March 5, 2007
Spring is coming
The first signs of spring in Romania are little white flowers
that spring up in the forests after the snow melts. They are appropriately
called “snowdrops.” They are an integral part of the
first-of-March celebration called “Martisoare.”
The tradition of celebrating the coming of spring on the first
of March dates all the way back to the Dacian days, before the
Roman conquest of Dacia land.
Today’s celebration is a wonderful tradition because all
women and girls are given little amulets and/or small bunches
of snowdrops or other flowers. These are sold on every street
corner a few days before the first of March and are very inexpensive,
between ten cents and a quarter. Each Martisoare, the amulet or
the small gift, is tied with braided red-and-white threads. The
red symbolizes love, and the white symbolizes sincerity. Many
people make their own with natural materials.
Our small groups made some of these gifts this year to give to
the elderly women in the retirement center here in Tulcea. The
group made and packaged the amulets and bundled up the snowdrops
and, before their school day began, went to wish all the women
a happy spring. Who, except God, would have thought such a small
thing would bring such joy to these women? One woman said that
these were the first flowers she had had since she had come to
the retirement home. The most moving moment was when the caretaker
explained to one of the women that this young lady had come from
the orphanage to wish her a good Martisoare. The woman teared
up and said, “We are both orphans.” This was a spontaneous
holy moment and time stood still. The two embraced each other,
and the child began to cry. No one will be the same for a long
time.
What I really appreciate about Martisoare is that it is still
winter, but it reminds us that spring is just around the corner;
the signs are there. This is the way it is with our lives. This
has been a very hard cold week for me for many reasons. Then in
the midst of the slushy, blustery, last dregs of winter, springs
this special day.
The first day of March is celebrated by "Martisoare"
in Romania, when people give small gifts to girls and women.
It does not require a lot of advanced preparation, no wrapping
or long lines at the check-out counter. This is not a highly commercialized
day. The street vendors with the amulets are only around for a
day or two ahead of time. Most people, including me, buy their
gifts on the way to work or school. It honors all women, young
and old, rich and poor, single or married. It has nothing to do
with romantic love or Hallmark or Brach’s candy. The bigger
is not better. My friend loves cats so I gave her a cat. Another
loves flowers so she got a flower. Here is a picture of my favorite,
a seashell.
La Multi Ani,
Mary
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 181
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