The tradition of martisor marks the beginning of spring and changing of seasons in Romania, being just the first of a series of celebrations in March. If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review. From March 1st to March 8th, when Romania celebrates Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, everything revolves around these tiny gifts. Babele days are counted differently from one region to another, For instance, in Muntenia, there are 12 babe, while in Maramureș there is the old custom of “door knocking” to chase winter away.

The children even forgot their games, and even how to be happy, for no one was cheerful around them anymore, to show them how to smile. Martisor is also the name of the trinket with the red and white string with hanging tassel customarily given on the 1st day of March. No one liked a blotchy face when the birds sang again of life and love and the flowers bloomed and your heart went mad with joy once more. The word Martisor is the diminutive of martie, the old folk name for March ( Martie, in modern Romanian), and thus literally means “little March”. She is dressed with 9 sheepskin coats but as it rains the clothes get heavier and Dochia has to get rid of the skins.

Traditionally boys give to girls, as gifts, the ‘Martisor’ symbol; nevertheless, there are several regions in Romania where the girls are the ones to offer the gifts.

Please upgrade to Enterprise plan to enjoy ten millions of resources and enterprise authorization certificate. Likewise, in a small ornament with white and red, was created with the role of talisman meant to accompany wishes good luck and love, health, happiness and prosperity. The horseshoe martisor is also among the most popular in Romania, as it is also said to bring good luck and good fortune.Before the 19th century various other colors were used: black and white in Mehedinți and in Aromanian communities, red only in Vâlcea, Romanați, Argeș, Neamț, and Vaslui, black and red in Brăila, white and blue in Vrancea, or even multiple colours in areas of southern Transylvania and Moldova. Mars was not only the god of war but also the god of agriculture, which contributes to the rebirth of vegetation.