Martis is a wristband made of twisted red and white thread that Greek children wear from March 1st to 31st according to tradition. It is believed to protect children's faces from the sun and is sometimes also worn as a ring or on the big toe to avoid stumbling. Martis is also hung in trees and around pitchers to encourage flowering and keep water cold. The custom of Martis has spread throughout the Balkans and is believed to have roots in ancient Greek Eleusinian mysteries where initiates would tie threads during ceremonies.