Foreign Ministry: 'Martisor' spring celebration, an identity-specific element of Romanian traditional culture

The Romanian spring celebration tradition of 'martisor', listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is an integrant part of the country's identity-defining traditional culture, states the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). Entered on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, under the title 'Cultural Practices Associated to the 1st of March', the 'martisor' celebration represents an identity-specific element of the Romanian traditional culture, fascinating through its uniqueness and inventiveness, the Foreign Ministry said in a release. "With roots in the Southeastern European area, the custom of handcrafting, offering and wearing a 'martisor' - an artifact that has seen a variety of creative forms over time - symbolizes the renewal of time and the revival of nature. From the silver coin tied with a white-and-red braided thread with silk tassels, worn as a protective charm, to the contemporary unconventional variants, the legend and tradition of 'martisor' continues to delight and bring joy to the successive generations of Romanians, as a living example of human creativity and playfulness," the Foreign Ministry writes. In this context, the MAE "joins all those who mark the 'martisor' celebration and contribute to relaying its specificity to the future generations, wishing everybody wellbeing, health and joy." The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage voted on December 6, 2017, at its 12th session in Jeju, South Korea, the entry of the Cultural Practices Associated to the 1st of March ('Martisor') - a multinational file coordinated by Romania and built together with the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria - on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Simona Klodnischi, editor: Simona Iacob)