Construction worker watches the crowd of mărţişor sellers who gathered downtown Chisinau on February 28, 2009. Mărţişor, (read Mertseeshawr), is both the Spring Holiday and a small red-and-white talisman that symbolizes the defeat of winter in Moldova and Romania.
Nina, 62, from Cătranîc village, traveled over 100 km from her home to sell mărţişors. She made them with her daughter during the previous three days. The prices are $0.3, $0.5 and $1 depending on size and complexity of handwork. Despite fierce competition in the first three hours she sold 30 mărţişors.