Mărțișor

Mărțișor (Romanian pronunciation: [mərt͡siˈʃor]) is a tradition celebrated at the beginning of Spring in March, involving an object made from two intertwined red and white strings with hanging tassel.

[4] Modern tradition involves wearing the small object on the chest like a brooch or a lapel pin, during the first part of the month, starting from 1 March.

[7] General explanations have been given by the observers of the tradition for the object's appearance: the strings are believed to represent "funia anului" - the year's "rope", intertwining summer and winter,[8] the pendant symbolized fortune and wealth, or, like a talisman, brought and preserved good health and beauty to the wearer.

When the object is removed, it is customary to tie it to a branch of a tree or place it on a fence as a gift for migratory birds returning from the south.

Less commonly north of the Danube, but often recorded in Dobruja, was the practice of leaving the Mărțișor under a rock, with the type of insects found on the spot being interpreted as omens, throwing it into a spring or river (Gorj), or even burning it.