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Mărţişor Fair at the Museum of the Romanian Peasant
February 25 - March 1, 2010
Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest
Fridge magnets to be offered on March 1 (day of Martisor). Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest
Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest. Sun symbols.
Martisor fair at MTR, Bucharest. Ladybugs and other fun animal martisoare Gingerbread at MTR, Bucharest
Click on the image for larger photo

March 1 is the day of Mărţişor (approx. [muhr-tsi-shore], IPA: [mər.tsi.'ʃor]), a holiday celebrating the arrival of spring as well as what used to be the New Year. On this day women receive flowers (especially early spring flowers such as snowdrops, hyacinths; also freesias) as well as small decorative objects known as mărţişoare. These tokens have changed a lot in the past years. In the past certain symbols of good luck predominated, such as the four-leafed clovers, chimney sweeps and horseshoes. Nowadays the amulets can be just about everything. Most of them, however, are still attached to the traditional cord –- red and white entwined threads ending in a tassel each. There are various explanations for the colors red and white of the mărţişor. In one of them, white stands for winter, and red for summer. In another, white stands for spring, and red for winter, associated with the blood of Jesus Christ, or another sacrifice, so as on the whole the threads are about death and rebirth. Red was also used traditionally to ward off evil.

About this photo: This year among the mărţişoare and other, larger, fun trinkets displayed in the yard of the Museum of the National Peasant I especially noticed the many ladybugs. Cards such as these in the photo were scarce and cost twice as much as a mărţişor.

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Photos from Bucuresti, Banat, Dobrogea, Maramures, Moldavia, Transylvania and Wallachia. On the Elizik Romania pages developed by Liz Mellish and Nick Green, dance teachers and researchers of Romanian dance, music, costume and folklore. Added: October 4, 2005. Updated: January 25, 2010.

Discover Bucharest, Romania
An 11 min 34 sec movie clip about the capital of Romania, produced by TVR for the Romanian Tourist Office. The camera moves from one famous building to the next, taking you on a quick tour of museums, inns and cafes, churches, and hotels. You can armchair visit the National History Museum, the National Art Museum, as well as get a sense of some of the architectural styles you will see in this city. Added: February 14, 2006.

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Center for Romanian Studies, 2000.




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