Fabric and felt martenitsas… and a real snowdrop flower from Tsvetelina Steffanova (animatedhome)

Those martenitsas were made by the kids from the Sun Group at Yanitsa Preschool 19, Pleven, and their teacher Mrs. Albena Tsoncheva.

Paper martenitsas from Zornitsa Kuntcheva. You can see our instructions for making a similar type of paper balls.

Мartenitsas made by the children and teachers in the second grade of Vassil Droumev Primary School in Shoumen.

Our friends, the kids and teachers from the Resource Centre in Lovech.

The third graders from Class B in Petar Beron Primary School in Samokov.

Mom Elly and her daughter Annie, a second-grader from Vassil Aprilov Primary School at the village of Hurletz.

 

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 blossoming tree. Then you take the martenitsa off and tie it to a branch.

bulgarian-martenitsa