The trouble comes when it was a spider living under that stone… If the creature is larva or worm the person has nothing to worry about, the same goes with ant but in that case a lot of hard work has to be done to achieve the success. In other parts people hide these small strings under the stone in belief that the creature living under that stone will determine the person’s health and luck in the next year. In some parts martenitsas are tied into the fruit tree to give it health that will eventually result in tastry fruits. What happens next depends on the region of Bulgaria. You should wear your martenitsa until the last day of March or until you see a stroke – a symbol of spring. But there’s one more explanation: martenitsa is also the herald of the spring that waits just around the corner and by wearing it people ask Baba Marta (Grandma March, an old, grumpy lady in Bulgarian tradition) for mercy so the winter can go away quickly and the new circle of life can begin. White stands for the purity while red is for life and passion. It’s a gift (never buy one for yourself!) to the person you love and care about and it symbolizes the wishes of good health in the upcomming spring and the whole year. On 1st March people in Bulgaria give each other these red and white strings known as Martenitsa. The girl at the reception desk had 50 or so strings on her wrist and it intrigued me so much! I knew it can’t be just a coincidence and as soon as I reached my hostel (and saw so many more red and white strings) I decided to investigate the topic a little bit more. One of the first things I’ve noticed, already in the airport, was that so many people, both man and woman, had brooch or bracelets made of red and white strings. There is great fun to be had in finding just the right martinitsa for a friend.My first (and so far) the only trip to Bulgaria happened last year, in the middle of March. Larger sizes are used to adorn tables and doors, and different forms can be worn as bracelets, necklaces or pins. The most common motif is a pair of figures, a man and a woman called Pizho and Penda, but there are martenitsi in all shapes and sizes. Leading up to the day, street corners are filled with fold up tables and upright displays of red and white decorations. Children often compete to see who can collect the most martenitsi. Today the holiday has become an opportunity to share good wishes of health and happiness with friends, family and colleagues. Later, when the townsfolk went out in search of the old woman, they found her turned into stone, with a freshwater spring running out from under her feet. Perhaps the oldest describes the origin of the custom found in a kindness by Khan Asparuh, the founder of the first Bulgarian state, who is said to have sent his wife a white cord as a sign of having survived in battle.Īnother tale describes how Baba Marta, angry at an old woman taking her goats into the mountains a few days early, brought on a fierce storm that raged for days. Legends have grown around the holiday tradition. March storms are sometimes described as Baba Marta’s spring cleaning, and the last snowfall comes from falling feathers when she shakes out her mattresses. She is a human picture of unpredictable March weather. The sun shines when she is happy, and her anger brings cold storms. Baba Marta is imagined as a moody old woman. Who is Baba Marta?Ībout Baba Marta etymology: Bulgarians name the old women “babi”. Imen Den celebration is rooted in the Christian traditions, as a joyful and friends-connecting feast as the Birthday. Every year Bulgarians exchange martenitsi (red-and-white adornments) on the first of March and celebrate each other with the words: Chestita Baba Marta (Happy Baba Marta)!įirst of March is also Imen den (Day of name) of all who are named Martha, Martin, Martina and Eudokia. One of the most heart touching traditions is Baba Marta Day celebrated in Bulgaria as the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
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