Martsishor – an amulet worn at chest to celebrate the coming of spring - is the symbol that purifies the environment and the person who wears it. While the martsishor is being worn, the people become better and cleaner. In the period, they do the general cleaning in the house and the yard. They say that together with this general cleanup, the things brought by winter go away and the house remains clean and spring comes, ethnologist Tamara Macovei, scientific researcher at the Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, has told IPN.

Tamara Macovei said the martsishor is of ancient origin. In time, the traditions and customs related to the martsishor have modified from century to century, from year to year, but their essence was kept. The red and white colors of the martsishor mean cleanness and purity of the soul. The tradition of wearing martsishors and of celebrating the coming of spring is widespread in the Balkan area.

“It is evident that this amulet has power and this power works. They say that as long as we wear it, evil will avoid us or the martsishor will help us to get rid of this and to purify ourselves. They say the martsishor is the symbol that purifies the environment and the person who wears it,” stated the ethnologist.

Tamara Macovei noted the first martsishor was found during archeological excavations. This consisted of two coins with the face of the son of Goddess Baba Dochia. The people do not forget about the martsishor when spring comes and this is very important. The martsishor is put even in animal sheds to purify and protect them too.

According to the ethnologist, the martsishor is worn in March and is then tied to the branch of a tree for this to yield well.