Martsishors (amulets worn at chest at the start of spring) to suit each taste and pocket can be found on Stefan cel Mare Blvd, at the intersection of Pushkin and Vlaicu Parcalab streets in Chisinau. Traders provide martsishors for all ages, with brooches, animated cartoon characters, flags or zodiacal signs. There are small martsishors to be worn at chest and large ones for being hung in the office or at home. The prices vary between 3 lei and 150 lei, IPN reports.



 

Seller Natalia Stanescu said she crochets martsishors herself. The red and white amulets include butterflies of different nuances, flowers, little bells, tricolors or little men dressed in national costumes.

Vendor Alexandra Burca stated that besides traditional martsishors, she also offers martsishors with traditional symbols made from clay, such as horseshoes, little county houses and vineyards. The martsishors with a clay house and two elderly people sitting in front of it are in great demand. The buyers say they will send these abroad to friends and relatives, while the elder parents intend to send these to children to show that they are waiting for them home.

Nicolae Jardan said all the martsishors he sells now were made throughout the year together with his wife. They every time make effort to invent new elements as the buyers swiftly become tired of the same products. The amulets made by hand are in demand. The young people choose mainly bracelet martsishors.

In Moldova, the people receive martsishors and offer them as presents to show that spring came. These are worn in March and are then hung on fruit tree branches.