Romanian tradition - "Martisor"

Mărțișor is an old Romanian celebration at the beginning of spring, on March the 1st. 

Symbolically, it is correlated to women and to fertility as a means of life and continuity. The tradition is authentic in Romania and  Moldova.

Alike though not identical customs can be found in Bulgaria, while similar ones exist in Albania, Greece and Italy. 

Although my friends living in Italy cannot find there  "Martisor" and those who were born and raised in Romania are so eager to receive one and misss it every beginning of spring.

As a personal opinion in neither of those countries the tradition is not as well known and respected as it is in Romania.

For us, Romanians, little or old, 1 of March is the day when we are anxious to receive or offer "Martisoare". At school, work, kinder garden or on the streets - offered by different organizations recently.

 The name Mărțișor is the diminutive of marț, the old folk name for March (Martie, in modern Romanian), and thus literally means "little March". It is also the folk name for this month.

Mărțișor, marţ and mărțiguș are all names for the red and white string from which a small decoration is tied, and which is offered by people on the 1st day of March. 

Giving this talisman to people is an old custom, and it is believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be strong and healthy for the year to come. It is also a symbol of the coming spring. Usually, women wear it pinned to their clothes for the first 12 days of the month, until other spring celebrations, or until the bloom of certain fruit-trees.

In modern times, and especially in urban areas, the Mărțișor lost most of its talisman properties and became more of a symbol of friendship or love, appreciation and respect. 

With a few samples of my creations for the upcoming 2012 spring. After all the snow.... we're counting the winter days left.

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