I wish that the coming spring will wrap your soul
with the fresh and rejuvenating fragrances of its splendid flowers, reminding
you what it means to smile, to be good, to be kind, to be grateful, to love and
to be loved!
I wish that you would open your souls to that as the fresh flowers open their
petals to be caressed by the sun’s rays. Blissful spring, dear ones!
● Refresher:
brief background info about “Mărțișor”
“Mărțișor
is an old tradition celebrated all over Romania every year, on March 1st.
The name Mărțișor is a diminutive of March (“Martie”
in Romanian language). It is believed that the person who wears the red and
white string would enjoy a prosperous and healthy year. Not long ago, in the countryside, people used to celebrate the “Mărțișor” by hanging a red and white string at their
gate, window, cattle's horn and shed to protect them against the evil spirits
and to invoke nature's regenerative power.
In eastern Romania (Moldova and Bucovina),
the red and white string was complemented with a small (gold or silver) coin. After wearing the coin for twelve days, the
women would buy fresh cheese with it hopping that their skin would be healthy
and beautiful the entire year.
According to archaeological research, the “Mărțișor” traces its history more
than 8,000 years ago. Some ethnologists believe that the “Mărțișor” celebration
has Roman origins, others support the theory that it is an old Dacian
tradition.
In ancient Rome, the New Year's was celebrated on the 1st of March. March ('Martius') was named in the honor of a Roman
god, called “Mars”. Mars was not only the god of war but also the god of
agriculture, which contributes to the rebirth of vegetation. It seems that the Dacians also celebrated the New Year's on the first day of
March. Ample spring celebrations were consecrated to this event.
In the old times, “Mărțișor” (Ro: “mărțișoare”) were made of small river pebbles,
colored in white & red, stringed on a thread & worn around the neck, to bring good luck & good weather, from 1 March until the first
trees would bloom. When the first trees were flowering the Mărțișor were hanged
on tree branches.
Nowadays, on March 1st, Romanians buy silky red-white threads (Ro: “șnur”) tied into a bow to which a
small trinket is attached and offer them to their (female) family members, friends and colleagues to show friendship,
respect or admiration.”
The cultural practices associated to the 1st of March in Bulgaria, North
Macedonia, Republic of Moldova and Romania (“Mărțișor”)
were inscribed in 2017 on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
NOTE: Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each
of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different
perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but
a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).