Ink And Reason

Picture this: It’s March 1st, and Romania is abuzz with a flurry of red and white, a sea of tiny charms, and a heartwarming exchange of wishes and flowers. It’s Mărțișor (pronounced roughly “Mart-see-shore”) day, a quirky and joyous tradition that marks the beginning of spring.

So, what exactly is a Mărțișor? It’s a small charm, typically a red and white tassel, that comes adorned with little symbolic figures. Think ladybugs for good luck and symbol of spring, horseshoes for fortune, or chimney sweeps for, well, general luckiness. The red and white threads represent the intertwining of winter and spring, a hopeful welcome to the rebirth of nature.

Growing up, Mărțișor was a big deal. As kids, we’d spend days hunting for the most beautiful, unique charms or even crafting our own with fierce dedication (gotta impress that crush, right?). There was always a bit of good-natured bartering with friends, and maybe a dash of charm-thievery from cheeky older kids. To protect my most precious Mărțișor, my mom would sew it right onto my shirt – try and steal that, bullies!

I’ll never forget seeing my parents and grandparents exchanging Mărțișoare, their faces alight with love. Men would kiss the women in their lives, wishing them “La mulți ani!” (Many happy years!) and “O primăvară frumoasă!” (A beautiful spring!), while showering them with bouquets of flowers. It was pure sweetness.

While my hometown celebrated Mărțișor with charms flying both ways, things have changed a bit in recent years. In Bucharest, it’s morphed into a primarily women-focused event, despite already having Women’s Day on March 8th. I find this a bit nonsensical. A charm is a charm, and anyone can give or receive one! I’m sticking to my traditional roots and joyfully exchanged Mărțișoare with my partner and son this morning.

And guess what? My little charm will be proudly dangling from my wrist for the entire month of March, a vibrant symbol of spring’s promise and the warmth of Romanian tradition.