Happy first of March or like we say in Bulgaria – “Честита баба Марта”/ Happy grandma Marta.

Every year on the first of March, in Bulgaria is a custom to give our family and friends wristbands made from red and white color. They are called “Martenitsa” and symbolize the wish for good health. You can often see them made like yarn dolls, with the red representing female and white male called “Pijo” and “Penda”.

We usually wear this bracelet until we see a stork or blossom tree, which symbolizes the coming of warmer weather and spring. After that, we tie the bracelets on the blossom tree for fruitfulness. If you are visiting Bulgaria in the spring, you can see a lot of trees with Martenitsas.