March 1 – Mărţişor

The time has come to tell you a little about a Romanian tradition; Mărţişor is the traditional celebration of the beginning of spring. The name it’s actually a diminutive of the month name March (Martie in Romanian). Men give a little gift to women, little gift called Mărţişor; the “Mărţişor” can be a little decoration like a flower, an animal, a little painted stone etc., tiled to a red and white string. The believe is that if you wear a red and white string on March 1 you will be strong and healthy for all the year to come; in some parts of Romania, the women give the “Mărţişor” to the men – in Moldova ( Romania has 3 historical divisions – Ţara Românească, Transilvania and Moldova).
The origin of “Mărţişor” is not very well established but some historians say that it originated in Ancient Rome, because the New Year was celebrated on the 1st of March (the month that celebrated the god Mars – the war god) when the nature rebirths. God Mars was the protector of agriculture and of war, and it is said that is why the colors of the string are white and red: peace and war.

The little gift is also given by women to other women: girls give the “Mărţişor” to their mothers, grand mothers, relatives, and friends.
Nowadays, the little “Mărţişor” has changed a little bit; the traditional symbols like chimney-sweep, trefoil, and horseshoe (all meaning luck) had been replaced by all kinds of little stuff animals. But the meaning is the same: the joy of spring!

Can I eat them after you take my photo? No? Why? Grrrr!!!