Baba marta bracelets12/3/2023 ![]() The two colours represent martenitsa, which we will get to in a second. The ancestors wanted winter to end quickly, so to appease her, they started to wear the colours red and white. When she is in a happy mood, the weather is warm and sunny but when she is in a bad mood, winter tends to stay longer. Her terrible mood swings affect the weather, especially in the month of March, which is when the tradition takes place. Baba Marta is an old lady who is always cranky, irritable, and grumpy! Her special powers include bringing an end to the cold spell and ushering the start of spring. Baba Marta and Baba Marta Dayīulgarian folklore refers to a mythical being called Baba Marta. Today, we’re going to dive deep into this miraculous tradition cherished by Bulgarians. If you are visiting Bulgaria during the Baba Marta holiday, you can join in the celebrations and enjoy them to the fullest, as you’ll know the significance behind it. Knowing, learning, and understanding the traditions of other cultures helps you connect more with the people of that country. It’s an intriguing tradition that not many people outside of Bulgaria are aware of. Why do they celebrate it? The tradition bids farewell to winter and welcomes spring. 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.Baba Marta - Bulgarian celebration that goes back centuries - takes place each year on March 1st. 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. ![]() 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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