Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Ancient Balkan Spring traditions find their way to a local park
At the beginning of March I read about the Balkan tradition of Martia - the red and white threads worn from March 1st ( a Bulgarian national holiday) to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
People wear the bracelets from the first day in March (which was the first day of the New Year in the Roman Empire by the way) and then do various things with them - throw them in rivers; put them under stones; throw them into fire; or tie them to a tree, depending on which area of the Balkans they are from or even which part of a particular country they are from.
It is a centuries old tradition that almost certainly predates Christianity, and some believe originates from the Eleusinian Mysteries.
I mused on Twitter whether I would see anyone wearing these charms, given the strong Balkan communities in Haringey but it wasn't until the 15th March (which might be a clue) that I got my wish.
Wandering through Downhills Park, indulging in a little early hanami (Tip: Downhills is probably one of the best places in Haringey to do this), I spied three Martia tied to a tree. I was absolutely delighted (probably to the amusement of the jogger who was taking a breather close by) and took some photos:
Only an expert (answers in comments please) could tell me if these were Bulgarian, Greek, Albanian, Macedonian, Moldavian or Romanian but it gave me enormous pleasure to think that an age-old practice with its roots lost in time has found its way to a tree in Tottenham.
Further reading
Tags for Forum Posts: downhills park, nature notes, spring traditions
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Muriel Zaccuri on
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My guess it is they are Bulgarian/Macedonian martinitza. They are very keen on this tradition. They exchange them 1st of march and hung them on blossoming trees before the end of the month.
Also Romanian keep this tradition but is given by men to women and I don't think they hung them.
PS I need to find a tree for my martinitza
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Permalink Reply by Ruth on
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I was fortunate enough to live and work in Bulgaria for 5 years (I only went for one originally!) and I looked forward to March 1st when Baba Marta (grandmother March) would be celebrated with this lovely tradition of giving each other these martenitzi (sing. martenitza)
You'd wish people happy Spring, good luck and health. There are of course links with the fertility rites of spring. Old ladies would sit on the streets in the weeks before selling these little things which over the years have become more intricate, bigger and modern. Quite an industry now. It was a way of the older ladies earning a few leva.
And March 1st was like an unofficial holiday as not too much work done, we would all go off for coffee etc. You were meant to hang your martenitza on a tree when you saw a stork and other such things. I used to get given so many by the students that I couldn't fit them all on my wrists and clothes! The month of March is known as the women's month in Bulgaria as it's so changeable and fickle..... like the March weather. Snow one day then sunshine and warmth another. I miss such traditions but my Bulgarian friends in London keep this alive for me and also Bulg friends still in Bulgaria send me these little things in the post.
It's such a lovely thing to do
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Permalink Reply by D S on
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I am romanian and we do have them too. I thought the tradition is romanian to be honest. We call it "Mărțișor ".
More info about it you could read here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%83r%C8%9Bi%C8%99or
I am missing the "martisor" since I moved here and I cannot buy it in the UK, at times I get to buy them online from Romania and be sent over here. My english husband loves it too!
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