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In short: A red-and-white thread or ornament given or worn at the start of spring.
Object
How does it work in the tale?
The Moldovan snowdrop story connects the colours to snow and a drop of blood. Examples known as martinka in North Macedonia form part of a shared spring custom recorded by UNESCO across four countries.
When do you untie the spring thread?
In UNESCO’s account covering four countries, people look outdoors for a sign that it is time to take the thread off. A tree in blossom, a swallow or a stork may be that sign. The calendar tells you when to put it on. When you untie it can depend on when spring shows itself where you live.