| March Traditions in Romania |
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1 March : Martisor ; Beginning of the wold women days and the Old Dochia 9 March : The Martyrs Martisor : Martisor is the traditional celebration of the beginning of the spring (and until 1701 of the New Year) in Romania, Moldova, on the 1st of March. The day's name is the diminutive of March (in Romanian Martie), and thus means something like "little" or "dear March". Nowadays, men offer women a talisman object also called Martisor, consisting of a jewel or a small decoration like a flower, an animal or a heart, tied to a red and white string. 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. A woman wears it pinned to her blouse on this day and up to two weeks after. Occasionally, women also give such gifts to men. In some parts of Romania such as Moldova or Bukovina the symbol of spring was a gold or silver medal which was worn around the neck. After wearing the coin for twelve days, they bought sweet cheese with the medal, because it was believed that their faces would remain beautiful and white the entire year. Bulgarians also have a similar but not identical holiday on March 1, called "Martenitsa". If and how these two holidays are related is still a matter of debate between ethnologists. The ?martisor? is worn until the roses or the cherries bloom. Then, the braid is tied on one of the branches of that tree. In other regions, the ?martisor? is worn during the old women?s days (March 1st ? March 9th), after this being tied on a tree. It is believed that, if the tree gives fruits, the man who has worn the ?martisor? will be lucky. If the ?martisor? is thrown after a bird, the man will be as easy as that bird. {jcomments on}
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