Paidasi
Paidasi (pronounced PIE-DAH-SHI) means a party of friends, though it was always more than that. It was community, connection, belonging. A way of gathering around food, music and conversation, of keeping culture alive far from home. Underneath their house, my Grandpa built a konoba, a traditional Dalmatian cellar, with the help of my uncles. It was there that my Grandma and Grandpa hosted monthly paidasi. Thirty or forty people at a time, mostly Croatian but never exclusively. Friends, newcomers, visitors passing through. Everyone was welcomed in. There was food on the table, Croatian music always playing, people singing, dancing, laughing and speaking their language long into the night. It wasn’t formal. It wasn’t performative. It was belonging.
My Grandma spent the day cooking and preparing. Guests arrived with salads, everyone contributed towards the meat, and outside the charcoal barbecue was already being prepared. A wood fire was lit early and left to burn down into charcoal, ready for the grill by evening. My Grandpa and his friend Papa Mario were known for making ćevapčići, traditional hand-rolled grilled sausages made from minced lamb, veal and pork with garlic, onion and parsley, before later moving to kebabs and marinated meats cooked over the fire. In winter, the warmth of the barbecue became part of the atmosphere itself.
There were house rules too, of course.
House Rules
“Translated version”
In the Winter when the days are cold,
We drink to warm ourselves up.
In the Summer when it’s hot,
We drink to cool ourselves down.
When the weather is gloomy,
We drink to brighten our lives.
When the weather is nice,
We drink because we are cheerful.
When we work hard,
We drink for strength.
When we have nothing to do,
We drink to pass the time.
When we are sad or angry,
We drink to soothe our anger and sadness.
When we are happy,
We drink to be happier.
When we are thirsty,
We drink to quench our thirst.
When we are hungry,
We drink to still our hunger.
After drinking too much,
We drink to nurse our hangover.
After a good meal,
We drink to help digestion.
And this is how you should drink: Always wisely, soberly and not too much.
What they created feels especially meaningful now. In a world forever chasing more, the simplest things often hold the deepest value. The moments that fill your cup and warm your heart. A table full of food. Music drifting through the room. Conversation flowing. People you love staying longer than planned. So many of my core memories, and the things I value most, are built around that. Family and heritage. Togetherness. Laughing. Dancing. Music. Sharing food. Conversation.
I love my Croatian and European roots, and that such a large part of the culture is built on tradition and creating community. It feels especially relevant now, when so many people are longing for connection, belonging and something real. For many, the desire for Europe is not only about travel. It is a desire for a richer way of living. More passion. More beauty. More spontaneity. More creativity. More nights that stretch longer than expected. More tables filled with people, music and conversation. Europe is not only a destination. It is a feeling. A rhythm. A warmth. A way of moving through life. A rich tapestry beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered and lived wherever you are.
When I think about the things I am naturally drawn to, gatherings, food, music and late nights, I know where it comes from. GET EURO is my way of carrying that feeling forward. A reminder that even if life keeps you here, a new energy can still be embodied. A GET EURO energy.
