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. That is why young people started weaving two threads, red and white, and to offer them to the loved ones. There are many versions of this myth, whose name seems to come from the Byzantine calendar that is on March 1 when the Holy Martyr Evdokia was celebrated. When Dochia sees the fruits she believes that spring has come and leaves for the mountains with her son and her flock.

Another custom is the old lay’s baptism, meaning sick children are baptized again with a different name to chase away the evil and illness. March 1 is the day Romanians celebrate ‘Martisor’, an old tradition related to spring arrival and warm weather, also symbolizing love, respect and friendship. The maiden was released and she ran back into the sky, almost instantly (had she thanked her saviour? Less commonly north of the Danube, but often recorded in Dobruja, was the practice of leaving the Mărțișor under a rock, with the type of insects found on the spot being interpreted as omens, throwing it into a spring or river ( Gorj), or even burning it. Traditionally, both women and men used to wear Martisor pinned to their jackets and blouses, close to the heart, until the last day of March, when they would hang it to a fruit-tree twig.Options are plentiful, ranging from simple red and white cord bracelets to precious stones and luxurious jewelry pieces. On this day, and even until March 8, men offer women martisoare - small symbolic items tied with a red and white entwined cord, as a sign of respect and love.

Some women pin one or more mărțișoare to their clothes, usually around the breast pocket, while others just wear the red-white string on their wrist. Do fashion it if you don’t have an old one, wear it, the plain red and white entwined strings, before your feet even touch the ground on the morning of the 1st of March. The traditional ‘Martisor’ is thought to be a silver coin with a red/white cord, made by girls and tied by the hand, dating back to 1905. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Some ethnologists believe that the Mărțișor celebration has Roman origins, others support the theory that it is an old Dacian tradition.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 carries within its heart of hearts the positive energy of a new year, of a season that’s just been reborn, but also a drop of love from the giver to the receiver. If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review. They are usually small items, such as handmade flowers, jewelry and figurines tied with a red and white entwined cord.

Martisor is an authentic Romanian celebration that dates back to the time of the Thracians, but also the name given to the little talismans with red and white strings offered during this holiday. Modern tradition involves wearing the small object on the chest like a brooch or a lapel pin, during the first part of the month, starting from 1 March. Romanian customs behind this lies a range of symbols on the transition seasons and rituals to attract good fortune for the year. How interesting to have only the two seasons … the way of the weather these days it almost feels right! Martisor (Mărțișor) is a celebration at the beginning of spring, on March 1st, in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria.The person who receives such a martisor has better chances of finding her/his way and fulfilling her/his goals. In Romania, the most superstitious ones say that the person who finds a horseshoe has to throw it over his/her shoulder or place it on one of the house’s walls for good luck. Keep in mind that most Romanian women expect to receive something at the beginning of March (especially on March 1) - either a traditional mărțișor or its more expensive version, a piece of jewellery with a red-white string, or a flower from the most important men in their lives, as well as from colleagues and business partners.