Chestita Baba Marta!


Martenitsi
Well, 1st March has finally arrived and now the last of the snow is melting, although there is still plenty of it on top of Mount Vitosha. The weather is definitely warming up again, after the latest icy blast. On Wednesday of next week it is supposed to be 18C!

The first day of March is a big celebration in Bulgaria. It is supposed to mark the beginning of the spring and you are supposed to wish your friends luck, health and prosperity. Chestitata Baba Marta! is the commonest greeting and it a bit like Merry Christmas! or Happy New Year! 
Irena and Zlatka
Baba Marta herself is imagined to be a rather grumpy old country woman, rather like our neighbour Zlatka, our nextdoor neighbour in Kalotina. Sometimes she is in a good mood and the weather is warm, so we start thinking about the coming summer, and sometimes Baba Marta is in a bad mood and then March is more like one of the winter months.

Martenitsi are red and white bracelets, usually made of woollen thread and worn around the wrist. You are supposed to wear them until you see a stork or a fruit tree in flower. Then you can take off your martenitsa and tie it onto a tree.

At St. George's School, some of the Bulgarian lady teachers dressed up in traditional costumes and gave martenitsi to the students. It is a rather nice tradition.



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