Back in March, I started noticing booths of small trinkets at the mall. These small trinkets were usually pins, bracelets or keychains with butterfly or flower charms on them, and they all had red and white thread attached to them. When the 1st of March came, my Romanian friends, colleagues and students began gifting me these small trinkets. I soon found out that these trinkets are called mărțișoare, and they are given to women on March 1st to celebrate the beginning of spring.
After consulting my students, I learned more about the Romanian tradition of Mărțișor. It is celebrated on the 1st of March all over Romania. This holiday is also celebrated in Moldova, a country that borders northeastern Romania. Women receive mărțișoare from students, co-workers, friends, family or colleagues as a symbol of respect, admiration and appreciation. Traditionally, women wear these trinkets for the entire month of March. At the end of the month, they tie these trinkets on a tree branch. Romanian people believe that wearing mărțișoare will bring them prosperity and health for the new year.
