Children from seven different nationalities came together in Hull to celebrate the Romanian tradition of Mărțișor, marking the arrival of spring with messages of hope, kindness and peace.
The event was hosted with the support of Hull City Council and opened by Lord Mayor Cllr Cheryl Payne. It brought together around 25 children from Chinese, Pakistani, Indian, Kurdish, Romanian, Ukrainian and English backgrounds.
The celebration was also attended by Nicoleta Teodorovici, General Consul of Romania in Manchester, and Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council. Children crafted traditional red and white Mărțișor symbols and sent paper planes carrying messages such as “Peace to the world”, “Don’t give up, you’re brave”, and “The stars are still shining for you”.
Organised by community organisation REACH CIC, the event also created space for dialogue between Romanian representatives and Hull City Council about the Romanian community in the city and opportunities for stronger collaboration in the future. Community organiser Andreea Salvage said the event aimed to build bridges between communities through culture and shared experiences.
“This event showed how traditions can bring people together,” said Andreea. “Children from many cultures sat together, shared creativity and sent messages of hope.
“In times when the world often feels divided, moments like these remind us how powerful community connection can be.”
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