Nowadays it’s basically about boys giving presents to the girls on the 1st of march and also on the 8th. The traditional red-white string is now just an accessory to the big shiny presents. Let me tell you what’ the true meaning of this tradition, as I systematically boycott this falsified holiday…

The Dacians, our ancestors, used to celebrate the beginning of spring even since 8000 years ago, as the archaeologists found out. The small symbols of the new spring were manufactured during winter and wore starting with the first of march. Initially they were little red and white stones stringed on a small rope. The Dacians looked at them as to lucky charms.

The Romans used to celebrate the beginning of the year, back then set on the first of march, by wearing delicate strings of red and white wool. Red stood for love and fertility and white for purity. Red and white strings were present in the oriental cultures as well, representing the masculinity and the femininity.

In Romania, at the country side, the two strings (red and white) represent the two seasons (winter and spring). In some times and places, a lucky coin was attached to it. Children, grown ups and even animals used to wear a trinket around the neck, to bring luck and health to the carrier. When roses and cherry trees bloomed, the people used to take the trinket away and hang it on a young tree. If the tree would had a good year, the same was to happened to the owner of the trinket.

Quod erat demonstrandum. 1st and 8th of march are not giving-gifts-for-women opportunities.

So guys all over the world, stay brave, stay powerful!!! No gifts for the girls. Just small and meaningful red-white strings! OK, a flower maybe also… Don’t let tradition disappear, don’t give them presents!
A fighter. :)

P.S. Two of the most important symbols for Romanians, the trinket and Santa are red and white. The same as Dinamo Bucharest, which joins them in the hall of fame.