It’s March, a time when
nature awakens from its
winter slumber and spring
CELEBRATING WOMEN, LOVE, AND
THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING
BY LISA E KIRKWOOD
Both events are meant to show men’s appreciation and care for their
dear women of all ages, during the months of February and March
and beyond, throughout the year. Those who take part in Dragobete
customs are supposed to be protected from illness, especially
fevers, for the rest of the year.
If the weather allows, girls and boys go to pick snowdrops or other
early spring flowers from the woods for the person they are courting.
When they return home, the traditions mention that boys run after
girls to kiss them. If the girl likes the boy, she lets him kiss her. There
is a saying in Romania about this: "Dragobete kisses the girls".
I
is in the air. Ice and snow
melt, weather is warmer, days
get longer, especially after the
Spring Equinox, there’s more
sunlight, and tree buds are
turning into leaves and
flowers. A time of renewal,
revival, hope, and love.
March is Women’s History
Month, and this year I’d like to
highlight some national
heritage aspects and customs
from my native country,
Romania. The first season of
the year debuts with the
widely adopted observance
of Valentine’s Day, one of the
first foreign holidays to be
integrated into our culture,
shortly after the fall of
communism in 1989.
Along with Valentine’s Day on
February 14, each year,
Romanians also observe the
Dragobete, an age-old,
traditional Romanian holiday
celebrated on February 24,
now revived and repurposed
together with the newer one.
An ancient character from
national folklore, Dragobete is
considered a guardian of love
and wedding. The day of
February 24 is particularly
known as "the day when the
birds are betrothed".
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