Thursday 2 March 2017

" Martis", another spring tradition


You may have noticed yesterday ( First of March) that many children - and some adults too were wearing bracelets made of red and white thread. What on earth is that all about?




These bracelets are called "Martis" The white cotton symbolizes purity and the red,  life. The tradition dates back to Ancient Greece and was part of a rite to Demeter and Persephone.  People believed that the bracelet protected those wearing it from disease.

These days, the bracelets are made on the last day of February to be worn from the first of March,throughout the month, in order to protect them from sunburn, from the first strong rays of the spring sunshine.

Many people still believe in the powers of the “Martis”. 
They also tie the bracelets to the branches of a blossoming  tree for a good harvest of fruit, or to a rose bush, after seeing the first swallow, to encourage the bird to build it’s nest there.
Καλο Μηνα!

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