(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Victor Tvircun/ Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Qatar
In the Republic of Moldova, the arrival of spring is traditionally associated with two holidays that have their origin in the distant past of our people.
On February 24, we celebrate Dragobetele, a holiday that has deep roots in national mythology. It represents by its essence the eternal cycle: the end of winter and the beginning of spring, of the resurrection of nature. Although it has several interpretations and connotations, in the popular belief Dragobete remained imprinted as a symbol of supreme love.
Mărțișor signifies the harmonious transition from winter to spring, bringing health, abundance, luck and protection to the one who wears it. The importance of Mărțișor in contemporary society is represented by its archaic symbolism and special chromatics: white signifying the purity of a new beginning, and red — the love of life and the rebirth of nature.
By offering a Mărțișor as a gift to our loved ones, we demonstrate to them love, respect and care.
The celebration of the arrival of spring is marked in the Republic of Moldova by the folk music festival Mărțișor. Traditionally, this international music forum takes place in the first decade of March. This year we will mark the 58th edition.
Due to its significance, the traditions and practices associated with the 1st of March were included in year 2017, in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. By advancing this symbol in the Unesco List as a result of the joint efforts of the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, Mărțișor was granted a status of world-renowned value.
The legend of Mărțișor, in all its variants, invokes the fierce struggle between winter and spring, a struggle that ends, through the sacrifice of blood, with the victory of light, heat and good over cold, darkness and evil. The Fairy of Flowers, embodying Spring, saves from deadly frost a tiny and fragile snowdrop flower, sprung up in a place with thistles, pigeons or roses. At her attempt to help the snowdrop to get through the snow cover, the badly enraged Winter set off a terrible wind and frost. The Fairy covered the frozen flower with her own hands, and the hot blood, dripping from the wound caused by the thorns, brought the snowdrop back to life.
The traditional Mărțișor was braided by women and girls from two strands of wool, hemp, linen or cotton, which they twisted into a bicoloured string. The colours white and red symbolised life, sacrifice, blood and purity. It was given by parents to children on the morning of March 1st, which marked the end of winter and the onset of the agricultural year. Often the thread was adorned with a gold or silver coin. It was believed that the carrier of this little object would be protected from evil forces, diseases and the evil eye.
For the first time this celebration of spring was celebrated in the State of Qatar, at Cultural Village Foundation, Katara, in 2021 at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova, supported by colleagues from Romania and Bulgaria.
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