TOLUNA
APRIL 2022
We wish you a blessed Ramadan.
Editor’s Note
Dear influencers,
We are glad to share with you the first edition of the Toluna Magazine
in tandem with the most expected month of Ramadan.
Besides catching up with the newest highlights of our community,
you will come across articles on various topics of interest that we hope
you will find both appealing and stimulating.
Get lost through the pages, find the latest Toluna news and have a
most pleasant read!
We hope you will enjoy our issue and make the best out of all the
challenges we came up with this month!
Toluna Team
join the community: ensa.toluna.com
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
RAMADAN EUROPE
AROUND THE TRAVEL CINEMA CLUB AND MOVIE
WORLD GUIDE SOUNDTRACKS
#INSPIRED #BREAKTHEBIAS REMEMBERING
FRIDA
CCM TOLUNA WINS JOIN THE
COMMUNITY
RAMADAN
AROUND THE
WORLD
How does Ramadan
look like in different
cultures
‘The cleansing ritual in
Indonesia
'Padusan’, which means ‘to bathe’
in the Javanese dialect, is a
tradition that was started by a
group of revered priests, called
Wali Songo, who were the first
ones to spread Islamic teaching in
the region of Java.
The sacred month of Ramadan
starts once with the first glimpse The tradition originated with the
of the new crescent moon, in the intention of purifying the mind
ninth month of the Islamic lunar
calendar. It lasts for and body by performing a
approximately 30 days and it cleansing ritual by emerging
marks the month that the Qur’an oneself in a natural spring before
was revealed by Allah to the start of Ramadan.
Muhammad in 610 AD.
Back in the day, the common
Fasting, prayers and practice was given to the religious
leaders and elders to assign
charity, are all meant to
specific sacred springs for
be taken strongly in
performing the padusan, but
consideration during this
nowadays, people opt for more
period, but different
modern options like going to
Muslims throughout the
nearby lakes, swimming pools or
world have their own
even performing the ritual in their
unique ways to celebrate own bathrooms at home.
Ramadan.
The ballads of the Roma
Muslim community in
Albania
The Roma Muslim community
dates back to the Ottoman Empire
and for centuries, they are used to
marching down the streets, Henna drawings in Pakistan
announcing the start and end of
the Ramadan.
At the end of Ramadan and at the
beginning of Eid-al-Fitr, the
They do that by playing traditional
songs with a ‘lodra’, which is a Chaand Raat festivities are
drum commonly used in their folk starting in Pakistan.
music.
The local bazaars get overcrowded
It is also very common for the by women and girls who gather
Muslim families to invite them there to buy colorful bangles and
inside their places to play the use henna on their feet and hands
traditional ballads to mark the to create intricate designs.
start of Iftar. The shop owners also keep their
stalls decorated to suit the
vibrancy of the whole festivity and
keep them open until the early
morning the next day.
Many women place temporary
henna shops next to the jewelry
stores, in order to attract more
people to apply henna paint right
on spot.
The marriages in Mauritania
In Mauritania there is a common
habit to read the Qur’an in one
night during Ramadan. Also, men
tend to get their heads shaved
before Ramadan. The new hair,
that grows during the holy month,
is often referred as ‘Ramadan
hair’. Moreover, there is a habit for
The bag of blessing in Iran
couples to get married during this
In the northwestern province of period, to attract more blessings in
East Azerbaijan in Iran there is their marriages.
another unique Ramadan
tradition that is being carried by
the female members of the family.
Barkat Kisasi is the name for the With all the different traditions in
bag that the women and girls sew various countries and
together on the last Friday of the communities, Muslims have been
Ramadan. This name literally very inventive in celebrating this
means the ‘bag of blessing’ in the blessed month in their own unique
Azeri dialect and it is believed ways, and we hope that the
that it carries protection against
becoming poor. customs will never be lost, but only
reimagined in more other
distinctive and spectacular ways.
After they sew it, they throw
money inside of it and place it in a
box until the next Ramadan.
Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan
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Europe
Travel Guide
2 0 2 2
ON THE
Pack your bags! LIST...
01 A m s t e r d a m
W e k n o w t h a t t r a v e l h a s n ' t b e e n e a s y o r
02
p o s s i b l e a s m u c h o v e r t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s - b u t M u n i c h
t h a t d o e s n ' t s t o p u s f r o m d r e a m i n g o f f l y i n g
03
i n t o t h e c l o u d s a n d v i s i t i n g s o m e w h e r e n e w ! F l o r e n c e
04 I s t a n b u l
C h e c k o u t o u r E u r o p e t r a v e l g u i d e s o y o u c a n
f i n d o u t t h e h o t t e s t d e s t i n a t i o n s f o r y o u r n e x t
t r a v e l .
Content Creation
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C r e a t e a t o p i c w i t h u s i n g h a s h t a g
#Travel2022 a s t h e t i t l e a n d i n c l u d e :
A f e w l i n e s a b o u t t h e next destination o n
y o u r t r a v e l b u c k e t l i s t a n d why you'd like A n y p o s t s f o l l o w i n g t h e r u l e s s e t
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y o u r p o s t
AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam, despite its small size, is a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a
cosmopolitan city: rich history and culture, plenty of restaurants offering cuisine from around the world, an
excellent transport system, and a bustling city center.
Thanks to numerous and extensive canals, Amsterdam has little traffic, which makes it easy to explore and
stroll around the city. Not to mention, it's also very bike-friendly and thanks to this, you can get to all sights
and interesting places very quickly. Another great attraction of Amsterdam is boat cruises. They are a
popular way to explore the city.
One of Amsterdam's main tourist attractions is its museums. Whether it's the most famous Rijksmuseum to
the Van Gogh Museum or Madame Tussauds, Amsterdam has plenty to offer. There are over seventy
museums in the city that attract millions of tourists each year. But, the main attractions are certainly not only
limited to museums - you don't want to miss out on taking in the Keukenhof tulip garden or the Ajax
Amsterdam stadium.
In addition to the most popular tourist attractions, it is worth checking out our recommended places of
interest in Amsterdam, often unknown and those that you will not find in standard guidebooks - so don't
forget to do your own research to find hidden gems too!
MUNICH
Munich is a city in southern Germany, situated on the Upper Bavaria plains. It is the third-largest
city centre in Germany (after Berlin and Hamburg), with a population of nearly 1.5 million.
Munich differs from other German cities - it is more vibrant and upbeat. It's hard to put into
words, so you would have to spend a few days here and be able to make a comparison with the
others to feel the difference.
When visiting Munich, like most German cities, we should focus on the area of the old town -
Altstadt. One of the main points of the city is Marienplatz square (in the middle there is a
golden statue of Mary (Mariensäule), next to which is the city hall (New Town Hall, Neues
Rathaus). This impressive building is still the seat of the municipal government today. South of
the Old Town Hall, we can visit the Gothic Church of St. Peter (Peterskirche), which is the oldest
temple in Munich. Entry to the church is free, but there is a paid entrance to the church tower -
where you will find a great view. Another square in the historic part of the city worth visiting is
the Odeonsplatz, home to the famous Munich Residence.
FLORENCE
Florence, the city of art (this is where the Italian Renaissance movement was born) and beautiful
buildings, it's a place whose charm surpasses even Rome for many. The Tuscan capital is almost
always crowded, but it has "that something" that allows you to forget about the thousands of
other visitors and enjoy the narrow streets, palaces, and general hustle and bustle .
Almost immediately after leaving the main train station, we come across one of the most important
monuments of the Tuscan capital - the Dominican monastery complex. It consists of: the Basilica of Santa
Maria Novella, a museum in the convent rooms, a courtyard, and a fragment of the monastery cemetery.
And just a short walk from the basilica, we find a hidden treasure of Florence, one of the oldest operating
pharmacies in the world - Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.
Florence's most famous attraction is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo). The Florentine
temple is the fourth largest church in the world, and its facade and dome are some of the most
recognizable symbols of the capital of Tuscany, and even Italy itself.
Being in the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), do not miss the late Gothic Loggia Bigallo (Loggia del
Bigallo). This building belonged to a charity and its covered part had a sad destiny. It served as a place to
leave behind sick and unwanted children. Today, the structure impresses with its beautiful reliefs and
decorations.
The historic centre of Florence stretches south from the cathedral as far as the Arno River, and it is here
that the second-largest symbol of the city is located - the Vecchio Palace (Palazzo Vecchio). The building
was built in the 14th century and initially served as a town hall. The Vecchio Palace is located in the
enormous Piazza Della Signoria, famous for the Neptune Fountain and the Loggia Dei Lanzi open
sculpture gallery.
ISTANBUL
The city, which has been shaped by a turbulent history, with various ups and downs
and changes for over a century, which have made it what it is today. An amazing
megacity, with a unique story to be told.
if there was one adjective that would best describe this city, it would be cosmopolitan. Hagia
Sophia is the city's most exquisite monument. Once a Christian temple, it then became a
mosque, and now it is a museum. However, it remains one of the greatest architectural
creations from the first millennium AD.
The Blue Mosque, one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture, was supposed to
overshadow its Christian predecessor. It is located right next to Hagia Sophia, and its greatest
advantage is that when crowds of visitors trample the city's most important monument, the
mosque has an atmosphere of peace, concentration, and prayer that takes you into a state of
complete relaxation. The great long square along with the Blue Mosque once housed the
huge Constantinople Hippodrome, horse racing, and chariot arena. Today, it is a popular
meeting and hangout place for both tourists and residents of the city.
CINEMA
CLUB
Last month we started #CinemaClub and we'd like to thank
everybody who has already joined it!
We've also chosen one excerpt from the posts you did and
showcased it on the next page.
Become a part of the club and win bonus points!
a c t i v i t y r e c a p
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ATTACH
a topic with the film
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#CinemaClub in the
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COMMENT EARN
on the article and on 1000 points for sharing
your own topic and
other members' topics bonus points for
to keep the interacting with others
conversation going on the community!
H.K96 on Belle
Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural
village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But
when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into
her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved
singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous
creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu
embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity
of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a
world where you can be anyone.
The Joker
Normal
People
Belle
Dune
#inspired
#inspired is our way to stimulate the community with
beautiful quotes we find from different films, books, TV series or
influential people.
We are grateful for everyone who participates in this weekly
challenge and we hope that you get your weekly inspiration
from us.
a c t i v i t y r e c a p
create a topic on
the chosen theme share 3 quotes
with the title
#inspired
write your own
thoughts/analyze attach a picture
the quotes (100
words minimum)
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“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true
strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can
accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent Van Gogh
Quote Collection
These are some of the awesome quotes we got from you
THE MIND CAN GO IN A THOUSAND DIRECTIONS, BUT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL
PATH, I WALK IN PEACE. WITH EACH STEP, THE WIND BLOWS. WITH EACH
STEP, A FLOWER BLOOMS.
(THICH NHAT HANH)
-Kalubandara-
I'M NOT AFRAID OF DEATH; I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE THERE WHEN IT
HAPPENS.
(WOODY ALLEN)
-mikemike098-
I LOVE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME LAUGH. I HONESTLY THINK IT'S THE THING I
LIKE MOST, TO LAUGH. IT CURES A MULTITUDE OF ILLS. IT'S PROBABLY THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IN A PERSON.
(AUDREY HEPBURN)
-M1899371c-
HOPE CAN BE A POWERFUL FORCE. MAYBE THERE’S NO ACTUAL MAGIC IN
IT, BUT WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HOPE FOR MOST AND HOLD IT LIKE A
LIGHT WITHIN YOU, YOU CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, ALMOST LIKE MAGIC.
(LAINI TAYLOR)
-samsamsam1-
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL QUALITIES OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS TO
UNDERSTAND AND TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
(LUCLUS ANNAEUS SENECA)
-sunstartmoon-gazer-
#Break
TheBias
for International Women's Day with
Toluna
8th of March is International You would be surprised to find
Women's Day, an important out that on March 8, 1917
day to remember the social, (February 23 on the Gregorian
cultural, economical and calendar that was used in
political achievements of Russia), working-class women
women. became very tired of the bad
lifestyle conditions they were
The history of Women's Day can being submerged at the time,
be traced back to February the rising food prices, and they
1908, in New York, when lead a demonstration to call an
thousands of female garment end to the war and to the
workers went on a strike to autocracy. Their cries for 'Bread
protest against their poor and Peace' forced Tsar Nicholas
working conditions. II on March 12 to abdicate.
To honor these strikes, that took Toluna wanted to bring into
place for over a year, the awareness how important
Socialist Party of America this day is and how we must
celebrated for the first time in continue to break against
the US the National Women's the continuous prejudices
Day, on 28th of February 1909. that women still face at their
workplaces.
However, did you know that the
Russian Revolution in 1917 was So.. we did #breakthebias pose
triggered by a celebration of the at all the Toluna offices and we
International Women's Day? shared this challenge with our
communities.
Cross your arms and
Thank you for your support.
Remembering
FRIDA KAHLO
JULY 1907 - JULY 1954
A painter with a tragic destiny They were on a bus when Frida
realized she lost her umbrella, so they
Frida Kahlo, or originally, Magdalena had to get off to look after it. Getting
Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón, was a on the second bus, the universe made
Mexican artist, mostly known for her it look like it had a well-established
vivid and evocative self-portraits, plan for poor Frida, but not as
profoundly influenced by the nature unfortunate as for some of the other
and artifacts of Mexico. bus attendants.
Her style of work usually includes Some minutes after both Frida and her
elements of Realism, Symbolism and boyfriend took their seats in the bus,
Surrealism. the vehicle collided with an electric
streetcar.
She is not the standard female artist,
people would regularly think of, but we Alejandro recalled the accident in
believe if we are to think about the details:
influential women in our history, Frida ''The electric train [streetcar] with
definitely deserves a spot in the top, two cars approached the bus
not just because of her artistic ability, slowly. It hit the bus in the middle.
but for her own resilience as a woman. Slowly the train pushed the bus.
The bus had a strange elasticity. It
The most painful detail about her life bent more and more, but for a
is, unfortunately, the accident she had time it did not break. It was a bus
on September 17, 1925. with long benches on either side. I
She was only 18 when it happened that remember that at one moment
Frida was with her back-then boyfriend my knees touched the knees of
Alejandro Gómez Arias, when they the person sitting opposite me. I
were returning home from school. was sitting next to Frida...
...When the bus reached its so she developed a new passion for
maximal flexibility it burst into a art.
thousand pieces, and the train She had her own easel, specially made
kept moving. It ran over many for bed, and a mirror placed above it,
people. so she could see herself while painting.
I remained under the train. Not Therefore, painting became a very
Frida. But among the iron rods of self-involved and self-exploratory
the train, the handrail broke and process for her. She would reflect much
went through Frida from one side on the accident, but she would also
to the other at the level of the think about different existential
pelvis.” questions, and then she would create
a painting that would represent just
After the impact, Frida's condition was that.
so bad that the doctors couldn't even
imagine that she could be saved. Throughout the years, the effects of
Besides her pelvis, she had several ribs, the initial accident didn't get
her legs and collarbone fractured. necessarily better, but she ended up
undergoing 32 surgeries in total and
Frida had spent two months at the she experienced lifelong physical pain.
hospital and one at home. Even though
she tried hard to recover and get back However, besides her artistic mastery
to normal activities, the X-rays and genius mind, Frida was an
revealed that she had three vertebrae incredible woman, because, even
displaced. She was given a plaster though she was challenged in ways
corset and was confined to bed as part that not many of us are, she found
of her treatment. beauty in life through art and even
Initially, before the accident, Frida almost 70 years after her death,
would dream of becoming herself a people are still amazed and inspired
doctor, but life had different plans for by looking at her artworks.
her. Due to having to spend many
hours in bed, in solitude, she was
encouraged by her parents to start
painting...
“I paint myself because I am so often alone and
because I am the subject I know best.”
― Frida Kahlo
Content Creators
Content Creators
of the Month
of the Month
To be a CCM, you must be writing
quality content consistently in the
community.
If you are CCM for 3 months in a row,
you will receive 5,000 points.
If you are CCM for 5 months in a row,
you will receive 10,000 points!
Want to find out more?
We've got you covered! If you're
interested in becoming a CCM, check
out our post here!
Who were last
month's CCMs?
N1953650c19
1 0 , 0 0 0
Kalubandara
H.K96
sunstartmoon-gazer
1 0 , 0 0 0
mikemike098
1 0 , 0 0 0
samsamsam1
1 0 , 0 0 0
KRLODHI
1 0 , 0 0 0
M1899371c
A3166514g31
Mohammed04
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CCMs?
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Congratulations
P O P U P B 4 U
My first earning was redeemed to have first
thing in the morning everyday....
My day starts with “A Cup of Toluna brewed
Coffee “ ❤
M 4 7 4 9 4 6 8 K
I bought this shoes for my son with the gift card
i got from Toluna :)
K H I Z 4 6 3 3
I buyed a cookware set from the money I
earned from Toluna.
Thanks Toluna for giving me the chance to
win.
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