01/03/2018
Martenitsa: the old pagan tradition that remains almost unchanged today.
On the first day of March and for a few days afterwards, Bulgarians exchange and wear white and red tassels or the Pizho and Penda dolls. In Bulgarian folklore the name Baba Marta (in Bulgarian баба Марта meaning Grandma March) is related to a grumpy old lady whose mood swings very rapidly. And Mart is the Bulgarian word for March. The tradition calls for wearing the Martenitsa until the person sees a stork or a blooming tree. The stork is considered a harbinger of spring and as evidence that Baba Marta is in a good mood and is about to retire.
Symbolism
This is an old pagan tradition that remains almost unchanged today. The tradition is related to the ancient pagan history of the Balkan Peninsula and to all agricultural cults of nature. Some specific features of the ritual, especially tying the twisted white and red woolen threads, are a result of centuries-old tradition and suggest Thracian (paleo-Balkan) origins.
The common belief is that by wearing the red and white colours of the Martenitsa people ask Baba Marta for mercy. They hope that it will make winter pass faster and bring spring. Pizho and Penda are the names of the two small wool dolls of a typical Martenitsa. Pizho is the male doll, usually with white as its predominant color. Penda is the female doll, usually predominantly red, and is distinguished by her skirt.
The red and white woven threads symbolize the wish for good health. They are the heralds of the coming of spring in Bulgaria and life in general. While white as a color symbolizes purity, red is a symbol of life and passion, and so some ethnologists have proposed that, in its very origins, the custom might have reminded people of the constant cycle of life and death, the balance of good and evil, and of the sorrow and happiness in human life.
Martenitsi are always given as gifts. Tradition dictates that people never buy Martenitsi for themselves. They are given to loved ones, friends, and those people to whom one feels close. They are worn on clothing, or around the wrist or neck. Wearing one or more Martenitsi is a very popular Bulgarian tradition. The time during which it is worn is meant to be a joyful holiday commemorating health and long life. A similar tradition is held in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as in Northern Greece, Albania, Romania and Moldova.
