Martisor

  Martisor is a Romanian celebration at the beginning of spring, on March the 1st which was the New Year’s Eve in ancient Rome. The month was called in honour of the Mars who was both god of war and an agricultural guardian, who ensured nature’s rebirth.
It symbolizes Spring and nature’s awakening; giving the talisman to people is an old custom, and it is believed that it will bring the wearer optimism and faith. However it is no longer presented as a silver coin or river stones decorated with red and white paint, but rather as beautifully coloured beads, pottery and flowers.
In ancien times, it was offered before sunrise to children, women and men. The Martisor thread is knitted with white and red wool strings and it is a symbol of contrasts: Summer-Winter, warmth-cold, light-darkness.
Nowadays, it is offered as a symbol of friendship, love and respect. It is believed to bring wealth and people think that if one makes a wish when tying the talisman to a fruit-tree twig, the wish comes true.

  Unul dintre cele mai frumoase si unice obiceiuri pastrate de romani este Martisorul, iar traditia daruirii acestuia dateaza dintr-un timp indepartat. In vechiul calendar al romanilor, 1 martie coincidea cu inceputul Anului Nou, iar luna respectiva era dedicata Zeului Marte – divinitate atat a razboiului, dar si o divinitate ocrotitoare a activitailor agricole, personificand totodata renasterea periodica a naturii.
Semnificatia Martisorului a ramas aceeasi de-a lungul timpului: este un simbol al primaverii, al revenirii la viata; el ne aduce optimism si credinta. Forma sa, insa, s-a schimbat si dezvoltat in timp. La inceput Martisorul era simbolizat printr-o moneda de argint ce era asociata soarelui, mai tarziu aparea sub forma unor mici pietre de rau vopsite in alb si rosu insirate pe o ata, iar acum este reprezentat de margelele frumos colorate, ceramica si flori.
In vechime, pe data de 1 martie, Martisorul se daruia inainte de rasaritul soarelui, copiilor si tinerilor – fete si baieti deopotriva. Snurul de Martisor, alcatuit din doua fire de lana rasucite, colorate in alb si rosu, sau, mai rar, in alb si negru, reprezinta unitatea contrariilor: vara-iarna, caldura-frig, lumina-intuneric.
In prezent, Martisorul este daruit celor dragi pentru a ne exprima dragostea, respectul si a intari prietenia. Este purtat intreaga luna martie, dupa care este prins de ramurile unui pom fructifer. Se crede ca aceasta va aduce belsug in casele oamenilor si se zice ca daca cineva isi pune o dorinta in timp ce atarna Martisorul de pom, aceasta se va implini.

Andreea SANDA (X C)