Mărțișor fericit!
Yesterday was the 1st of March, the first day of spring when most of the people in Romania and Bulgaria offer "mărțișoare” to friends and family which they wear until the end of the month. There are many legends about the beginning of spring and I will talk about some of them in this post.
Yesterday was the 1st of March, the first day of spring when most of the people in Romania and Bulgaria offer "mărțișoare” to friends and family which they wear until the end of the month. There are many legends about the beginning of spring and I will talk about some of them in this post.
Etymologically, the word "Mărțișor” comes from the name of the month March, and the holiday has been celebrated for over 8000 years according to the objects found in the archeological sites . The beginning of the agricultural year and the end of winter are closely connected to this day, correlated with the vegetative and astronomical cycles. The red and white string represents the cord of time and is weaved for the next 365 days. The red color stand for the sun, the fire and the passion while white represents the water and the purity. To this string you can attach various tokens such as luck clovers, chimney sweepers, horseshoes and other elements that bring luck, health and love.
Another symbol of the spring is the snowdrop and is often offered alongside the ”mărțișoare”. It is said that the snowdrop is the first plant that rises from the ground through the remaining snow and marks the end of winter and the rebirth of the nature.
The first 8 days of the month are called ”babele” ( old ladies ) when the weather is very unpredictable. According to the legend, Baba Dochia, the daughter of the dacian king Decebal went up the mountain with the sheep for the first 8 days, progressively undressing her 8 waistcoats due to the warm weather. But as she reached the mountain top on the last day, the temperature dropped sharply and she froze alongside her sheep becoming rocks. One can choose a certain day and if it's sunny then the year will be prosperous and if it's clouded and cold, the year will not be so good for that person.
Another symbol of the spring is the snowdrop and is often offered alongside the ”mărțișoare”. It is said that the snowdrop is the first plant that rises from the ground through the remaining snow and marks the end of winter and the rebirth of the nature.
The first 8 days of the month are called ”babele” ( old ladies ) when the weather is very unpredictable. According to the legend, Baba Dochia, the daughter of the dacian king Decebal went up the mountain with the sheep for the first 8 days, progressively undressing her 8 waistcoats due to the warm weather. But as she reached the mountain top on the last day, the temperature dropped sharply and she froze alongside her sheep becoming rocks. One can choose a certain day and if it's sunny then the year will be prosperous and if it's clouded and cold, the year will not be so good for that person.
As goodbye I leave you with one of the songs that inspires me the idea of spring. Enjoy and see you next time!
P.S. Don't forget to choose your old lady! ;)
R.C.
P.S. Don't forget to choose your old lady! ;)
R.C.
