Spring Celebration and Activities - Making Martenitsa

The first of March in Bulgaria is a special day. People make or buy matenitsi some days before that day and give their family and friends as a small gift.

The classical "martenitsa" is made out of red and white weaved threads. Sometimes it ends are made into tassels from the same yarn. Usually the tassels are decorated with blue beads, small golden coins or colorful threads.

 Bulgarians believe that they will be healthy during the whole year if they wear "martenitsa" in March.

People wear martenitsa for a certain period of time. Usually the end of the period is connected with the first signs of the coming spring - blossomed trees, meeting of the first spring birds like storks, swallows or cranes. Then people remove their martenitsa and tie them to a blossomed fruit tree. 

Students from "Pencho Slaveikov" school made a lot of martenitsa this year and offered them at the school bazaar. With the money they intend to buy more things for school and improve the environment.