I'm so happy I managed to get this done in time for Mărțișor☺️
In Romanian Mărțișor is the name for the holiday of the 1st of March; the traditional name for the month of March and the talisman made out of red and white threads twisted together and with various lucky charms attached, that are exchanged on the 1st and worn during the month of March. A long time ago I illustrated the legend of the hero that freed the sun and kept wanting to do some of the other legends about Mărțișor.
Winter had reigned over world for a long time, putting the Earth to sleep and fobidding anything from growing, when a young girl appeared. She wondered the empty woods searching for her fate when, one day, she came across a snowdrop flower bursting through the snow beneath a dry thornbush. She decided to help the flower thrive and cleared the thorns and snow. The Winter queen was angered by the snowdrop's defiance of her rule and sent a blizzard to kill it. The girl did not allow that to happen and covered the little flower with her hands. She did not budge for 9 days, though the lashing of the winds bloodied her hands. Though the blizzard raged, the warmth of her blood awoke the Earth from his slumber. He declared the time time of Winter passed and crowned the girl the new queen of the world, giving her the name Spring.
Cool stuff: Lisbeth Zwerger's H&G - A series of international fairytale crossovers - Hansel and Gretel's (video game?) designs - The H&G puppet opera - A gay fairytale musical - Some French fairytale paintings - Joellyn Rock illustrations for Sicilian folktales - A Dark Fairytale illustration set/card game - The Greek Snow-White (Gripari style)
Illustrations of archetypes: Hansel and Gretel's witch - Cinderella's fairy godmother - Frau Holle (don't hesitate to check the reblogs, there's cool additions)
Asks: About the Sisters Grimm - About Donkeyskin differences - About Disney and obscure fairytales
About fairytale movies: My conclusions about French fairytale movies (one - two) - Damsel and its novel - The Czech Three Brothers movie (part 1 - part 2)
Fairytales in anime and manga: After Meruhen - Otona no Douwa - Mermaid Melody - Fruits Basket - Otomo Katsuhiro's Hansel and Gretel
Various facts: How Mother Goose's stories went from adults-only to children-only - A scandalous Frau Holle statue - An article about the World War I book of fairytales by Edmund Dulac - An article about The Magic Flute and fairytales
About "Frau Holle": part 1 - part 2 - part 3
Romanian witches: Muma Padurii - Baba Cloantza - Baba Dochia
So I've never drawn a Pony before but GOD DAMN are they fun to draw??? Like I don't even really watch the show, Ive seen the first season, but these shapes... man they are really satisfying.
ANYWAY;
I made a ponysona based on this painting I saw when I visited my family in Romania! Her name is Papanache, named after the romanian doughnuts 🥰
She's a fashion designer and her cutie mark is based off of Romanian stitch patterns because she uses her magic to embroider and weave blankets and clothes~
Here is the painting for reference:
I tried to incorporate the floofy bits and bops as well as the ribbons, and the colours..
Considering this is my first pony design I don't know how well I did but I definitely want to draw more because they are so cute ;^;
Sfânta Miercuri, generous widow, protector of animals and travellers and godmother to the sun.
Of Mirercuri(Wednesday) Romanian traditions tell us that she is a very old lady who became a widow very early in life and thus spent most of her time appart from human society, caring for the wilds and teaching animals how to survive. She is said to be guide to travellers especially if they are treading wild paths. She is one of the frequent presences in fairy tales, always in a helper role, calling on her animal companions to aid the hero and possesing a treasure trove of magical artefacts(golden apples, a distaff and spindle that spin gold on their own, brushes that when thrown over the shoulder turn into forests) that she is very generous with. Miercuri is also the day the Sun was born and it is said that no matter the weather he always shows his face for at least a second for his godmother.