Cover Photo Source: Adventure Flair
Happy Monday!
A few weeks ago one of my flatmates gifted me a red and white bracelet with a purple butterfly charm on it. I asked her why and she went to explain to me that it was a Bulgarian Spring ritual. “It is just what we do.”
The martenitsi is usually made of red and white yarn. The red to ward off the gaze of evil spirits and the white represents long life.
Naturally I was curious for more and went digging around. What I learned was that Martenisa is a spring celebration starting on March 1st when Martenitsi are tied around children’s wrists and necklaces of the same colours are hung around young women’s necks. Martenitsi are always given as gifts, never bought for one self, and are given to loved ones, friends, and people they feel close to (aww thank you Tsveta!) with the wish of good health and luck.
The Martenitsi is meant to be worn until the wearer first sees a stork, swallow, or blossoming tree (all signs of spring). What is supposed to be done with it at which point varies however I was told to tie it around a blossoming tree branch to pass on the good health and luck I have been gifted over the last month to the tree. I like this a lot, trees are okay people.
The idea of wearing the Martenitsi is to protect the wearer from Baba Marta (Grandmother March) who is subject to mood swings bringing more cold weather. By wearing a Martenitsi it’s a sign of welcoming Baba Marta and asking for a short and less bitter end to winter.
With that being said, I’m still wearing my Martenitsi but I’m hoping that soon (seeing as today is the first official day of spring) that I’ll see a blossoming tree so I can pass on the love.
If you want to read more, check out this wonderful post on Adventure Flair “What is Martenisa?”
Happy Spring!
