Every March 1st, bright trinkets with red-and-white strings start popping up in Romania. You will see girls and women wear them: they hang from jackets, wrists, and sometimes even earrings, all to celebrate the return of sunshine and color after winter’s chill.
This tradition, known as Martisor (written Mărțișor in Romanian), is a special celebration of spring, being considered the symbol of nature’s rejuvenation after the long winter.
It’s a beautiful, colorful celebration and one of my favorite Romanian traditions. It’s also relatively unknown to the rest of the world (although extremely popular here), similar to Romania’s celebration of love – Dragobetele.
Back to the celebration itself, Martisor always takes place on March 1st, the first day of spring in Romania. And now, it is a tradition recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Pretty cool, right?
The Symbolism of the Red and White String
The Martisor is represented by a trinket tied with two intertwined strings: a white and a red one, representing the past winter and the coming summer, respectively. It looks like this:
Traditionally, the white string represents the purity and cold of the past winter, while the red string represents the heat and vitality of the coming summer. This duality of life and death, or cold and warmth, is the core of the amulet.
Wear it like you mean it!
As soon as the day begins, women will start receiving these decorative tokens. Usually, boys and men offer them to all girls and women they know (family members, teachers, friends, and of course, significant others.)
In some parts of the Romanian regions of Moldova and Bucovina, the roles are reversed, and women are the ones giving Mărțișors to men.
The women usually choose one or two they love the most and wear them: either as a brooch pinned to their coat or blouse, or bracelets around their wrist. Lately, I’ve seen them worn as pins on bags or even hanged on earrings or worn as neclaces.
Basically, ladies wear them as they see fit. It’s a beautiful way to say “Hello, spring!”
The Martisor is worn until March 10th, when the string must be cut by a loved one. In other regions, it has to be hanged on a tree’s branch for prosperity, although it will generally just be kept in a drawer.
The Origins of the Martisor Tradition
While considered by many a unique Romanian tradition, Martisorul is actually celebrated throughout the Balkans, with countries like Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania and Greece also celebrating it on March 1st under different names.
The Mărțișor tradition dates back thousands of years, tied with the Roman and Dacian cultures that inhabited the territory of modern-day Romania.
During those times, people believed that spring was a time of rebirth and renewal, and they celebrated it with various festivals and ceremonies.
One of the most important rituals was the “Marte” festival, which was dedicated to the Roman god of war, Mars.
During this festival, people would wear red and white amulets made of wool or string, which were believed to bring good luck and protect them from evil spirits.
Over time, this ritual became a Christian tradition, and the Martisor (which could be translated as “little March” in Romanian) is now associated with the arrival of spring and the rejuvenation of nature.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can read my article about Romanian culture here.
Finding Your Own Mărțișor
A week before the actual date of the celebration (sometimes even sooner), these colorful trinkets start popping up in supermarkets and stores, but also in dedicated markets and fairs where handmade and more special ones can be purchased.
Traditional symbols are usually the most popular for those seeking good luck:
- The Chimney Sweeper: A symbol of good fortune.
- The Four-Leaf Clover: For luck.
- The Snowdrop: The first flower of spring.
- The Horseshoe: For protection.
Here’s a photo I snapped of Martisors on offer in a local supermarket:
More traditional models are to be found in the rural areas – for example in the Bucovina and Maramures areas of the country (in the Northern parts of Romania), where the Martisor trinkets focus on artistic expression and traditional designs.
But, overall, it’s all about finding something you believe the person receiving the Martisor will like and getting that for her.
If you are a lady in Romania, you will surely receive one – but expect plenty – on March 1st. This is something that only women wear, so men will have to enjoy the happiness of gifting them only.
Tips for Visitors
If you’re in Romania during this beautiful celebration, jump into the fun! Look for local fairs or small street stands offering handcrafted Martisors, as these are usually the most special – some true works of art. For example:
Visit the Museums: In Bucharest, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant often hosts a specialized Mărțișor fair starting around February 24th (Dragobete). This is where you find the high-quality, artisan-made pieces – some truly look like pieces of art!
Mind the Price: Pprices can vary wildly. A simple mass-produced string at a stall might be as low as 5 RON (~1 Euro), while gold or silver versions in jewelry shops can go for hundreds.
Don’t worry if you’re not Romanian – people will appreciate your enthusiasm, and if you’re a lady, you might even receive a Martisor from someone who wants you to share in the excitement.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that person likes you or wants to get in a relationship with you or anything like that – it’s just a gift men offer to women on this special day.
Remember to wear it until the 10th of March, as it’s said to bring prosperity. Also, you’ll have a wonderful souvenir of your time exploring this local custom.
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Wrapping up
Martisor remains a celebrated tradition that brightens the lives of both locals and visitors each March. I love how it reminds us to welcome the new season, share tokens of friendship, and cherish life’s simplest joys – even though these Martisoare (the plural) are getting expensive!
I hope you’ll embrace Martisor if you find yourself in Romania around March 1st. It’s a tradition unlike any other, and I promise it will leave you with lasting memories… and probably a bag full of keepsakes, too!
And if you don’t know where exactly to be, check out my list of the best cities in Romania, or my recommended itinerary for visiting Romania, because there’s a lot more to discover!
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.