A few weeks ago the children were introduced to the beautiful Legend of Mărțișor, a cherished story from Eastern Europe. The legend tells of a brave young man who faced a fierce dragon that had captured the sun and hidden it away. Without the sun's warmth, the world was cold, and the ground remained covered in snow. Determined to restore light and warmth, the young man battled the dragon and freed the sun. The sun's return melted the snow, allowing flowers to bloom and spring to begin.

According to tradition, to honour this heroic act and celebrate new beginnings, people wear a red and white string called "Mărțișor" on the first day of spring. Once the flowers begin to blossom on the trees, the Mărțișor is tied to a branch, carrying wishes for happiness, prosperity, and a bright year ahead.

This week, during our Forest School session, we embraced this tradition by crafting our own Mărțișor strings. Once the strings were complete, we tied them to the budding trees, making wishes for happiness, prosperity, and a wonderful year to come.

It was a great experience that connected us to nature and to a meaningful cultural tradition.