Martisor – the national symbol of nature’s revival
Chișinău/ Moldova.ORG / -- Martisor is an old Romanian tradition which celebrates the coming of the spring season.
On the 1st of March, early in the morning people share little gestures of kindness – Martisor.
It is considered an amulet that brings luck to the people who wear it, and it is often made of a jewel or a small decoration like a flower, or a heart, tied to a red and white string.
These colors have different meanings depending on the legend.
One of the oldest legends regarding the red and white colors states that once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Primăvara (Spring) who was walking down a valley full of white snowdrops. As she was walking and singing along the way, she met the Winter, furious about having to leave the land in spring’s favor. During the fight, Spring cut her finger and a drop of her blood fell on a flower and it became red. Since then, the two colors symbolize the spring’s victory against winter and the rebirth of nature.
Nowadays, the Mărțișor lost most of its talisman properties and became more of a symbol of friendship or love, appreciation and respect along with the enthusiasm about spring's coming. Usually, men offer women Martisors and they wear it pinned to their blouses on the 1st of March and up to two weeks after or even until the trees start to bloom. Then, they choose a blooming tree and pin the Martisor to it in order to help nature revive and blossom.
Martisor’s celebration is a tradition in Romania, Moldova, and all territories inhabited by Romanians and Aromanians.
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