Baba Marta Day

Another Bulgarian tradition we had the chance to experience at the Centre for Social Rehabilitation in Pravets is the story of Baba Marta, or Grandma Marta, the mythical old woman who ends the cold winter every year and brings with her the spring.

The children read to us a poem about Baba Marta (left)

Баба Марта бързала

Баба Марта бързала

мартенички вързала,

морави, зелени,

бели и червени!

Първом на гората -

да листят листата

и да дойдат всичките:

щъркелите, птичките.

После на градините,

да цъфтят гиргините,

ябълки да зреят,

круши да жълтеят.

А пък на децицата

върза на ръчицата

мартеници чудни със ресни червени,

да са ранобудни, да растат засмени.

от Йордан Стубел

learning how to make martenitsi, symbolic wish for good health

With the help of the children from the Center in Pravets and the Protected House in Vidrare, our international volunteer group learned more about the Day of Baba Marta, which is celebrated on March 1 every year.

white for purity, and red for life and passion

We learned about the symbolism of the famous martenitsi, a combination of red and white yarn, which are exchanged on Baba Marta Day, and we even got to learn how to make them for each other.

the tradition says that one should keep wearing their martenitsi until they see a stork, or a blossoming tree

We divided in couples, each one of us taking the ends of a white and red strand of yarn. We turned them in opposite directions, until at the end, when we let go, they intertwined almost magically into one. It was a very special moment for all of us, as we got to create something together. In the end, we made martenitsi for everyone to keep until Baba Marta comes next year.

We ended the day with traditional Bulgarian songs and dances. Some of us even tried their hands at playing the accordion.