On the first day of spring, Moldovans pin martisoare to their chests. Ethnologists explain that the white and red shades of the martisor symbolize purity and spiritual cleanliness, IPN reports.

The tradition of giving martisoare on March 1st is specific to Romanians across all regions, as well as to Bulgarians, Macedonians, Greeks, some Croatians, and some Hungarians. People offer mărțișoare today as a symbol of their admiration for parents or friends, as a sign of respect and special appreciation for teachers and colleagues, and as a symbol of love for their partner. The giving of the mărțișor is accompanied by well-wishes for happiness, health, and love.



After being worn throughout March, the mărțișor is tied to the branches of young fruit trees, with the belief that it will ensure the tree's fertility and the prosperity of the person. In some places, farmers tie the mărțișor to the horns of cattle to ensure their health and good fortune.

On December 6, 2017, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage voted to include the multinational file "Cultural Practices Associated with March 1st" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - a joint submission from Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, and Macedonia.