The Harry Potter obsession that has been running high among Bulgarian teenagers finally swept in the traditional ritual of wearing red-and-white knotworks on March 1, marking the beginning of spring.

Now, Bulgarian street peddlers offer a variety of the pagan amulets hooked onto brooches that bear portraits of Harry Potter or other characters of the worldwide famous film series.

The tassels, called "martenitsa" in Bulgarian, are placed on every Bulgarian's lapel or wrist on the first day of March every year. The ritual of presenting family and friends with a "martenitsa" originates from an old story where a stork brings to a child blessings from his parents who are far away.

Thus, tradition requires for people to wear the accessory until they see the first storks arriving back from the South. Then the "martenitsa" is tied to the twig of some budding tree.

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