At the beginning of March 2009, Michael Jackson, who died at the age of 50 Thursday night, appeared at a press conference allegedly wearing a Bulgarian martenitsa.

During the press conference in question, Jacko announced plans for his series of concerts called "This Is It". The photos circulated by Bulgarian tabloids show what seems to be a Bulgarian martenitsa on his left hand.

The Bulgarian martenitsa is a centuries-old tradition with which Bulgarians celebrate the close arrival of spring on March 1 every year by wearing "martenitsas" - decorations of various shapes made of white and red threads. The martenitsas are supposed to bring good health, first and foremost.

Bulgarian media have surmised that what seemed to be a martenitsa worn by Jacko was either a present from a Bulgarian friends of his, or he himself bought it after someone advised him that it would bring him good health.

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