They were believed to protect people from diseases and evil forces. Old women would knit twisted strands of red and white threads to decorate the house. Young would get up early before anybody else in order to meet the first day of March and rejoice Baba Marta with their youth and beauty. Young and old would take care to keep Baba Marta in a good mood. They hoped that it would make winter pass faster and bring spring. By wearing the red and white colours of the Martenitsa, our predecessors asked Baba Marta for mercy. The belief was that when she was smiling the weather was sunny and warm, but if she got angry the cold would stay longer. Baba Marta is believed to be a grumpy old lady whose moods swing very quickly and it reflects in the changeable March weather. In Bulgarian folklore, Baba Marta is a mythical figure who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of spring. After that people can tie them on a blossoming tree for fertility thus giving the tree health and luck, which the person wearing the Martenitsa enjoyed while wearing it. The red is associated with health, vitality, fertility and bravery.Īccording to the tradition, people wear Martenitsas for a certain period, the end of which is usually associated with the first signs of spring – seeing a stork or a fruit tree in blossom. Martenitsas come in a variety of shapes and sizes: bracelets, necklaces, tassels, pompoms and balls.The white is a symbol of purity, innocence, beauty and joy. Penda is the female doll, usually in red colour and distinguished by her skirt. Pizho is the male doll, usually in white colour. The most typical Martenitsa represents two small dolls, known as Pizho and Penda. Martenitsa is made of twined red and white threads – woolen, silk, or cotton. In some villages in the mountains people decorate their houses and domestic animals. The Martenitsas are given away to friends, family and colleagues and are worn around the wrist or on clothes. On that day and a few days afterwards, Bulgarians exchange and wear the so-called “Martenitsas” – decorative pieces of red and white twisted threads, symbolising health and happiness and a lucky charm against evil spirits. When we do see these heralds of spring, we tie our martenitsa on the tree-branch, put it under a stone, or set it flowing in a river.Every year on 1st of March, Bulgarian people celebrate a centuries-old tradition called the day of Baba Marta (baba means ‘Grandma’ and Marta means ‘March’), related to sending off the winter and welcoming the approaching spring. We keep our martenitsi on until we see a stork or a budding tree.

We tie martenitsi on the children’s wrists, wear them as brooches, decorate the house with them, and tie them on domestic animals and fruit-trees. On this holiday, we give each other martenitsi , small adornments made from white and red wool, which symbolize good health and vitality during the new year. But when Baba Marta is angry, she brings cold March winds. When she is happy, she sweeps away the winter, cold old Dyado Mraz (Grandfather Frost), and makes way for the sun and the beautiful young Spring. The legend says that Baba Marta, or Grandmother March is a good old lady with a changing temper. Today, the Bulgarians in Boston also celebrate Baba Marta! March 1 st is the day that marks the beginning of spring! In springtime in Bulgaria, blossoming cherry trees are covered in red-and-white martenitsi.

Baba marta celebrate in bg image