Spring is almost here; if you’ve passed by any large market or metro exit in Bucharest, you’ve probably seen street traders selling martisoare (trinkets) - a sure sign seasons are about to change in Romania.

The Martisoare are spring tokens, small objects that men offer to women on March 1, the Martisor Day, marking the first day of spring. They are usually small items tied with a red and white entwined cord. As most Romanian women expect to receive such martisoare on March 1 and even later until March 8, we’ve made a list of common places in Bucharest where you can buy them from.

This is one of the most important Romanian spring celebrations, so traders hope to make some serious money from selling these spring tokens. That is why you will most likely find small stands near any metro exit in Bucharest, on any large streets, near large stores or bus stations. One might say that martisoare traders are at every street corner. You'd have to distinguish between the 'regular' trinkets - the one sold on the street or in the markets, and items like for example jewelry which can also be offered as a trinket.

You can buy martisoare from large markets in Bucharest, such as Obor, Domenii, Gemeni or Titan. You will also find them in all of Bucharest’s large squares, including Universitate, Unirii, Victoriei and Romana. The traders’ stands are usually placed on the sidewalks, but there is also a small fair organized inside the Universitate metro station. (If you don't want to buy trinkets and hate crowds, you'd better avoid metro exits and the main squares in Bucharest whose sidewalks are usually crowded in early March.)

Small street flower shops also sell martisoare in this period, so if you are planning to also buy some spring flowers for your wife, girlfriend, work colleagues or friends, these places might be the good choice to purchase both.

You will for sure find martisoare in some of Bucharest’s hypermarkets, supermarkets and large stores, but also in shopping centers. At supermarkets you should see the trinkets at the cash register.

There are also several special fairs organized in Romania’s capital in this period: at the Romanian Peasant Museum, at Promenada shopping center and Bucuresti Mall and at Casa Universitarilor.

Artmark also organizes a special auction this week.  It sells 350 special martisoare at its Martisor Auction on February 26, for prices starting at EUR 25. The event takes place at Athenee Palace Hilton in Bucharest, 19:30.

The street traders sell martisoare at lower prices, which start around RON 2.

You can choose from a variety of martisoare, from small items usually made of plastic, to different types of brooches placed in small boxes, artificial flowers, handmade jewelry, small cards with different spring messages, or simple bracelets made of red and white cords.

If however you choose to buy a more expensive item for your wife or girlfriend, such as a piece of jewelry, don’t forget to attach a red and white string to it.

Most women wear the martisor all March, as it is believed to bring health and good luck for the year to come. They either pin them on their clothes close to their chest, or just put the red and white cord around their wrists.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com