Martenitsa - an Ancient Bulgarian Tradition

Martenitsa - an Ancient Bulgarian Tradition Chestita Baba Marta! (Happy Grandma Marta!) 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. .When someone gives you a Martenitsa you should wear it either pinned on your clothes, on the hand tied around the wrist, or around your neck until you see a stork, or a fruit tree in blossom for the first time in the season. After that you can tie it on a blossoming tree for fertility. It is believed that the Martenitsa bring health, happiness and longevity. Like kind of amulet, Martenitsa was attributed a magic power believed to protect folks from "ill fortune", diseases and an evil eye.