9/13/2023 0 Comments Martenitsa baba marta![]() ![]() Martenitsa, the Bulgarian amuletĪnd, of course, there’s the martenitsa, a guaranteed way to get on Baba Marta’s good side. Back in the day, it was also common to hang a red tablecloth in the yard as a way to ensure preferential treatment for the house and its inhabitants by Baba Marta. Sounds familiar? That’s right spring cleaning was a thing before Marie Kondo. This is why people would clean their homes thoroughly. Photo: / Elkhophoto.įor starters, it was believed that the old woman would only enter an orderly house. Photo: / encrier Martenitsas sold at a stand in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. A branch of a blossoming cherry tree with a red and white martenitsa – a traditional symbol of the first spring day. With everyone craving sunny weather after the long winter, a major part of the customs in March serves one purpose only: appeasing Baba Marta. If she is in a bad mood, the sign would come in the form of strong winds and clouds. In ancient times, Bulgarians believed that when Baba Marta laughed, the weather would be warm. Baba Marta is also the personification of the month of March, also known as “Women’s Month.” She is perceived as a symbol of conception, the reawakening of land, and fertility. Regardless of her age, however, she represents new beginnings, expressed by the return of spring. According to folk legends, she is an elderly woman. The first day of March is inextricably linked to the mythical heroine of Bulgarian folklore, Baba Marta, or Grandma March. “ The martenitsas are a purely Bulgarian symbol,” says Margarita Milanova, an ethnographer at the History Museum in Silistra, in conversation with 3Seas Europe. And just in case, as a protection against evil forces. They also serve as a blessing for a long healthy life. The red and white ornaments are exchanged between relatives and friends with a message for better days and success throughout the year. ![]()
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