In Romania we usually associate the 1st of March with the begining of Spring. Even if the weather looks sometimes more like autumn or winter. But, sunny, cold or rainy, on this very day we always celebrate Martisor.

The name Martisor is the diminutive of Martie (the Romanian for March). Its beginnings are not very well known, but they are usually connected with ancient Rome, where New Year’s Eve was celebrated on the 1st of March.

Among the myths about Martisor, there is one I like most:

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If you want to find out more about a country, study its traditions.

Romanian traditions are close connected to village and peasants’ life. So establishing of the Romanian Peasant Museum in Bucharest - which is nowadays part of European Museums of Popular Art and Traditions - was very well received.

The museum is not just an exhibiting space but a living one - they host also the Village School (for children), concerts, conferences and fairs. 

One of these fairs was The Spring Fair (Martisor day) when people, as you can see, had to wait in a queue for tickets and to buy “martisoare” and other presents for 1st of March.

On the 1st of March in our country there is a beautiful tradition - men & boys (but not necessarily) offer a little object (in a variety of shapes, forms, textures and colours) tied with a red & white thread, to mothers, lovers, sisters, friends, colleagues, teachers, etc. to bring them luck.

In 1996 the Romanian Peasant Museum received the EMYA – European Museum of the Year Award.

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