A long time ago, the Moldavian people had such a tradition: on the first day of spring, to give each other a Martisor.

The happy owner of this gift wears it all month of March on clothes - on the left side of the chest, near the heart.

Where did this tradition come from?

One old legend says that in ancient times, a young handsome guy lived among the Getae and Dacians. His name was Fat-Frumos, which in translation into Russian means Well Done-Handsome, Good Well Done.

Fat-Frumos was cheerful and kind, in love with the nature of his native land. And then one day on the first day of spring at sunrise, he galloped into the forest. On a sunny meadow, the young man saw a wonderful flower named "Giochel" - a snowdrop.

Who are you? - the guy asked the flower.

I am Giochel, messenger of Spring! I notify everyone about the end of winter and the arrival of spring! If I appeared, it means that the end of the cold, fierce blizzards and snowstorms has come. My opened flower attracts warmth and bright sun, calls migratory birds to their native lands!

But there is still snow around, won't you freeze? - the good fellow was worried.

No, I'm not afraid of the cold! Giochel replied.

Then a fierce Blizzard-Frost was walking past a forest clearing and heard the words of Giochel. Blizzard-Frost was angry that such a fragile flower was not afraid of him and notifies everyone about the departure of winter and the beginning of spring. Blizzard-Frost got angry and raged, sent all his cold strength to Giochel. Then the spring flower began to turn pale and freeze, lowering down its delicate white head.

Don't die, Giochel! - Fat-Frumos shouted to him and rushed to stop the raging cold storm.

But the young man was unable to overcome the sharp Blizzard-Frost. Then, falling to his knees from his wounds, Fat-Frumos managed to get to the dying Giochel and covered the flower from the cold with his chest. Drops of hot blood that came straight from the heart fell to the ground next to the freezing flower.
With his blood and last breath, Fat-Frumos warmed Giochel, and the white flower survived! It bloomed further, and notified everyone about the coming of Spring!
And the dying Fat-Frumos turned into another beautiful flower.

This is how the legend about the beautiful flower and the holiday of the arrival of spring - Martisor was born.

In different villages we tell this legend in their own way.
For example, there is another legend that in a forest clearing a young man met a beautiful forest Fairy who came to inform the world about the coming of Spring. Young people liked each other. But the insidious Blizzard-Frost brought cold on the Fairy, and then in the struggle mortally wounded the young man. Fat Frumos tried to warm the freezing Fairy with his hot blood from his wounds, but they both died. In this place grew the first spring flower - the white Snowdrop. And Fat-Frumos turned into a beautiful flower Bujor (forest or foreign Peony).

Since then, people have been telling these legends to their children, making and giving each other Martisors, rejoicing at the arrival of spring.

Spring gift Martisor

What is this gift - Martisor?

Martisors are diverse in design, there are a great variety of their forms. But all of them are made strictly in two colors: white - the color of the Snowdrop, and red - the color of Fat-Frumos' blood.

Ordinary Martisors are balls or circles. Or is it a white flower head (in the form of a snowdrop cap) and the same red. They are knitted from threads and then fastened together. A bow is made at the ends of the threads.
Ready-made Martisor is sewn onto clothes or fastened with a badge on the left side of the chest near the heart. They wear a gift from the first day of March until the end of the month.

On the last day of March, Martisor is removed and must be tied to a branch of some plant (tree or perennial flower). This suggests that a person takes patronage for the whole year, to look after and care for this plant until next spring.

And Martisor tied to the plant says that this plant is occupied. The bright red and white coloring of Martisor reminds people of the obligation to take care of their plants.

Of course, this is also from the legend, but many people follow this tradition, providing further care for the plant. This tradition is especially honored in the villages.

Although everyone ties their martisors to a branch of a plant, not everyone can regularly care for their tree; this is especially difficult in the bustle of the city.
Nevertheless, these legends are still alive, and the traditional Spring Festival is celebrated merrily!

For 43 years in a row, within the framework of this spring holiday, from March 1 to March 10, the International Festival of Culture is held in Moldova, which is called “Martisor”.

So here in March everyone celebrates Martisor, wears gifts on their chests and rejoices in the coming spring.

I congratulate everyone on the coming of Spring, on the holiday of Martisor!

In Romania, Moldova and some other countries, there is one beautiful spring custom that arose on the basis of a legend from the time of the Dacians (the ancestors of the Romanian people who lived before the Roman Empire conquered the territory of modern southern Romania). On the first of March, all people give their loved ones or relatives and friends a small gift - Martisor. These are two silk cords with tassels at the ends, woven together (one should be white and the other red) and some kind of decoration: a flower (most often it is a snowdrop), a heart or something else. Thus, people celebrate the arrival of spring, considering the first of March a kind of holiday of spring and love.
And the legend about Martisor itself sounds as follows.
One day the Sun descended in a village in the form of a young man to have some fun at the dance. The Evil Serpent guarded him for a long time, and then stole it from among the people and closed it in his palace. The world is sad. The birds stopped singing, the springs stopped flowing and ringing, and the children forgot what fun and laughter are. The world plunged into sadness and despondency. And none of the inhabitants dared to fight the terrible Serpent.
But there was one brave young man who volunteered to go and save the Sun. Many people equipped him on the road and gave him their strength so that he could overcome the Serpent and free the Sun. The journey lasted three seasons - all summer, all autumn and all winter. The guy found the palace of the Serpent, and the battle began.
They fought for days on end until the young man defeated the Serpent. Exhausted and wounded, the young man freed the Sun. It rose to heaven, cheering the whole world. Nature came to life, people were delighted, but the brave young man did not have time to see spring. His warm blood dripped from the wound and flowed onto the snow. Where the snow melted, white flowers grew - snowdrops, heralds of spring. The last drop of blood fell on the white snow. A brave young man has died.
Since then, in honor of the liberator of the world from darkness and sadness, young people have been weaving two thin cords with tassels: one white and one red. They give them to the girls they love, or to relatives and friends. The red color denotes love for everything beautiful, reminiscent of the color of the blood of a young man. The white color symbolizes the health and purity of the snowdrop, the first spring flower.

***
According to one legend, on the first day of March, the beautiful Spring came to the edge of the forest, looked around and saw a snowdrop breaking out from under the snow in a clearing in the thickets of blackthorn. She decided to help him and began to clear the ground around, freeing him from thorny branches. Winter saw this and was furious. She waved her hands, summoned a cold wind with snow to destroy the primrose. A weak flower drooped under the cruel wind. But Spring covered the sprout with her hands and pricked herself with a blackthorn. A drop of hot blood fell from her wounded hand, and the flower came to life. So Spring conquered Winter. The colors of the Martisor symbolize her red blood on the white snow.

The history of Martisor remains a mystery. The holiday is said to have originated during Roman times, when the New Year was celebrated on March 1st, the month of Mars. He was not only the god of war, but also the god of agriculture, contributing to the revival of nature. This duality is reflected in Martisor, where white and red can be understood as symbols of peace and war.

Archaeological excavations in Romania prove that amulets, like the modern Martisor, existed almost 8 thousand years ago. Then small stones, painted in white and red, were worn around the neck. Folklorist Simon Florea Marian wrote that in Moldova and Bukovina, Martisor consisted of a gold or silver coin on a red and white thread. This decoration was loved by children, and girls wore it for the first 12 days of spring, and then weaved it into their hair until the storks arrived or until the first trees bloomed. Then a red-white thread was tied to a tree, and they bought fresh sheep's cheese with a coin.

Congratulations to all flower growers and gardeners on the arrival of spring!
And on this occasion, I want to give all readers of the Gardenia website (at least visually) Martisor!

Perhaps not everyone knows what Martisor is, and therefore I will tell you about this holiday.

A long time ago, the Moldavian people had such a tradition: on the first day of spring, to give each other a Martisor.
The happy owner of this gift wears it all month of March on clothes - on the left side of the chest, near the heart.
Where did this tradition come from?

Legends of Fat Frumos and Snowdrop

One old legend says that in ancient times, a young handsome guy lived among the Getae and Dacians. His name was Fat-Frumos, which in translation into Russian means Well Done-Handsome, Good Well Done.
Fat-Frumos was cheerful and kind, in love with the nature of his native land. And then one day on the first day of spring at sunrise, he galloped into the forest. On a sunny meadow, the young man saw a wonderful flower named "Giochel" - a snowdrop.

Who are you? - the guy asked the flower.
- I am Giochel, messenger of Spring! I notify everyone about the end of winter and the arrival of spring! If I appeared, it means that the end of the cold, fierce blizzards and snowstorms has come. My opened flower attracts warmth and bright sun, calls migratory birds to their native lands!

But there is still snow around, won't you freeze? - the good fellow was worried.

No, I'm not afraid of the cold! Giochel replied.

Then a fierce Blizzard-Frost was walking past a forest clearing and heard the words of Giochel. Blizzard-Frost was angry that such a fragile flower was not afraid of him and notifies everyone about the departure of winter and the beginning of spring. Blizzard-Frost got angry and raged, sent all his cold strength to Giochel. Then the spring flower began to turn pale and freeze, lowering down its delicate white head.

Don't die, Giochel! Fat-Frumos called to him and rushed to stop the raging cold storm.
But the young man was unable to overcome the sharp Blizzard-Frost. Then, falling to his knees from his wounds, Fat-Frumos managed to get to the dying Giochel and covered the flower from the cold with his chest. Drops of hot blood that came straight from the heart fell to the ground next to the freezing flower.
With his blood and last breath, Fat-Frumos warmed Giochel, and the white flower survived! It bloomed further, and notified everyone about the coming of Spring!
And the dying Fat-Frumos turned into another beautiful flower.
This is how the legend about the beautiful flower and the holiday of the arrival of spring - Martisor was born.

In different villages we tell this legend in their own way.
For example, there is another legend that in a forest clearing a young man met a beautiful forest Fairy who came to inform the world about the coming of Spring. Young people liked each other. But the insidious Blizzard-Frost brought cold on the Fairy, and then in the struggle mortally wounded the young man. Fat Frumos tried to warm the freezing Fairy with his hot blood from his wounds, but they both died. The first spring flower, the white Snowdrop, grew in this place. And Fat-Frumos turned into a beautiful flower Bujor (forest or foreign Peony).

Since then, people have been telling these legends to their children, making and giving each other Martisors, rejoicing at the arrival of spring.

Spring gift Martisor

What is this gift - Martisor?
Martisors are diverse in design, there are a great variety of their forms. But all of them are made strictly in two colors: white - the color of the Snowdrop, and red - the color of Fat-Frumos' blood.

Ordinary Martisors are balls or circles. Or is it a white flower head (in the form of a snowdrop cap) and the same red. They are knitted from threads and then fastened together. A bow is made at the ends of the threads.
Ready-made Martisor is sewn onto clothes or fastened with a badge on the left side of the chest near the heart. They wear a gift from the first day of March until the end of the month.

On the last day of March, Martisor is removed and must be tied to a branch of some plant (tree or perennial flower). This suggests that a person takes patronage for the whole year, to look after and care for this plant until next spring.
And Martisor tied to the plant says that this plant is occupied. The bright red and white coloring of Martisor reminds people of the obligation to take care of their plants.
Of course, this is also from the legend, but many people follow this tradition, providing further care for the plant. This tradition is especially honored in the villages.

Although everyone ties their martisors to a branch of a plant, not everyone can regularly care for their tree; this is especially difficult in the bustle of the city.
Nevertheless, these legends are still alive, and the traditional Spring Festival is celebrated merrily!

For 43 years in a row, within the framework of this spring holiday, from March 1 to March 10, the International Festival of Culture, which is called “Martisor”, has been held in Moldova.

So here in March everyone celebrates Martisor, wears gifts on their chests and rejoices in the coming spring.

I congratulate everyone on the coming of Spring, on the holiday of Martisor!

On site site

Weekly Free Website Digest website

Every week, for 10 years, for our 100,000 subscribers, an excellent selection of relevant materials about flowers and gardens, as well as other useful information.

Subscribe and receive!

I drink spring days Cahors
(the days are a little warmer)
I give Moldovan martisor
And I hug all my friends!

If in some countries it is customary to say goodbye to winter, then in Moldova it is customary to welcome spring. Every year on March 1, the Moldovan national holiday "Martisor" is celebrated. The tradition of celebrating "Martisor" was established by the distant ancestors of the Moldavians, who celebrated the New Year with the advent of spring. On this day, people give each other martisor (a symbol of clarity and happiness), this is a miniature red and white decoration in the form of all kinds of flowers, bells, beads, little men, hearts.

Martisor is also a source of pride for every Moldovan, pride that this symbol of spring, fertility, happiness and prosperity has settled in his homeland. Any resident of Moldova with admiration talks about the history of its appearance and about the signs associated with it. Martisors are worn on clothes for the whole month, and in April, red and white talismans need to be tied to a fruit tree and make a wish that will certainly come true. And if the tree on which you attached the martisor gives a rich harvest, it means that you will not escape happiness and love this year.

This beautiful tradition was born by a legend. The legend of Martisor is passed from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation. There are various interpretations of this beautiful and kind fairy tale.

There are many interpretations of this legend. Here are two of them:
"Long ago, in time immemorial, a fragile flower with snow-white petals named Giochel - Snowdrop appeared on the earth. It grew on a bare kogosor, when the sun first pierced the gray snow clouds with golden arrows of its rays. Little Giochel was protected from the cold by the beautiful and kind sorceress Spring. The evil whirlwind Krivets heard about the brave flower.He flew out of his icy dwelling with the intention of freezing the brave man who dared to transgress the harsh law of his icy kingdom.The ferocious Krivets pulled out a prickly wild rose from the ground and threw it out of annoyance into the bright Spring, pricking her little finger. hot scarlet blood fell to the ground and stained the white petals of Giochel. Each hot drop brought this delicate and fragile flower back to life. When Giochel's strength returned, he joyfully announced the coming of Spring."
According to another legend, the Sun descended to earth in the form of a beautiful girl. But the evil Serpent stole it and locked it in his palace. After that, the birds stopped singing, the children forgot what fun and laughter are, and the whole world plunged into sadness. One brave young man decided to save the Sun. For a whole year he was looking for the palace of the Serpent, and when he found it, he challenged him to battle. They fought for a long time, and in the end the young man defeated the Serpent. He released the beautiful Sun. It rose to heaven and lit up the whole world. Spring came, nature came to life, people remembered what joy is, but the brave young man did not have time to see spring. His warm blood dripped onto the snow. The last drop of blood fell, he died of his wounds. Where the snow melted, white flowers grew - snowdrops, heralds of spring. Since then, in honor of the liberator of the world from darkness and sadness, people have been weaving two cords with white and red flowers. The red color symbolizes the love of beauty and the memory of the blood of the deceased youth, and the white color symbolizes the health and purity of the snowdrop, the first spring flower.

Perhaps not everyone knows what Martisor is, and therefore I will tell you about this holiday.

A long time ago, the Moldavian people had such a tradition: on the first day of spring, to give each other a Martisor.
The happy owner of this gift wears it all month of March on clothes - on the left side of the chest, near the heart.
Where did this tradition come from?
Legends of Fat Frumos and Snowdrop

One old legend says that in ancient times, a young handsome guy lived among the Getae and Dacians. His name was Fat-Frumos, which in translation into Russian means Well Done-Handsome, Good Well Done.
Fat-Frumos was cheerful and kind, in love with the nature of his native land. And then one day on the first day of spring at sunrise, he galloped into the forest. On a sunny meadow, the young man saw a wonderful flower named "Giochel" - a snowdrop.

Who are you? - the guy asked the flower.
- I am Giochel, messenger of Spring! I notify everyone about the end of winter and the arrival of spring! If I appeared, it means that the end of the cold, fierce blizzards and snowstorms has come. My opened flower attracts warmth and bright sun, calls migratory birds to their native lands!

But there is still snow around, won't you freeze? - the good fellow was worried.

No, I'm not afraid of the cold! Giochel replied.

Then a fierce Blizzard-Frost was walking past a forest clearing and heard the words of Giochel. Blizzard-Frost was angry that such a fragile flower was not afraid of him and notifies everyone about the departure of winter and the beginning of spring. Blizzard-Frost got angry and raged, sent all his cold strength to Giochel. Then the spring flower began to turn pale and freeze, lowering down its delicate white head.

Don't die, Giochel! Fat-Frumos called to him and rushed to stop the raging cold storm.
But the young man was unable to overcome the sharp Blizzard-Frost. Then, falling to his knees from his wounds, Fat-Frumos managed to get to the dying Giochel and covered the flower from the cold with his chest. Drops of hot blood that came straight from the heart fell to the ground next to the freezing flower.
With his blood and last breath, Fat-Frumos warmed Giochel, and the white flower survived! It bloomed further, and notified everyone about the coming of Spring!
And the dying Fat-Frumos turned into another beautiful flower.
This is how the legend about the beautiful flower and the holiday of the arrival of spring - Martisor was born.

In different villages we tell this legend in their own way.
For example, there is another legend that in a forest clearing a young man met a beautiful forest Fairy who came to inform the world about the coming of Spring. Young people liked each other. But the insidious Blizzard-Frost brought cold on the Fairy, and then in the struggle mortally wounded the young man. Fat Frumos tried to warm the freezing Fairy with his hot blood from his wounds, but they both died. The first spring flower, the white Snowdrop, grew in this place. And Fat-Frumos turned into a beautiful flower Bujor (forest or foreign Peony).

Since then, people have been telling these legends to their children, making and giving each other Martisors, rejoicing at the arrival of spring.
Spring gift Martisor

What is this gift - Martisor?
Martisors are diverse in design, there are a great variety of their forms. But all of them are made strictly in two colors: white - the color of the Snowdrop, and red - the color of Fat-Frumos' blood.

Ordinary Martisors are balls or circles. Or is it a white flower head (in the form of a snowdrop cap) and the same red. They are knitted from threads and then fastened together. A bow is made at the ends of the threads.
Ready-made Martisor is sewn onto clothes or fastened with a badge on the left side of the chest near the heart. They wear a gift from the first day of March until the end of the month.

On the last day of March, Martisor is removed and must be tied to a branch of some plant (tree or perennial flower). This suggests that a person takes patronage for the whole year, to look after and care for this plant until next spring.
And Martisor tied to the plant says that this plant is occupied. The bright red and white coloring of Martisor reminds people of the obligation to take care of their plants.
Of course, this is also from the legend, but many people follow this tradition, providing further care for the plant. This tradition is especially honored in the villages.

Although everyone ties their martisors to a branch of a plant, not everyone can regularly care for their tree; this is especially difficult in the bustle of the city.
Nevertheless, these legends are still alive, and the traditional Spring Festival is celebrated merrily!

For 43 years in a row, within the framework of this spring holiday, from March 1 to March 10, the International Festival of Culture, which is called “Martisor”, has been held in Moldova.

So here in March everyone celebrates Martisor, wears gifts on their chests and rejoices in the coming spring.

I congratulate everyone on the coming of Spring, on the holiday of Martisor!

The traditions of national holidays of the peoples of the world, as usual, are rooted in the deep past and have been formed over many centuries.

Some of them are based on historical events, others are legends passed from mouth to mouth. In the Moldavian national holiday Martisor (martisor), history is intertwined with several legends that arose in ancient times, when people personified the forces of nature.

According to one of them, Martisor symbolizes renewal - the victory of Spring over fierce Winter. Beauty - Spring on the first day of her reign came to the edge of the forest, saw Giochel (snowdrop) breaking through the snow in the bushes of thorns and decided to free him from winter fetters. But Winter, not wanting to give up her possessions, sent evil frosts with the intention of destroying the delicate flower. When Spring bent down to warm him with her warmth and save him, she pricked herself on the thorns of the thorn. A drop of hot blood touched the snowdrop, he gained strength, came to life, and Spring came into its own.

Another legend tells that the Serpent stole the Sun, which descended to earth in the form of a beautiful girl, after which darkness, despondency and cold came. The brave young man released the Sun, which illuminated the world and warmed the earth, giving people joy. But in the battle with the Serpent, the young man was wounded. In the place where drops of his blood fell on the snow, white flowers grew - snowdrops, harbingers of spring. In gratitude for the rescue, the red-and-white Martisor became the talisman of his memory.

History interprets the origins of the holiday in its own way, but confirms its ancient origin from the time of the Roman Empire. Archaeologists during excavations discovered pebbles of red and white color, which were worn around the neck 8 thousand years ago.

Modern martisors are two red and white threads woven together, with flowers at the ends. They are made by skilful craftswomen all over the country in various shapes and sizes exactly by March 1 and represent the arrival of spring. People give each other martisors as a sign of gratitude with wishes for the fulfillment of desires and wear them attached to clothes on the right side of the chest throughout March. At the end of the month, according to tradition, a martisor is hung on a flowering tree, while making a wish, which, according to legend, will surely come true.

The national holiday Martisor gave rise to another good tradition to hold in the country in the first days of March a music festival of the same name, which today has acquired international status. A large number of guests from many countries come to Moldova. From March 1 to March 10, as part of the festival, concerts are held in all halls and theaters of Chisinau with performances by artists of various genres and musical directions.

Residents of Moldova hospitably welcome everyone who wants to touch the national Moldovan traditions and participate in the "Martisor" holiday, contributing to the development of friendship between the peoples of the world.