On the 1st of March Bulgarian people celebrate a traditional holiday called Baba Marta (or Grandma Marta in English) and it is related to welcoming the approaching spring. People all over the word meet spring with joy and new hopes, but in Bulgaria it is saved as an ancient tradition.
Throughout the world people celebrate the arrival of spring with joy and hope. However, it is only in Bulgaria that this festival is celebrated with the traditions of Antiquity. Bulgarians wear a small special ornament made of red and white yarn on this day, called " Martenisa". we wear it 22th March and some people wear it until they see a stork or the first buds of a tree.
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| photo: puzzeles-games.eu |
They believe is that if you wear the Martenitsa, Baba Marta will help you, and spring will come more quickly. the 1st of March you exchange Martenitsa with everybody that you know: family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances. When you give them the decoration you wish them everything you want to happen to them during the year. you receive the Martenitsa everyone gives you and you wear them until you see a blossoming tree or a stork. The storks returning from the south and the blossoming trees are the symbols of the coming spring. When you see the first symbol of spring you have to take off your Martenitsa. After that, you hang your Martenitsa on blossoming tree like this one:
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| photo: en.wikipedia.org |
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| photo: erepublik.com |
You can find the Martenitsa hanging there in the branches as you walk outside.
The Martnitsa became a symbol of peace and love, health and happiness. the white color symbolizes purity and honesty in relationships, and the red color means life, passion, and cordiality in friendship and mutual love.
Since that time the red and white threads of yarn have come symbolize the strong bond among. Bulgarians around the world. This special national holiday on March 1st reminds us of the values that the Martenitsa has carried down through the centuries.
Thus, every Bulgarian celebrates the coming of spring with this amulet inherited trom the ancestors symbolizing the belief that now everything will be better.
What an awesome holiday tradition. Love it! Blessings to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother used to hang a pair on our Christmas tree every year. They were made by her husband's mother, who was originally from Prussia. I still have them and love them.
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