The holiday has pagan origins and remains one of the oldest traditions still practiced in Christian Europe. For the rest of the season, trees can be seen adorned with these symbolic adornments. Martenitsa is then removed and hung on trees to signify the arrival of spring. The tradition is to continue wearing these wristlets until a swallow or stork is seen. Almost everyone in Bulgaria and the surrounding areas can be seen wearing martenitsa. These creations are worn on the holiday as well as throughout March. Baba Marta is also found in German folklore, for example, in the story of ‘Frau Holle.’Ī martenitsa consists of interwoven red and white threads that are mostly fashioned into wristbands, tassels, or yarn dolls. She shakes the sheets and mattress one last time before the following winter, causing all the filling to scatter on the ground like snow, signifying the end of the snowfall for the year. In one version of the story, Baba Marta prepares for spring by cleaning. It is also believed that the Sun would only shine when she smiled. There are different versions of this tale, depending on what children are told when growing up. Known as a feisty woman, her story revolves around a grudge she held against her siblings, January and February. The Romanian holiday Mărțișor is a variant of Baba Marta.Baba Marta or Granda March is a Bulgarian legend. 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. Prema narodnom verovanju, baba Marta je olienje prolea, ponovnog raanja, novih zamisli i neophodnosti sklada u prirodi i ivotu ljudi. 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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