An empty roll of toilet paper can help you make a whole lot of this little red-and-white folk for Baba Marta.

You need some soft paper – it could be tissue or crepe, or just red and white paper napkins.

Wrap the toilet roll with a piece of paper. Push one end in and tie the other one with a piece of yarn (like candy).

Fold a new piece of paper in half and make a row of snips (as you would when you’re making a paper lantern). Glue it to the lower part of the roll.

Add a face and two eyes. Your doll is ready.

What is ‘martenitsa’?

In Bulgarian folklore the month of March is often portrayed as a plump, cheerful old lady, “baba Marta”. The 1st day of her reign is celebrated with red and white ornaments in various designs – as bracelets, brooches, pom-poms… 
The origins of this ritual are lost in time, but the meaning is clear – they are luck charms you give away to wish good health (and good looks, too!) Friends, family, even pets and domestic animals get one.They are also a countdown to spring – you wear them every day until you see the first stork, or swallow, or blossoming tree. Then you take themartenitsa off and tie it to a branch.