Celebrating "Baba Marta" at the local RHOP "Veneta Boteva"

Yey, it`s finally Baba Marta in Bulgaria - the first day of March and also one of our most unique celebrations. As folklore there are different versions of the Baba Marta (Grandma March) tale. 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. Another version is that January and February are the grim brothers and Marta (March) is their sister that is either smiley and kindhearted or unexpectedly evil.  She is a symbol of the upcoming spring. The tradition of giving friends and family red-and-white interwoven strings - Martenitsi - is believed to bring health and happiness during the year and to be a lucky charm against evil spirits.The white color first symbolized man, the power light solar zone. Later, under the influence of Christian mythology indicates the integrity and virginity – the white is the color of Christ. Red is the woman and health: it is a sign of blood, conception and birth. In ancient times women’s wedding dress were red. The martenitsa comes in all shapes and sizes - from building packages to strings on a newborn's arm. Children usually compete who will get the most.

People wear martenitsa for a certain period, the end of which usually is connected with the first signs of spring - blossomed trees or spring birds like storks, swallows or cranes. Some people than 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.

This year, we celebrate with the grandmas and grandpas at the residential home. They did surprise us with the oldest woman in there - 105-year-old Marta, being dressed like Baba Marta and giving out Martenitsi. People were smiley and friendly as always and they enjoyed every part of our little contribution to their celebration. We sang song together with them and performed the traditional Bulgaria horo. I personally feel very delighted now that I had made someone else`s day bright! :))