Moldova Edition
Looking Back at 1900 Day leads today's complete edition for Moldova.
Daily Edition
Official observances, world days, local context, and everyday celebrations for people who need something worth reading, sharing, or talking about today.
Bengal is the heart of the nationalist movement. The British partition of Bengal in 1905 has inflamed Hindu-Muslim tensions. The jute mills of Calcutta employ thousands. The countryside is poor and getting poorer. The monsoon still decides who eats and who does not.
The Martisor is the most beloved Moldovan tradition. The name comes from "Martie" (March) and it is celebrated on the first day of the month. A small red-and-white ornament (a tassel, a flower, or a figurine) is given to women, and it is worn on the chest for the entire month of March. The red thread symbolizes love and the spring, and the white thread symbolizes purity and the last snow. The tradition dates back to the Thracians, and the Martisor is the first sign of spring in Moldova. On April 1, the Martisor is taken off and tied to a fruit tree, where it stays until the fruit ripens. The market stalls in Chisinau overflow with Martisor ornaments in every shape and size, from simple threads to elaborate silver figurines, and the city center becomes a bazaar of red and white.
The month-long celebration of the Martisor includes exhibitions, concerts, and fairs throughout Moldova. The Martisor is a small red-and-white ornament (a tassel, a flower, or a figurine) that is given to women on March 1 and worn on the chest for the entire month. The red symbolizes love and the white symbolizes purity, and the Martisor is a symbol of spring, renewal, and friendship. The tradition dates back to the Thracians, and the festival includes a competition for the most beautiful Martisor, a concert of spring songs, and a fair where artisans sell their Martisor creations. On April 1, the Martisor is taken off and tied to a fruit tree, where it stays until the fruit ripens. The belief is that the tree will bear more fruit if the Martisor is tied to it, and the Martisor is a blessing for the coming year.