Martisor

For the past few weeks, Piata Opera has been full of people selling little trinkets on red and white string. Shells, plastic flowers, butterflies in lucite... It was a miniature market. Soon, little stands began popping up all over the city.

It's for Martisor (Mar-tsee-shor), which celebrates March 1, the first day of spring (yet another reason why Romania is superior: Canadians don't celebrate the first day of spring until March 21st!).

You're supposed to give them to family, friends and children who are special to you. You wear them pinned on your shirt until March 8. Eugen gave all the girls at the office little red and silver disco balls. Right now, I have a purple and gold flower tied onto the zipper of my sweater.

I bought a lovely teracotta leaf and a silver fish. And I'll wear them proudly next March, no matter where in the world I will be.