Traditional hand-made martenitsas are seen on every Sofia street as Bulgaria marks the Baba Marta holiday March 1. People wave good-bye to the winter and welcome the spring on that special day. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (novinite.com)
Spring mood obsessed Bulgarians all over the country as it is March 1 or the so-called Baba Marta (Grandma Marta) holiday that marks the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring.
Bulgarians will present relatives and friends with a martenitsa- a red-and-white woolen thread that is worn fastened either on the clothes or around the wrist- on that very special day.
Tradition says that the red colour, will protect the people from disease and evil and the white colour will make you live longer.
Baba Marta, is believed to be either severe and cruel, making the whole country white with snow, or mild and kind giving health and strenth through her martenitsas.
On the first of March, Bulgarians wish each other health and happiness with "Chestita baba Marta" - (in English, "Happy Grandma Marta"). "Marta" comes from the word for March (Mart) in Bulgarian.
Martenitsas are supposed to be worn until the person sees the first stork. Then martenitsas are put onto a tree.