Little March
It is March 1st and the flowering snowdrops announce an early spring. Another confirmation comes from the first Iris reticulata, Eranthis, the well-developed buds of Helleborus, Adonis and Corydalis, as well as chipmunks running around. Setbacks are to be expected for sure, but what’s done is done, or better said, what’s flowering is flowering, and we cannot turn them back.
In Romania, Moldova, and with variations in other South Eastern regions (Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, SE Serbia), March 1st is traditionally celebrated and named Martisor (Romania). Here’s a short wiki stub for those willing to read more, and I’ll explain a bit about it.
The word Mărțișor, Mărţişug or Marţ, Martenitza (Bulgarian), comes from the name of the month, March – Martie (Romanian) and Mart (Bulgarian) literally meaning “little March”.
The origin of the tradition is not clear with many researchers pointing to the relation with the ancient New Year’s celebration on the first of March and the god Mars (Martius), which was not only the god of war but also the god of agriculture.
The Mărțișor tradition is actually a celebration of the passage from the winter into spring, which coincides with the start of a new agricultural season. The white and red string is in fact the most important element. In rural areas, red and white strings were often tied to tree branches, fences and at the house for good luck and prosperity in the coming spring.
Most often, the white and red strings have various trinkets attached to it: good luck bearers like coins, a 4-leafed clover, a horseshoe, a snowdrop or other flowers, ladybugs, butterflies, little figurines, and so on. They are gifted to women and children, depending on the region, and weared most often as a broch (also as a pendant or bracelet) with wishes for a beautiful spring and good luck.
Snowdrops made from metal, glass or ceramic and attached to the white and red string are most often used given their association with the beginning of spring :-)
All in all, this beautiful tradition is announcing the start of spring and, of course, of the new gardening season! People are starting seeds at this time, prepare the beds (where possible), clean and repair their utensils.
So, today I wish you all a Happy ‘little March’ and a most beautiful spring!
