you're italic; i'm in bold

Update: From Jenny Han’s Opinion piece on New York Times

Ca trù (歌籌) also known as hát ả đào or hát nói, is an ancient genre of chamber music featuring female vocalists, with origins in northern Vietnam. For much of its history, it was associated with a geisha-like form of entertainment, which combined entertaining wealthy people as well as performing religious songs for the royal court. The female vocalists are called cô đầu (姑姚), ả đào (妸陶), đào nương (陶娘), or ca nương (歌娘).

Despite popular beliefs, ả đào did not prostitute themselves, but purely dedicated their lives to music and the arts. This is a contrast to hoa nương (花娘), who were prostitutes that could sing, but not considered high forms of music. In the past, both occupations were referred to as kĩ (妓), like how Japanese geisha were also called geigi (艺妓), Korea had gisaeng [妓生], and Chinese had jì (妓), which basically referred to entertainers.

During the French occupation, European men began to lust for these beauties (since they usually needed good looks in order to please the audience), added with the fact that prostitutes began to disguise themselves as high-class ả đào to serve the French, these musicians began to lose reputation and thought of as mere prostitutes.

Ca trù is inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009. As of 2009, extensive efforts are being made to invigorate the genre, including many festivals and events where several types of ca trù (among other related arts) are performed. Vietnam has also completed documents to have ca trù recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. By 2011, there were 140 ca trù from 23 clubs.

A Rusalka (water nymph) is the soul of a young woman who had died in or near a river or a lake, and would come back to haunt it. She attempts to lure young men, seduced by her incredible beauty, into the depths of the water where she would entangle their feet with her long hair and submerge them. Her body would instantly become very slippery and not allow the victim to climb over her for air. She would then wait until the victim had drowned, or, on some occasions, tickle them to death as she laughed.

Rusalki are generally considered to represent universal beauty, and are highly feared and respected in Slavic culture. They were believed to be at their most dangerous during the Green week (also known as Semik) in early June, leaving their watery depths at night to swing on branches of birch and willow trees, or dance in circles through the rye fields. Swimming during this week was strictly forbidden. At the end of the week bonfires were burned, wreaths were thrown in the water, charms were placed all around and offerings were made to banish and appease the rusalki.

Ahh I’m sorry I haven’t been on Tumblr in forever. College is a time-sucker. 

@saruwataribucho