site.btaRomania, Bulgaria, Moldova Celebrate March 1 at Romanian Embassy with FM Gabriel as Patron

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel was the patron of an event on the occasion of 1 March at the Embassy of Romania in Sofia, the Foreign Ministry said. It was hosted by the Ambassadors of Roman, Brandusa Predescu, and of Moldova Anatol Cebuc. 

In her remarks at the event, Foreign Minister Gabriel said that cultural diplomacy brings nations closer. "This is the message we sent with the Ambassadors of Romania and Moldova in Bulgaria on today's holiday - 1 March," she added.

The three countries share similar March 1, when they celebrate the onset of spring.

"Cultural heritage unites us, it is an expression of the richness of our traditions. We must preserve and cherish it and pass it on to future generations," said Gabriel.

The three countries share a start-of-spring tradition using red-and-white string amulets, which is called martenitsa in Bulgaria. Albania, Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia also have it. In 2017, the March 1 cultural practices were added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List as a joint nomination by Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and North Macedonia.