(1 Mar 2012) SHOTLIST
Village Museum, Bucharest - 29 February 2012
1. Various of artists dressed in traditional costumes depicting ancient Romanian characters (Cuckoos) linked to the beginning of spring
2. Close of bells on man's belt
3. Mid of man in costume standing in snow
4. Various of people dancing and performing
5. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Sebe Marius Ovidiu, 37-year-old leader of Cuckoo's formation:
"It an ancient tradition, which has lost some of its significance in these modern times, but we try to keep it alive. It's tightly linked with the transition from the old year to the new year. The old Dacians (from ancient Dacia, where Romania is today located) used to celebrate the new year at the beginning of March, end of February. These characters depict all these symbols linked to the rebirth of nature and life at the beginning of spring."
6. Close of Cuckoo masks
Peasant's Museum, Bucharest - 28 February 2012
7. Various of martisori (spring symbols) at market and vendors
8. Shoppers browsing
9. Various close-ups of martisori on display
10. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Ionela Lungu, artist:
"The martisori is a spring symbol. Actually the real symbol is the white and red wires wrapped together. In some regions it's white and black but the meaning is the same: Spring after winter, the new that replaces the old. It's a game of colours and of seasons. We leave winter behind and get ready for spring."
11. Various of martisori and market
12. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Monica Peter, traditional martisori manufacturer:
"Now there are lots of products on offer. There are so many products brought from China or from other countries that are made almost entirely from plastic. The tradition is therefore lost. They never use natural materials like we do. We build our products out of biodegradable materials like paper, natural wires or dried plants. "
13. Various of martisori
STORYLINE
After one of the coldest winters in decades, many in eastern Europe are welcoming the spring with a centuries-old pagan custom.
The celebrations have a deeper meaning this year, after the cold snap claimed hundreds of lives across the region.
One of the most important traditions near the Romanian capital, Bucharest, is the Cuckoo's ritual.
Men wear masks depicting mythical characters originating in pre-Christian rural traditions and dance and recite sentences to celebrate the arrival of spring and chase away evil.
Sebe Marius Ovidiu, the 37-year-old leader of Cuckoo's formation says that this tradition has to do with the old Dacians (from ancient Dacia, where Romania is located) who used to celebrate the new year at the end of February, beginning of March.
People across Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova took advantage of warmer temperatures to step out and buy charms to celebrate March 1, a day that symbolises spring and hope.
Moldovans and Romanians call the charms martisori and Bulgarians call them Martenitsi - from the Bulgarian word for March.
The trinkets can be snapped up for as little as a dollar at markets and malls.
In their simplest form they are red-and-white woollen tassels that symbolise love, health and fertility.
The charms are mainly given to women in Romania, to men and women in Moldova and to women, men and animals in Bulgaria.
They are pinned to clothing, tied to front gates, and even attached to the collars of cats and dogs, and horns of cattle.
The white pieces of wool, silk or cotton symbolise male strength and longevity.
Red represents the female spirit and is associated with health, blood, conception, birth and fertility, says Ionela Lungu, a popular artist.
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