Mărţişor

Mărţişor is an old tradition celebrated all over Romania every year on March 1st. The name Mărţişor is the diminutive of March (Martie in Romanian).
The Mărțișor is represented by two silky red and white threads interwoven (şnur) tied to a bow to which a small trinket is attached.
The gift of Mărțișor is traditionally offered between March 1st and 8th to the female family members, friends and colleagues to show friendship, respect or admiration. Giving this talisman to people is an old custom, and it is believed that the wearer will be strong and healthy for the year to come. It is also a symbol of the coming spring. Usually, women wear it pinned to their clothes, close to the heart, until the last day of March, when they tie it to a fruit-tree twig, gesture believed to bring wealth to the wearer.
The colors significance is attributed to several legends depending on the origin of the celebration. In the Roman tradition it is believed that the red string of Mărțișor symbolises vitality, while white symbolises victory. Red is the colour of fire, blood, and a symbol of life, associated with the passion of women. Meanwhile, white is the colour of snow, clouds, and the wisdom of men. In this interpretation, the thread of a Mărțișor represents the union of the feminine and the masculine principles, the vital forces which give birth to the eternal cycle of the nature. In Daco-Romanian folklore, seasons are attributed symbolic colours: spring is red, summer is green or yellow, autumn is black, and winter is white. This is why one can say that the Mărțișor thread, knitted in white and red, is a symbol of passing, from the cold white winter, to the lively spring, associated with fire and life.
Different traditions are still associated with Mărțișor throughout Romania, in some coutryside regions people celebrate the Mărțișor by hanging a red and white string at their gate, window, shed to protect against evil spirits.
In eastern Romania (Moldova and Bucovina) the red and white string is complemented with a small gold or silver coin. After wearing the coin for twelve days the women would buy fresh cheese with it hoping tha their skin would be healthy and beautiful the entire year.