There are various theories, suggestions, and even several legends involving real historical figures about the symbolism of the red and white colors from which Martenitsa are made. The greeting exchanged on this day is Chestita Baba Marta ( Bulgarian: Честита Баба Марта, "Happy Baba Marta"), often shortened to ЧБМ on greeting cards. There is a great amount of folklore about Grandma Marta Day and the character of Baba Marta herself. Older Bulgarians call it Birch Month as it is around the time that birch trees start growing leaves and giving sap. It is common in the spring to see trees festooned in Martenitsas. Once the stork or a swallow appears the Martenitsa is taken off and hung on a blooming tree. They are worn until a stork or a swallow is seen, symbolizing the coming of spring, warmer weather, and well-being. Martenitsas, usually in the form of a wrist band, small yarn dolls, or tassels, are created by combining red and white colored threads and are worn on that day and throughout March. The Romanian holiday Mărțișor is a variant of Baba Marta.Grandma Marta Day (or simply Baba Marta, Bulgarian: Баба Марта, "Grandma Marta") is a holiday celebrated in Bulgaria, on March 1. It also resembles the German tradition of hanging empty eggs in blossoming trees during the (now Christian) Eastern folklore and the Persian tradition of hanging fruit in trees at midwinter. The Bulgarian tradition resembles folklore known in parts of Asia and South America, to wear a lucky bringing friendship bracelet around the wrist until it wears out. Some people then tie their martenitsa to a tree, others place it under a rock and based on what they find there the next morning guess what kind of a year this one would be. People wear martenitsa for a certain period, the end of which usually is connected with the first signs of spring birds like storks or swallows. Children usually compete who will get the most. The martenitsa comes in all shapes and sizes - from building packages to strings on a newborn's arm. In ancient times women’s wedding dresses were red. Red represents the woman and health: it is a sign of blood, conception and birth. Later, under the influence of Christian mythology it began to indicate integrity and virginity – white is the color of Christ. The white color first symbolized man, the power light solar zone. In the small villages in the mountains people decorate their houses, kids and domestic animals. They are given away to friends and family and are worn around the wrist or on clothes. Martenitsi are red and white coloured bands or figurines that symbolise health and happiness, a lucky charm against evil spirits. Martenitsi Martenitsi, hung on fruit tree in blossom, Bulgaria. The beach was named after the Baba Marta. This story can also be found in German folklore, for instance in the "Frau Holle" or Mother Hulda legend.īaba Marta Beach is a beach on the southern coast of Nelson Island, an Island off of Antarctica. 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, January and February, 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.
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