Winter-Spring Romanian Customs and Traditions
By CTTours. Filed in About Romania |
DRAGOBETE
Dragobete (February, 24th) is an old Romanian tradition that celebrates love and its guardian, Dragobete, which is identified with Cupid and Eros, the gods of love in Roman and Greek mythology.
This day marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the birds matting season.
Dragobete is the patron of pure love and good will and he personifies the engagement of the animals and the youngsters as well. In the past, young unmarried women and men had to meet this day in order to be in love within the year. They used to gather in small groups and go into the forest to pick up the first spring flowers, while singing and shouting with joy.
The unmelted snow still present in many villages at that time of the year, used to be collected, and the water obtained used as a magic potion by young girls during the year. The tradition is well preserved especially in the villages of Oltenia.
MARTISOR
Celebrating on the 1st of March, the ‘Martisor’ represents a tradition that goes back quite far away. From olden times, this little ‘amulet’ was made of two entwined pieces of lace, coloured white and red. They represent the days, the weeks and months of the year all bound together. They are offered as a good omen on the very days that used to mark the beginning of the New Year for the Romans.
The women especially used to tie it to the necks or hands of their loved ones. That is why it was especially popular with children and young people, but to this day, the date of March 1 marks the beginning of several days when little ‘March gifts’ or ‘Martisoare’ are exchanged with a frenzy that is paralleled only by the impetuous coming of Spring.
After they wore them, people used to tie them to the blossoming branches of trees around their homes. They were sure they were going to be all healthy, as beautiful as flowers, pleasant and loving, rich and lucky, protected from illnesses and the evil eye.
FLOWERS DAY (FLORII) is celebrated on the last Sunday before Easter. It marks the resurrection of nature, when the trees and the flowers blossom.
It was initially dedicated to the Roman goddess Flora, but then it was celebrated in the memory of the Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem.
On this day, people use to bring flowers and willow branches to the church, for being sanctified by the priest. With the holy willow branches, symbol of spring and fertility, cows and little children are touched, in order to grow and bloom as the willow. The holy branches are then placed near the icons or above the door and are used throughout the year as a medicine or for protection against the natural disasters. It is also believed that the people who wear the willow branches as a belt will not suffer of loin aches.
It is also a day for commemorating the dead, when the burial places are cleaned and willow branches are put above.
On Flowers day women take out the “martisor” and they hang it on the blossoming branches around their homes.
Tags: About Romania, Dragobete, Flowers Day - Florii, Martisor, Romania sightseeing, Romania tourism, Romanian customs, Romanian Traditions, travel to Romania