# data[].attributes.body
If there is a flower that could be named a "messenger of spring", that would be the tiny and lovely snowdrop! A symbol of Romanian spring, the snowdrops cover the grounds in parts of the Cernica forest, right by our school, like a thick, white, beautiful carpet. Students in our school go for walks in the forest, looking for snowdrops every spring. This bouquet was handpicked by one of my students, who brought them to me in the last week of February. How lovely to see them pop their gentle heads from under the snow!

# data[].attributes.body
Mărțișor (mərt͡siˈʃor) is a celebration at the beginning of spring, on March the 1st in Romania, Moldova, and all territories inhabited by Romanians.

The word Mărțișor is the diminutive of Marț, the old folk name for March  (martie, in modern Romanian), and thus literally means "little March". Usually, both women and men wear it pinned to their clothes, close to the heart, until the last day of March, when they tie it to a fruit-tree twig.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mărțișor is an old tradition celebrated all over Romania every year, on March 1st.
The name Mărțișor is a diminutive of March ( Martie in Romanian).

It is believed that the person who wears the red and white string would enjoy a prosperous and healthy year.

Not long ago, in the countryside, people used to celebrate the Martisor by hanging a red and white string at their the gate, window, cattle's horn and shed to protect against evil spirits and to invoke nature's regenerative power.

In eastern Romania ( Moldova and Bucovina), the red and white string was complemented with a small - gold or silver - coin. After wearing the coin for twelve days, the women would buy fresh cheese with it hopping that their skin would be healthy and beautiful the entire year.

According to archaeological research, the Mărțișor traces its history more than 8,000 years ago. Some ethnologists believe that the Mărțișor celebration has Roman origins, others support the theory that it is an old Dacian tradition.

In ancient Rome, the New Year's was celebrated on the 1st of March.
March ('Martius') was named in the honor of the god Mars. Mars was not only the god of war but also the god of agriculture, which contributes to the rebirth of vegetation.

The Dacians also celebrated the New Year's on the first day of March. Ample spring celebrations were consecrated to this event.

In the old times, Mărțișor were made of small river pebbles, colored in white and red, stringed on a thread and worn around the neck. They were worn, to bring good luck and good weather, from March 1 until the first trees would bloom. When the first trees were flowering the Mărțișor were hanged on tree branches.

Nowadays, on March 1, Romanians buy silky red-white threads (șnur) tied into a bow to which a small trinket is attached and offer them to their (female) family members, friends and colleagues to show friendship, respect or admiration.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mărțișor is an old tradition celebrated all over Romania every year, on March 1st. The name Mărțișor is a diminutive of March ( Martie in Romanian). It is believed that the person who wears the red and white string would enjoy a prosperous and healthy year.

# data[].attributes.headline
The stork - a faithful messenger of spring

# data[].attributes.subject
The stork - a faithful messenger of spring

# data[].attributes.body
The stork is another messenger of spring in Romania. Storks are very loved by children in our country because their return from warmer countries means winter is over and sunny, warm days  are ahead.
Romania is home to about 4000-5000 white storks and two of them, which live in Carani, Timis county, have their own Facebook page and can be watched live: https://www.facebook.com/BerzeleLiliDodo
In 2019 we've had a national record: seven baby storks hatched in a nest in a village from Suceava county, the biggest number of babies ever recorded by local biologists. This is them in the picture below :)

# data[].attributes.headline
The swallow - its return means spring is back as well

# data[].attributes.subject
The swallow - its return means spring is back as well

# data[].attributes.body
The tiny barn swallow is also a symbol of spring in Romania. It was voted by Romanians the Bird of year 2020, and back in the day people believed that the farmer who had the most nests under the roof of their house and barn was very prosperous. So swallows are not just the messengers of spring, but of good fortune, also.

# data[].attributes.body
As soon as the ground stops freezing, the work in the gardens is abuzz. Lots of families in Romania have gardens and grow part of their food. Lettuce, spinach, radishes and spring onions are some of first produce that end up in the plate. Apples, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches and pears are some of the main trees that grow here and bloom in spring.

# data[].attributes.body
The most spectacular views in spring are the fields of rapeseed that seem to dress Romania in bright yellow! These lush yellow  fields make good companions for the green wheat fields. People like to stop their car and take photos in the fields of rapeseed, the plant that  puts canola oil on the shelves of the supermarkets all over Europe.

# data[].attributes.body
Spring has more celebrations than any other season in Romania: on the 1st of March we celebrate Martisor, on the 8th of March - Mother's Day and International Women's Day. Spring also brings a long list of religious celebrations that culminate with the celebration of Easter. Every family paints boiled eggs for Easter, children included. May 1st and 2nd are also national holidays: International Worker's day kicks off the summer season of traveling and barbecuing, so on May 1st grills are fired up and people get together for lots of fun outdoors.

# data[].attributes.body
Daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, lilies of the valley, bluebells and wisteria are all plants that bloom in Romania in spring.

# data[].attributes.body
This is our school logo for this eTwinning project

# data[].attributes.body
This is our school poster for this eTwinning project

# data[].attributes.body
Spring is a great season to plan your trip to Romania! While in March and April you may get very warm and sunny days, but you may also get snow and lots of rain, I would say the month of May is one of the best months to plan your visit to Romania!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Whether you are coming to Romania for spring break, Easter vacation, or just a quick vacation in March or April, you are in for a treat! Spring is an absolutely wonderful time to visit Romania because it is truly a time when everything starts to come to life! The snow is melting, the grass is getting green again, the flowers are blooming, Easter celebrations are happening... There is so much fun, excitement and beauty surrounding you when you visit Romania in the Spring. If you are on the fence about visiting this Spring, we hope that this list of amazing locations to visit in Romania will convince you to make the trip!

Celebrate Martisor

This is truly one of the most beautiful Romanian spring traditions: Martisor. Martisor is the celebration of the coming of spring and it is celebrated on March 1st. The day is celebrated and symbolized by women and girls wearing red and white pieces of string. Flowers are also often given to women and girls, the most traditional being the snowdrop, which is a beautiful white flower that droops over when it blooms.

If you are here in Romania for Martisor, you might also be able to try a pastry called Mucenici - this is a traditional dessert that is only served on the 9 th of March, so if you are here around this date be on the lookout and ask around for the best place to get it!

Rapa Rosie

You might not have guessed it, but Romania has red rocks of their own, reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. Rapa Rosie, aka the Red Canyon, is located in the Transylvanian county of Alba, in central Romania. Unlike the Grand Canyon, however, Rapa Rosie is topped with green grass. This is why it is best to visit Rapa Rosie in the spring - the grass and flowers are blooming and bright, and provide beautiful color contrast against the red rocks. If you are curious about how this natural wonder was formed, it is created from natural soil erosion of a plateau. It features an unusual red bed and large shapes of columns, pyramids, and towers. To get here, you will have to first get to Sebes (via Sibiu) and then head to Daia Romana. You will see hilly terrain ahead if you keep driving you will arrive to Rapa Rosie!

Poiana Narciselor

Poiana Narciselor, aka Daffodils' Glade, is the quintessential spring destination! After all, what is a better pair than daffodils in the spring? To get to this beautiful field of wild daffodils, you will have to head to the Rodnei mountains. If you are staying in Brasov, this is a perfect day trip, as the field is only 60 kilometers from the city center. Although Poiana Narciselor is the colloquial name, the official name of this field is Dumbrava Vadului and you will find it within the small village of Vad. Daffodils are beautiful but delicate and are only in full bloom for about two weeks, normally this is during the first two weeks of May, so we would recommend you make the trip out to Poiana Narciselor only if you are here at the beginning of May!

The Peony Reservation in Comana

If you are into flowers, we have another great viewing destination for you: the forests of Comana. If you are staying in Bucharest, this is a great afternoon trip to take as Comana is only 38 kilometers outside the city. The peonies come in a variety of colors, but there are plenty of pinks and bright reds. Unfortunately, peonies are another delicate flower - this makes them all the more rewarding to visit, but this also means that you can only enjoy them for a limited time. Normally they are in full bloom the first few weeks of May, so if you are lucky enough to be in Romania during this time of the year, you can enjoy both the peonies and the daffodils!

The Beaches of Vadu, Mamaia, or Corbu

If you are in Romania in the late spring, it might be warm enough to enjoy the Romanian beaches! A lot of people don't realize it, but by mid- to late April, it is already warm enough to enjoy the waters! What is even better is that most people do not head to the beaches until around May, so you will likely have the beach almost all to yourself. Even if you are staying in Bucharest, you can make a day trip out to the beaches as long as you leave early enough in the morning. You can also find accommodations near the beaches to make the excursion a bit easier! Just be sure to check the weather before you commit to the beach, because it still might be just a bit too chilly for your liking - but it is definitely worth looking into!

The Bucharest Botanical Garden

CristianChirita / CC BY-SA

If you are staying in Bucharest and want an outdoor activity that doesn't involve swimming, then the Bucharest Botanical Garden might be the destination for you! This beautiful 17.4-hectare garden dates all the way back to 1860, has quite a few greenhouses, and has more than 10,000 species of plants! This is a gorgeous place to spend a sunny afternoon and is also a great place to picnic if the weather is right.

Bucovina

This is an historical region in northeastern Romania whose name means "the Land of Beech Trees". This is a beautiful, picturesque place that was even given the Pomme d'Or in 1975, a prize for excellence in tourism. Beyond the beech trees, you can also visit the beautiful painted monasteries.

If you are heading to Romania in the Spring, we hope that this list has given you some wonderful ideas of places to visit! Romania is a magnificent country to visit year-round, but during the spring the country has special charm.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Best Destinations for a Spring Vacation in Romania

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether you are coming to Romania for spring break, Easter vacation, or just a quick vacation in March or April, you are in for a treat! Spring is an absolutely wonderful time to visit Romania because it is truly a time when everything starts to come to life!