Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
It is believed that the person who wears the red and white
string would enjoy a prosperous and healthy year.
Not long ago, in the countryside, people used to celebrate the Martisor by hanging a red and white string
at their the gate, window, cattle's horn and shed to protect against evil spirits and to invoke nature's
regenerative power.
In eastern Romania ( Moldova and Bucovina), the red and white string was complemented with a small -
gold or silver - coin. After wearing the coin for twelve days, the women would buy fresh cheese with it
hopping that their skin would be healthy and beautiful the entire year.
According to archaeological research, the Mărțișor traces its history more than 8,000 years ago. Some
ethnologists believe that the Mărțișor celebration has Roman origins, others support the theory that it is
an old Dacian tradition.
In the old times, Mărțișor were made of small river pebbles, colored in white and red, stringed on a thread
and worn around the neck. They were worn, to bring good luck and good weather, from March 1 until the
first trees would bloom. When the first trees were flowering the Mărțișor were hanged on tree branches.
Nowadays, on March 1, Romanians buy silky red-white threads (șnur) tied into a bow to which a small
trinket is attached and offer them to their (female) family members, friends and colleagues to show
friendship, respect or admiration.