2. From the 1st to the 31st of March the
children wear on their wrist a wristband
made from twisted red and white thread,
the Martis or Martia . According to the
tradition Martis protects the face of the
children from the burning of first spring
sun.
3. Martis is made on the last day of February
and it is worn either as a ring on the finger,
or on the wrist like a bracelet. Sometimes
it is still worn on the big toe, so as the
owner avoid the stumble.
4. Martis is not only worn by people. In some
parts of Greece they hung the thread all
night in the branches of a rose to donate
flowering, while in other areas they put it
around the pitchers to protect the water
from the sun and keep it cold.
5. In other areas they wear it until they see
the first swallows, then they leave it on
the roses, so the birds get it and build
their nest.
6. Elsewhere they wear Martis
until the Resurrection and they
tie it in Easter candles to be
burned with them.
7. Martis is an ancient custom spread throughout the
Balkans, due to adoption by the Βyzantines. It is
believed that its roots are located in Ancient Greece,
and specifically in the Eleusinian Mysteries, because
the initiates of the Eleusinian Mysteries were used to
tie a thread, the «Croki» in their right hand and their
left leg.
8. In ancient times on the 1st of March
the children made an effigy of
swallow and, singing a similar
song , they went from house to
house to collect eggs.
9. Even today in many parts of
Greece on March 1st they
celebrate Helidonismata , a
custom that we could call
“Carols of Spring." They
decorate Helidona with ivy
leaves or spring flowers,
elsewhere they hang bells.
