Arminden

Arminden's holiday is inherited from Dacians' times and marks the beginning of summer.  Armindeni has been celebrated by Romanians on "First Day of May"  decorating their homes (including pillars and doors)  with garlands of spring flowers, willow's and lilac's branches in bloom. In some communities,  women and children wore the traditional amulets of spring "martisoare" until the first day of May at the feast of "Arminden"  (when is supposed to tie the martisor's tread to a blossoming spring tree with the belief that all the wishes would come true). The tradition said that Arminden marks also the celebration of  forming grains in ears of  the wheat  and people used to bake a special bread decorated with poppy seeds and leaves.   

Bread with poppy seeds and scented leaves - traditional for Armindeni's Holiday

Many of us have been forgotten about Arminden's tradition, and used to associate the May 1st with the annual celebration of workers. Indeed, the slogan of the day:" Workers of the world, unite! / Proletari din toate tarile, uniti-va! " is imprinted in our memory. Even Google celebrates this year "The International Day of Remembrance and Action for Workers/ Ziua internationala a Solidaritatii Oamenilor Muncii"  with a special Doodle (if you missed them before, you may see here the 2012 collection of google - doodles)   inspired by the "Celebrating Workers Contribution" manifesto.

Google Doodle for The International Day of Remembrance and Action for Workers

My article want just to bring to your attention a different meaning of May Day, in case you didn't already know. And, of course I'll continue my work to share my cultural heritage to readers of English, this time translating the

"Arminden" 
poem wrote last century by George Bacovia (more about him in my previous article December)  

Blooming field in spring / dumbrava cu flori de primavara

Profile of a gigantic city
settled into a rustic atmosphere,
In the midst of lilac's scent
And pitched guitar chords.

Pleasuring
In a festive day,
Joyful,old habits...
Go to the fields
And to the groves
Heroic workers.

And, after another day
Post festum
Encouragements of crosses
On the streets
And on the trams
Necessary to yield
To monotonous Work.

 Arminden 
     poem scris de George Bacovia
Profil de burg gigant
Si atmosfera, rara,
Amar parfum de liliac
Si bonduri de chitara.

Placeri
De–o zi de sarbatoare,
Voioase, vechi moravuri...
Spre cimp se duce
Si dumbrave
Eroua lume muncitoare.

Si dupa alta zi,
Post festum -
Indemnari de cruci
Pe strazi
Si in tramvaie,
Spre necesarul randament
Din monotona Munca.