At the beginning of spring, on the 1st March, Romanians celebrate Martisorul, and people offer a talisman made of a white and a red string to the ones they love. Thus, it is believed that the person who wears this talisman will be strong and healthy for the year to come, and it is also a symbol of the coming spring. Nowadays, it has become a symbol of friendship, love, appreciation and respect. In December 2017, UNESCO added The Romanian Martisor to its intangible cultural heritage of humanity list. We invite you to learn the legend of the Romanian Martisor.
Once upon a time, The Sun, disguised as a young man, got down into a village, to dance together with other young people. A dragon, who had been watching him for a very long time, kidnapped him and imprisoned him in the darkness of his castle, which generated a lot of sadness around the world. The birds were no longer singing, the streams were no longer flowing, the children were no longer laughing, but nobody dared to confront the dragon.
One day, a lad decided to go and save The Sun. His journey to the dragon’s castle lasted the whole winter, but he found it and he began fighting with the dragon. They had been fighting for days on end, until the dragon was defeated. Exhausted and injured, the young man freed The Sun, who rose high up into the sky making all the people cheerful and joyful again. Nature came back to life, birds started singing, but the brave young man was injured, and his blood leaked into the white snow, melting it and where it dropped, white flowers grew and blossomed.
Ever since, the Romanian young people tie together two threads, a white and a red one, which they offer to the girls they love, or to the people they appreciate and respect. The red thread is for love, and it reminds the color of the brave young man’s blood, while the with thread is the purity of the snowdrop, the first flower in spring.
Here are some of the talismans called Martisoare that the Romanian students created for you. Have a nice and warm spring, filled with color and hope!
https://twinspace.etwinning.net/59383/materials/images
The Romanian Team
