According to folklore if the weather is bad in March, your wife will be in a bad mood all year - if the weather is good, then she will be in a good mood all year. The other thing to mention is a warning to all the blokes out there. One says that on that day she does her pre-spring cleaning and shakes her mattress for the last time before the next winter - all the feathers that come out of it pour on Earth like snow - the last snow of the year. As folklore there are different versions of the Baba Marta tale. The tradition of giving friends red-and-white interwoven strings brings health and happiness during the year and is a reminder that spring is near.īaba Marta (Grandma March) is believed to be a feisty lady who always seems to be grudging at her two brothers, while the sun only comes out when she smiles. Bulgarians celebrate on March 1 a centuries-old tradition and exchange martenitsi on what is called the day of Baba Marta. Depending on the type of creature found nearest to the martenitsi, a person can supposedly determine their health for the coming year (a larva or worm is good news a spider, not so much.Today is Baba Marta day and means spring is on the way. Sometimes the wearer will put them under a stone overnight, and check the hiding-place the next day. In many parts of Bulgaria, the martenitsi are tied to a tree branch, to pass on the same health and luck to the tree that the wearer enjoyed. There are many rituals involved in the removal of martenitsi, and they vary from region to region. The martenitsi are exchanged and worn beginning on March 1 st, and are removed when the wearer sees either a stork, a swallow, or a blossoming tree, a sign that spring has truly arrived. Because they are often given as gifts to friends and family, it’s not uncommon to wear many martenitsi at a time children sometimes compete with their friends to see who can get the most! Traditionally, Martenitsi are special in that they can only be given as gifts you’re not supposed to make your own! Many Bulgarians exchange martenitsi as a wish for health and prosperity. The white symbolizes integrity, purity, and the melting snow, while the red symbolizes health, vitality, and the setting sun. Sometimes the martenitsi are simple braids, but they can be more elaborate, even including little red and white dolls made of thread. Regardless of its origin, the martenitsa remains one of the most iconic and beloved symbols of Bulgaria. They can be worn around the wrist, around the neck, or pinned to the wearer’s clothing. They’re also thought of as a request for mercy, a hope that Baba Marta will remain in a good mood, and spring will come more quickly. Bulgarians celebrate her holiday on March 1 st by wearing, and exchanging, martenitsi (or, singularly, a martenitsa) which are red and white-colored tokens that symbolize health and happiness, and act as lucky charms. When she is in a good mood, the sun is out, but grab your umbrella in case she gets grumpy!īaba Marta’s arrival is a celebration, because she heralds the end of winter and the beginning of spring. She is typically portrayed as an elderly woman with a rather grumpy demeanor, and her moods account for the changeable weather that can be found in Bulgaria during March. Baba Marta, which is Bulgarian for “Granny March,” is a figure in Bulgarian mythology who symbolizes the month of March. In Bulgaria, the first day of March is known as Baba Marta Day. Strands of red and white thread, bracelets, and maybe even dolls will be tied to tree branches in Bulgaria- sometimes there will be so many bracelets that you can barely see the tree beneath them! What’s the story here? If you travel to Bulgaria in early spring, you might be surprised to see something in the trees around you.
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