The turnout of the event.
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Sarah Rolka Asst. Features Editor
Manhattan University’s (MU) Hellenic Student Association (HSA) held an event March 3 to make mati and marti bracelets. This was their first major event this spring semester, and was met with a decent turnout.
According to hellenicaesthetic.com, “The tradition of Martis/Mαρτης [derived from the Greek word for March], is said to date back to ancient Greek times, as a way to usher in the transition from winter to spring…we honor this tradition by tying a bracelet of red and white string onto our wrists March 1…We add an evil eye charm to our March bracelets to bring the wearer good luck.”
Mati/Marti bracelet making during the event .
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A&E – SCATTERBOMB
Marina Stavrou, junior marketing major and social media coordinator for HSA, wrote as to why HSA hosted the event
“The purpose of this event was to bring people together and share Greek traditions,” Stavrou said. “Marti bracelets are worn throughout the entire month of March, so we thought it would be a great way to welcome both the month of March and the beginning of spring. Since the mati, or evil eye, is more widely recognized, we combined the two so people could learn about both traditions.”
Stavrou additionally commented on this ancient tradition and what it means to her personally.
“I believe these bracelets are important because they create a sense of identity that ties me to my heritage,” Stavrou wrote. “Both the mati and marti bracelets date back thousands of years and continue to hold meaning in Greek culture today. Wearing them is a small but powerful way to stay connected to traditions that have been passed down for generations.”
Irene Papakanakis, a junior adolescent education major and a member of HSA, agreed with what Stavrou wrote, and added her own thoughts as well.
“These bracelets are a symbol of Greek identity,” Papakanakis wrote. “While many other cultures wear the evil eye or a variation of it, it also largely speaks to one’s Greek heritage and ethnicity, as it does for me.”
Papakanakis attended the event and wrote her thoughts on how at an event like this, she was able to interact with other fellow students a part or interested in Greek culture.
“I attended the event in order to interact with other Greek Americans who share the same love for their ancestry and heritage as I do,” Papakanakis said. “More specifically, attending the event was not just about making the ‘mati bracelets,’ but also about sharing their meaning with other Greek Americans and MU students interested in Greek culture.”
As previously mentioned, in Greek culture and others who believe the same, these bracelets represent good luck for the person wearing them. Stavrou wrote to The Quadrangle on what she’s lucky for in life.
“I believe I’m lucky for where I stand in life right now,” Stavrou wrote. “I’m grateful to be surrounded by loving people and to have the opportunity to attend university, work and take part in leadership roles. Those are things I never take for granted, and they’re what truly make me feel lucky.”
Within recent years, the mati and marti bracelets have become more popular in daily life, even for people who are not Greek. Papakanakis wrote to The Quadrangle about this, and mentioned how sharing a tradition like this helps in maintaining a sense of community.
“Events like the recent bracelet making one are vital in maintaining a sense of community amongst Greek Americans that connects us back to our cultural roots, which inform our sense of identity,” Papakanakis wrote. “Furthermore, part of preserving our culture is sharing it with non-Greeks as well. Greek culture heavily focuses on unity and community, and I think the recent bracelet making event emphasized this key facet of our culture.”
Stavrou acknowledges this, and also writes how for her, it’s been great to see people embrace the tradition with proper representation. She also agrees on how it brings different cultures together.
“I believe that with proper representation and understanding, it’s a positive thing that evil eye jewelry is becoming more well known,” Stavrou wrote. “The evil eye doesn’t belong only to Greece – it exists in many cultures around the world. It’s a beautiful tradition, and it’s nice to see people appreciating and embracing it.”