MARTENITSA Bracelet

You will need: wire, a cylindrical object to wind the wire on, red and white beads, two larger beads and a pair of pliers.

1.Wind the wire three or four times around a cylindrical object, e.g. a hairspray container. Twist the wire with the pliers as shown.
2. Thread a smaller bead, then a bigger one, then all the rest.

3. Finish the bracelet with a bigger and a smaller bead. Twist the other end, too, so the beads will not spill. Your martenitsa bracelet 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.