Cantemir Vodă National
College(Bucharest,Romania)
SPRING CUSTOMS AND
TRADITIONS
‘Marţişor’ Day

On the first day of March, the Mărţişor day brings the symbol of
spring in all regions of the country. It is the custom that men offer to
the women in their lives a ‘mărţişor’, which is a small decorative
object than can be worn as a broach. What is particular to this object is
that it has a string with white and red (white being the symbol of men
wisdom and red the color of women's vitality), and it is said that it
brings luck. In the cities, the ‘mărţişor’ is sometimes replaced by
jewelry and gifts, but whatever the choice, it still remains a courteous
gesture for women of every age.

Every year the festive day of March 1 brings back to us
renewed hopes, confidence, faith in good fortune and a
prosperous life. It is life, spring and the shining sun which win
the battle against chilly weather, overcast skies and the nasty
days of the Babe (the first 9 days in March).
The legend of the ‘Marţişor’

There once lived a poor man who used to make doll
dresses, ribbons, tassels, and sold them at the
market.
One day he ran out of fabric and all he could find at
hand was two spools of yarn: one red and the other
one white. Now he was thinking what could be made
out of them; soon he came up with an idea. He tore
off two strands from the spools, one red and one
white and braided them in a cord. He was very
pleased with his work and hung a small picture on his
new thread.

And he said to himself: How shall I call this ? I know.
Martisor because is March and today is the first day
of the month. This will be a gift that men offer to
women. And he made several models.
Soon the word spread about his invention. And people
celebrated March 1 because they wanted to preserve
the memory of the day when a poor man created the
symbol of spring and regeneration.
So, to the present day people celebrate March 1.