Baba Marta is close, and we still haven’t had the time to publish all the ideas in our mailbox: 

Wooden spoons decorated by the children in 4th ‘Sun’ preschool group at Yanitsa Preschool in Pleven.

The martenitsas made by the children in 3rd preschool group at Yurii Gagarin Preschool in Krumovgrad and their teachedr Mrs Stankova. 

Galina Stoycheva from Varna sent us her ideas for using leftover buttons in various sizes.

Ring dance martenitsas and some snowdrops that bring the atmosphere of spring. They were sent to us by the Petya Angelova, a teacher at Vita School in Varna.

This Martenitsa tree was sent to us by Dessislava Stefanova from Targovishte. 

This quilling card was made by Villie Dimova, a primary school teacher from Tervel. 

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