Every British person knows who is Saint David, right?
I had no idea until I moved here.
If you're thinking of applying for the British citizenship, pay very much attention: there are going to be questions related to Saint David, okay?
Study and memorise them well.
Saint David existence is uncertain, however, that doesn't stop Welsh people from celebrating his day.
So, I would like to join them and wish a Happy St David's Day to all!
For more information and details, there is Wikipedia.
Now, what is Mărțișor?
As I wrote in my other blog - While I breathe, I hope - Mărțișor is a traditional object Romanians are very proud of - at least some of them. Like me.
I had no idea until I moved here.
If you're thinking of applying for the British citizenship, pay very much attention: there are going to be questions related to Saint David, okay?
Study and memorise them well.
- Saint David is the Patron Saint of Wales.
- 1st of March is the day he passed away in 589 AD.
- The leak is the national symbol for Welsh people, together with the daffodil - excluded the red-blood dragon.
So many symbols for a region. Right?
Saint David existence is uncertain, however, that doesn't stop Welsh people from celebrating his day.
So, I would like to join them and wish a Happy St David's Day to all!
For more information and details, there is Wikipedia.
Now, what is Mărțișor?
As I wrote in my other blog - While I breathe, I hope - Mărțișor is a traditional object Romanians are very proud of - at least some of them. Like me.
On the 1st of March, people give to the dearest ones small objects attached to a red and white string.
These objects symbolise luck and fortune.
The mărțișoare (plural of mărțișor), are either carried on the chest, attached to the clothes (on the right side = heart), as a bracelet, or on a piece of hard paper = card.
Initially, they were carried for the whole month, now only for a day or until 9th of March.
The objects symbolise luck, what about the string?
Well, there are quite a few assumptions and theories.
- Spring is red, summer is green or yellow, autumn is black, and winter is white.
Therefore, we can think that the string, knitted in white and red, is a symbol of passing, from the cold white winter to the colourful spring.
- The red thread signifies vitality, while the white one is the symbol of victory.
- Red is the colour of fire, blood, and a symbol of life, associated with the passion of women. White is the colour of snow, clouds, and the wisdom of men.
Never mind.
Therefore, the thread of a Mărțișor represents the union of the feminine and the masculine principles, the vital forces which give birth to the eternal cycle of nature.
Mărțișor is also the name Romanians give to 1st of March and the whole month.
The first day of Spring in 2018 is (officially) the 20th of March, but for Romanians, the first day of Spring is 1st of March.
Just to make it clear, that's only a tradition.
We are not savages, we know that Spring is related to the equinox (when the length of the day is exactly the same as the length of the night).
It doesn't really matter when is the first day of Spring, right?
Also because on this day in 2018, it has snowed quite a lot in some places in the UK.
And everybody knows that Great Britain is not famous for its snow. On the contrary.
It almost never snows.
What a magical day is today, right?
So many lovely traditions to remember and celebrate.
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| Picture from fabricadefluturi.ro |
Such a beautiful tradition! I love it. Thanks for sharing.
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