Martisor - "Dear March"

Mărţişor is the traditional celebration of the beginning of the spring in Romania on 1 March. The day's name is the diminutive of March (in Romanian Martie), and thus means something like "little" or "dear March". Nowadays, men offer women a talisman object also called Mărţişor, consisting of a jewel or a small decoration like a flower, an animal or a heart, tied to a red and white string. However, giving a little nickel tied to a red and white string is an old custom and was originally designated for both men and women. It was believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be powerful and healthy for the year to come. The decoration is a symbol of the coming spring. A woman wears it pinned to her blouse on this day and up to two weeks after. Occasionally, women also give such gifts to men. In some parts of Romania such as Moldova or Bukovina the symbol of spring was a gold or silver medal which was worn around the neck. After wearing the coin for twelve days, they bought sweet cheese with the medal, because it was believed that their faces would remain beautiful and white the entire year.

Its beginnings are still a mystery, but it is usually said that it originated in ancient Dacia (the early Romania), because New Year's Eve was celebrated on the 1st of March (Martius), the month of the war god Mars. He had a double role: both protector of agriculture and of war, so the celebration signified the rebirth of nature. The duality of symbols is kept in the colours of the Mărţişor: red and white, meaning love and divinity (it might also symbolise spring and winter).

Source from Wikipedia.com

The Mărţişor celebration started today. Yesterday, Daniel brought me to the city centre to buy some Mărţişor for the special females... (me and the mom, who else?) It was a very beautiful day, very sunny outside, chilly wind... Yeah the spring is coming, yay! In a beautiful mood, I prepared the food before we headed out.

First time, I prepared the Thai Fried Rice. Yum yum! You may be wondering why there is a pair of chopsticks on the table... well, ask my hubby.


We reached the city centre, and parked our car nearby a park. Walking hand in hand, we passed through a big statue, in remembrance of the heroes who died when fighting for the country.



I liked the atmosphere, it was like a fiesta!

Crowded street in the city centre, stalls were open selling wide variety of Mărţişor. There were modern brooches, traditional brooches, rings, necklaces, cards, room ornaments, strings and so on. Many of the sellers were the art club student from the universities, I was impressed by their hand-made products, they were very pretty!







We stopped by the florist's, attracted by the colourful and beautiful flowers I took some pictures. Then, Daniel bought me a tulip from them, aw... so sweet of him, isn't he?



Heading towards the end of the street.


This is the tulip and the Mărţişor I got from Daniel.


Me wearing the wonderful Mărţişor!