The information on or through this site is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on as a substitute for specific advice about laws, regulations, taxes, finances, immigration or travel. For specific advice, contact a licensed attorney, financial advisor or other professional. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on this site. We do not warrant the accuracy or usefulness of this information. This site may contain links to other sites and information provided by third parties for your convenience. We do not endorse nor make any guarantees with respect to these sites, their accessibility, the information they contain or the way they treat any information you provide to them.

How do international remittances, or cross-border money transfers, help promote financial inclusion? Improve your financial literacy by learning about budgeting and saving, personal finance.    

Learn how to send money using Ria Money Transfer, new services we offer, our omnichannel services, tips for sending money and the expansion of our network.    

Learn how international migration trends affect remittances and the impact remittances have on the individuals and communities around the world who receive them.     

Videos that feature Ria customers explaining in their own words how their experience of migration has impacted themselves, their families and their communities.     

Learn about different cultures around the world, how people celebrate, what it is like to live abroad and great travel destinations.     

What's new in cross-border payments, tech and finance? Learn about new payments methods like mobile wallets, the importance of the omnichannel experience and workplace trends.

What is Ria doing for the community? What does CSR, corporate social responsibility, mean? What's new in sponsorships at Ria?    

The Ria Blog

We use our own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and to show you advertising related to your preferences based on your browsing habits. Learn more by reading our 

We use first and third-party cookies to help us understand how you interact with the site by collecting and reporting information, such as the number of visitors or clicks. They do not allow us to collect your activity data beyond our site.

🍪 Cookies give you a personalized  experience

We use our own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and to show you advertising related to your preferences based on your browsing habits. Learn more by reading our

These cookies are essential to the basic functioning of our website. They turn on functions like page navigation, authentication, and access to secure areas.

In countries from <a href="https://www.riamoneytransfer.com/en/blog/remittances-in-the-balkans">the Balkans</a>, like Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova, charm bracelets made of red and white strings symbolize the end of winter.



The string bracelet is worn throughout March and is believed to bring health and good fortune to its user.



While Romanians call it Martisor (Little March), Bulgarians named the holiday after Baba Marta (Grandma March), a feisty old lady who chases away the cold February.



But is there a difference between Martisor and Baba Marta?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The legend of Martisor</h2>



Some say Martisor originated in ancient Rome, where the new year started in March. Yet, Romanian mythology tells a different story.



Legend has it that the sun, embodied by a beautiful maiden, was kidnapped by a dragon.



Darkness fell upon the earth, crops stopped growing and birds ceased their singing. Everything remained as such until a brave young man decided to try his hand at freeing the lady.



His journey lasted from summer to winter until he finally reached the castle. Once there, the young man defeated the dragon at a jousting match, freeing the sun who returned to the sky.



Unfortunately for the man, he was wounded and bled out on the snow. However, snowdrops blossomed in his stead.



To honor the man, the Martisor strings are red to represent his bravery and love and white for the color of the snowdrops.



In the present day, the red and white string symbolizes spring and winter respectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The legend of Baba Marta</h2>



In Bulgarian folklore, the months of the year are like characters in a story.



Baba Marta is the embodiment of the month of March, and she appears as either the sister or wife of January or February.



The idea is that Marta doesn’t like her drunken husband and comes to chase away the cold.



Kids think of her as a charming old lady who opens the gates of spring, handing out the bracelets, called a martenitsa.



A traditional martenitsa is usually composed of a string and two small dolls made of thread, a girl and a boy. The male doll is called Pizho and is covered mostly in white string, while the female doll Penda wears a skirt made of red string.



For Bulgarians, red represents life and passion and white symbolizes purity. The colors also play on the imagery of the sun and the snow and recall popular dichotomies like good versus evil &#8211; also present in festivals from other cultures, such as <a href="https://www.riamoneytransfer.com/en/blog/what-is-diwali">Diwali</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Present-day practices</h2>



Tradition states that once the bracelet finds a wrist, it must stay there until the wearer spots a blossom, a swallow or a stork—key indicators of spring’s arrival. Alternatively, the user can wait twelve days or until the end of March.



Once the time has elapsed or the bird or flower is spotted, the string must be tied to the flower or a tree branch.



At Ria, we also join in on the festivities. For example, with more than <a href="https://epa.com.es/padron/rumanos-en-espana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">865,000 Romanians</a> living in Spain, it is safe to say many of our clients and agents there celebrate Martisor. To honor their tradition, we give out traditional bracelets on March 1st.



And to you, our readers, we wish you a prosperous spring.



At Ria, we open new ways for a better everyday life to the migrant population around the world. Need to send money to your loved ones overseas? <a href="https://riamoneytransfer.app.link/AMBu4E50drb">Download the Ria Money Transfer app</a> for iOS or Android to get started!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1536" height="1024" src="https://riablog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ria-martisor-spain-romania-scaled-1-1536x1024-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45243" srcset="https://riablog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ria-martisor-spain-romania-scaled-1-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https://riablog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ria-martisor-spain-romania-scaled-1-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" ><figcaption>Martisor bracelets given out to Ria&#8217;s Romanian corridor in Spain.</figcaption></figure>

A branch of delicate pink cherry blossoms is adorned with traditional red and white tassels, known as Martenitsa, against a pale blue background. The vibrant colors of the tassels contrast beautifully with the soft hues of the blossoms.

Spring in the Balkans: Mărțișor and Baba Marta March Bracelets

About the author

Gabrielle van Welie

Related posts

Ria to Sponsor 2025 Weston Shield Cricket Tournament

The Rich History of Baseball in Japan: A Beloved Sport and Cultural Phenomenon

From Caracas to Cooperstown: Venezuela’s Baseball Journey

The Heartbeat of Puerto Rican Baseball