turn away.

Dance, dance, oh mighty bear,

Blackberries will soon be rare.

Grow fatter, roam the houses near,

Leap higher, like the past year.

Now, bend down, give a cheer,

Greet the host, loud and clear!

Green leaves of the rye field tall,

Bear, step out, answer the call.

Green leaves of the ancient oak,
May strength and health in you provoke.
Like the bear, both fierce and free,
May your spirit soar in mystery.

Raise your cup, let spirits cheer — 
A mighty, bold new year is near!

Final Thanks

A special thank you to all our fantastic Writers, Followers, and Friends for being the heart of our community.

As you already know, the New Literary Society will not accept new Author Interview submissions until (probably) March 2025.

However, as a token of my appreciation, I’m offering something special for the first writer to respond: an exclusive opportunity to be featured in a promotional interview — and yes, it’ll be translated as well! This is a limited-time offer, so don’t wait!

Don’t miss out — this is my way of thanking each one of you for being… you!

🌹🌹 The Mantra of Love 🌅🌅 , ❤️ ❤️ Never Give Up Ninja ❤️ ❤️ , Maisie Archer , Dr. Neelam Himthanii , Luna@Latinx Bridges , Thief , Stanley Chibuike , Andre Begin , Karen Chambre LCSW, PSY.D ca , Nicole Magnusson , Lem Usita , Lee Byrd , Elizabeth Emerald , Leonardo Del Toro , Vaso Papadopoulou , Soskas , Vinanti Sarkar … VoicesofWomenWorldwide , Heather Aufderhar , Stuart Aken , Amal Kitab , Daniel Williams , Momina6261 , MsFireballsmom , Carolyn F. Chryst, Ph.D. , Richard Mark Williams , Jim Fonseca , Shaine Hinnant , Brian Dickens Barrabee , Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman , Mosalah , Tovah Rainsong , Batuhan Odabaş , Eva Joy , Marcia Abboud , Maulida Khansa , Donna Cowden , Erdal Turna – TR , Patricia Vicary , Pyrros Mathios ,

Claire@BeneBeWe , tzenlong goh , Yana G.Y. , Holly Pettit , Tom Hanratty , Chelsea Rose , Bridget Cougar , Grant Ashington , Libby Winkler , Jeff Hayward , Ava , Jessica Kiragu , JoEllen Claypool , Otba , Ryan Canady , Patrice Walker , Perky Bird Gets The Worm , Scott Wood , WildBill , Aaron Paulson , Maxim Behar , Shubham Pachange , Delano Son , Healthy Me Happy Me , Kristoffer Becker , Jenifer Garcia , Douglas Lim , Sam David Parker🌸 , Colin B Wood , Christine , Katie Michaelson , MAGDALENA PONURSKA , Doan Nguyen Hiep , Taner Güler , Xander Payne , Scott Varney , Eva Schicker , PREM SAGAR SUNCHU , Susan Ross, Mind Your Mind Power , James Boylan , Melissa Herzog , L.I.S.B , Candy Prisms ,

Please, clap, engage, and… stay tuned for the next story…! But, most importantly, a profound thank you to each one of you. Your unwavering support has been invaluable.

If you’d like to support my projects, feel free to show some love here: