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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. Peolpe all over the
world meet spring with joy and new hopes but in Bulgaria it is saved as
an ancient tradition.
On that day Bulgarians exchange so called
"Martenitsi" ("Martenitsa" - singular, "Martenitsi" - plural) and tell
each other "Chestita Baba Marta!" (Happy Grandma Marta!). This custom
is essentially meant to bring great health, good luck, and happiness to family
and friends. The name "Martenitsa" is taken from the Bulgarian word for
March, or, as a legend tells, an angry old lady called Grandma Marta -
Baba Marta in Bulgarian ("baba" means grandmother and Marta comes from
word "mart", which means March in Bulgarian).
In Bulgarian folklore
Baba Marta is a grumpy old woman who changes her mood very rapidly and
it is reflected in the changeable March weather. When she is smiling the
weather is sunny and warm, but if she gets angry the cold will stay
longer and it may even snow. By wearing the red and white colors of the
Martenitsa our predecessors asked Baba Marta for mercy. They hoped that
it will make winter pass faster and bring spring.
The Martenitsa is made of twined red and white threads
- woollen, silk, or cotton. The white is a symbol of strength, purity
and happiness. The red is associated with health, blood, conception,
and fertility.
I am from Moldova. And I remember the 1st March and Martishor very well.
On the first of March we have a good tradition to give our friends and significant others red and white symbolic flowers as a sign of spring and mutual love.
A sample of Mărţişor
Mărţişor is a traditional celebration of the beginning of Spring, on the 1st of March. It is a tradition in Romania, and Moldova.The name Mărţişor is the of the name for March (Martie, in Romanian), and thus literally means "little" or "dear March". It is also the folk name for this month.
Mărţişor, marţ and mărţiguş are all names for the red and white (or black and white, also blue and white) string, from which usually a small decoration is tied, and which is offered by people on the 1st day of March.
Giving this Talisman to other people is an old custom, and it is believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be powerful and healthy for the year to come. It is also a symbol of the coming spring.
Usually, women wear it pinned to their blouses for the first 12 days of this month, until other certain spring celebrations, or until the bloom of certain fruit-trees.
hey, neighbour!!! It seems we have almost the same celebration here!! We choose a day ( from 1st of March till 8th) and it is said we are like the day we have chosen (if sunny- we are good, cheerful, optimistic, if rainy - we are sad, depressed and so on). My day is tomorrow , let �s find out how I am!!! (i hope it will be sunny and warm!! )
We have the red and white threads too. Students use to bring them to their teachers!
On 8th of March , we celebrate mother �s day and on 1st of March- woman �s day!!!!
On the 1st of March we wear red and white threads entwinned on our wrist. We call it "Marti" and it is a very old custom here in Greece, too. We take the threads of at Easter and throw them on the Easter lamb spit or on a rose. Unfortunately it is a custom that is becoming rare amongst our young people. I guess many Balkan countries have it.
Well, I �ve nothing interesting to add about the first of March, but I �m really happy to learn from you, friends!!!!& from your countries & cultures...
I usely use the English saying " March comes in like a lion, and leaveses (goes)out like a lamp" ...
which quite frankly, I think is about the same thing: we don �t know "how" March will "behave", but in the end we have Spring here, and new life... sprouts, flowers and green leaves :o))
Anyway lots of best wiches for a lovely Spring to everyone here!!!!
