3. The story tells that …
… BABA MARTA
(Grandma March)
is the name of
a mythical old
woman …
4. … who brings with her
the end of the cold
winter and the
beginning of SPRING
5.
6. And … that`s why young and old are taking care for her good mood
by adorning themselves with MARTENITSAS
7. MARTENITSA
is a small piece of
adornment, made
of twisted white
and red woolen
threads.
8. Martenitsas have various shapes …
Most of them look like simple
rings, but they can also be bead-
shaped, tassel-shaped, or with
male and female figures, known as
PIZHO AND PENDA!
9. WHITE COLOR symbolizes the
purity of the melting white snow.
RED COLOR symbolizes the
setting of the sun, which
becomes more and more intense
as spring comes.
10. The twisted
strands of red
and white threads
symbolize the
male and female
beginnings and
fertility, of which
the fruits of
nature will be
born.
11. Old women are knitting martenitsas
on the eve of the holiday!
15. The tradition calls for wearing the
martenitsas until the person sees
a stork - the harbinger of SPRING!
16. And after that they should be
hung on a flowering tree for
health and fertility!
Editor's Notes
Baba Marta Day!
Let me tell you the story BabaMarta Day– this is an old pagan holiday celebrated on the first day of March in Bulgaria.
The story tells that … Baba Marta /Grandma March/ is the name of a mythical old woman
… who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring.
As the month of March itself… Baba Marta was famous with her moody character!
And … young and old are taking care for her good mood by adorning themselves with “Martenitsas”
“Martenista” is a small piece of adornment, made of twisted white and red woolen thread.
Martenistas have various shapes. Most of them look like simple rings, but they can also be bead-shaped, tassel-shaped, or with male and female figures,known as Pizho and Penda.
The white color in the martenista symbolizes the purity of the melting white snow.The red color symbolizes the setting of the sun, which becomes more and more intense as spring comes.
The twisted strands of red and white threads symbolize the male and female beginnings and fertility, of which the fruits of nature will be born.
Old women are knitting martenitsas on the eve of the holiday …
…but children are most excited about them.
On the first day of March,Martenistas are given as gifts to the loved ones, and those people, to whom one feels close, with the wish for Health and Happiness!
They are usually worn pinned on the clothes, near the collar, or tied around the wrist.
The tradition calls for wearing the martenitsas until the person sees a stork - the harbinger of spring!
After that they should be hung on a flowering tree for health and fertility.