Romanian Martisor Mărţişor, marţ and mărţiguş are all names for the red and white (or black and white, also blue and white) string, from which usually a small decoration is tied, and which is offered by people usually on the 1st day of March but is present everywhere in Romania during the whole month. Giving this talisman to other people is an old custom, and it is believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be powerful and healthy for the year to come.
It is also a symbol of the coming spring. Usually, women wear it pinned to their blouses for the first 12 days of this month, until other certain spring celebrations, or until the bloom of certain fruit-trees. In some regions, a gold or silver coin is hanged from the string, which they wear it around the neck. After wearing it for a certain period of time, they buy red wine and sweet cheese with the coin, according to the belief that their faces would remain beautiful and white as cheese, and rubicund as the red wine, for the entire year. In modern times, the Mărţişor lost most of its talisman properties and became more of a symbol of friendship and love, appreciation and respect. The black threads were replaced with red, but the delicate wool ropes are still a ‘cottage industry’ among the country people. They still comb out the wool, dye the floss, and twist it into thousands of tassels. In certain areas the amulets are still made with black and white ropes, for warding off evil. HAND-MADE MARTISOARE ~ HAND-MADE MARTISOARE ~ HAND-MADE MARTISOARE Please note: To receive them at the beginning of March, payment must be confirmed (just send an email stating that payment has been mailed) no later than Feb 23rd 7am Eastern US time. That means noon in London, 4am in California, 2pm in Bucharest. To receive them by March 8th, payment must be confirmed by March 3th at 7am Eastern US time. That means noon in London, 4am in California, 2pm in Bucharest. Expedited/overnight shipping is still available if you miss this deadline. What do you choose? A flower? A heart? A butterfly? A surprise? FREE SHIPPING USA and WORLDWIDE VIA USPS INTERNATIONAL 1st Class! $18.50 overnight SUA (any quantity) Surprise your Romanian friends or, if you are a Romanian, present this wonderful tradition to your international colleagues, friends, neighbors, or children (makes a very nice and interesting classroom presentation). Use this link or this Wikipedia info.
Then, choose a "martisor" below:
Butterfly / Flower / Made-with-love Heart Four-heart Clover / Clover Heart / Clover
IMPORTANT: Please mention in your email AND on a note accompanying your check or money order the number of martisoare and cards for each type. Example: 4 pink cards, 3 spring cards, 6 butterflies, 1 Four-heart Clover. If some or all of your chosen models are no longer available, you will receive a random selection of other spring-related cards and nice martisoare. If you don't want randomly picked replacements (when your choices are no longer available), please write "NO SUBSTITUTIONS" in your email and on the note accompanying your check or money order. USD 8 each (includes free shipping) or USD 7 each, if purchased in sets of 5 (USD 35 for a 5-martisor set, free shipping) Mail your payment to Sorin Achim, PO Box 38461, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, U.S.A. Questions? 412-708-9432 or |
