The National Village Museum „Dimitrie Gusti”

Muzeul Naţional al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” organizează în perioada 27 februarie – 8 martie 2017 târgul      „De Mărţişor. Târg cu tâlc...” care își propune promovarea vechiului obicei al dăruirii, la început de primavară, a micilor obiecte artizanale cu rol protector precum și a meșteșugului stimulând creativitatea, originalitatea și inspirația ce dau naștere unor mărțișoare deosebite.

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).

It is believed that the person who wears the red and white string would enjoy a prosperous and healthy year.

In modern times, and especially in urban areas, the Mărțișor lost most of its talisman properties and became more a symbol of friendship, love, appreciation and respect. The black threads were replaced by red, but the delicate wool string is still a ‘cottage industry’ among people in the countryside, who comb out the wool, dye the floss, and twist it into thousands of tassels. In some areas, the amulets are still made with black and white string, to ward off evil.Related to Martisor and also symbol for spring in Romania is the snowdrop flower.

Spring in Village Museum - Martisor

Martisor is an old Romanian celebration at the beginning of spring, on March the 1st, which according to old calendar was also considered as the beginning of the new year. Symbolically, it is correlated to women and to fertility as a means of life and continuity. The tradition is authentic in Romania, Moldova, and all territories inhabited by Romanians and Aromanians.

The name Martisor is the diminutive of mart the old folk name for March (Martie, in modern Romanian), and thus literally means "little March". It is also the folk name for this month.

Martisor is the name for the red and white string from which a small decoration is tied, and which is offered by people on the 1st day of March.

Mărţişor - 1st of March / Romanian Traditions/ Village Museum

Romanians celebrate the start of spring on the 1st of March, which, in Romanian, comes from the name of the god Mars, the agricultural guardian, who represented the rebirth of nature.
It is said that the 'mărţişor' brings luck and happiness.
They’re made out of a red and white string, the red – stands for the winter, the white – for spring. Talismans are added to the cord, like four leaf clovers, horse shoes, chimney sweepers or hearts.

Tradition says that the ''mărţişor' string was threaded by Baba Dochia while she was taking the sheep to the mountains. Just like the thread of life, Dochia threads the string of the newly born year with the start of spring.
RADIO ROMANIA

Martisor - 1st of March ( Romanian Traditions)

Mărţişor is the traditional celebration of the beginning of the spring , on the 1st of March.

The day's name is the diminutive of March (in Romanian Martie.

Mărţişor is the symbol of spring and also a celebration on the first of March.

Its beginnings are still a mystery, but it is usually said that it originated in ancient Rome, 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: white and red, meaning peace and war (it might also symbolize winter and spring).

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.

A woman wears it pinned to her blouse on this day and up to two weeks after.

Women also offer it to other women and only occasionally to men.

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.

source :focusromania

Photo in Village Museum - Bucharest

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