Баба Марта / Baba Marta - 1-ви март / 1st of March

Martenitsa is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1st until the 22nd March (or the first time an individual sees a stork or swallow). Mart is the Bulgarian word for the month of March. The name of the holiday is Baba Marta, a Bulgarian tradition related to welcoming the upcoming spring. The month of March, according to Bulgarian folklore, marks the beginning of springtime. Therefore, the first day of March is a traditional holiday associated with sending off winter and welcoming spring.
The red and white woven threads are not just meaningless decoration, but symbolize the wish for good health. They are the heralds of the coming of spring in Bulgaria and life in general. While white as a color symbolizes purity and soul, red is a symbol of life and passion, thus some ethnologists have proposed that in its very origins the custom might have reminded people of the constant cycle of life and death, the balance of good and bad, of sorrow and happiness in human life. Given as an amulet in the period of spring, when nature gets reborn and starts blossoming again it was not only a reminder of that balance but also a wish for health, strength and happiness.

Thanks to Wikipedia!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• България
• Български традиции
• Баба Марта
• Мартеница
• Bulgaria
• Bulgarian traditions
• Baba Marta
• Martenitsa

[lampiasc]

Perfect: a similar custom excists also in Greece...

[lavverats]

Really? I didn't know it. I was thinking that this custom is widespread in Bulgaria and some parts of Romania only.

Thanks for the info and happy baba Marta to you!

[lavverats]

ЧЕСТИТА БАБА МАРТА НА ВСИЧКИ!

Добро здраве, щастие и дълголетие!

HAPPY GRANDMA MARTA TO ALL OF YOU!

Good health, happiness and long life!

[boianboev964]

Happy Grandma March to all bulgarians..!

[elma249]

perfect....have a nice weekend!5***** for you!

[Firewalkerbg]

@lavverats As far as I know they also have similar custom in Romania. One can speculate that this tradition was started by the Thracians and all their heirs are keeping it in one form or another.

[imarudina2]

Честит празник на всички!!

[imarudina2]

Честит празник на всички! Да сте живи и здрави!

[imarudina2]

..

[Bret6464]

Happy Baba Marta! Love the music..really takes over :-) Thank you for the video.

[Stratos2you]

Честита Баба Марта,Българи..;)

[monipln]

chestita baba marta na vsichki ^^

[bLaffix]

Честита Баба Марта! :)

Много хубаво хилядолетен празник, който успява да обедини българите:)

[vitamutabilis]

Chestita Baba Marta na vsichki!!! :)