TRADITION and RITUAL
The habit isn’t a Bulgarian exclusivity, but the legend existence in other countries is a probable legacy of the time of the expended Bulgaria and a testimony of the porosity of myth inside the Balkans countries. But it is particularly popular here.
Martenitsa tradition consist in breeding bracelet or little dolls, often by using white woolen or red tainted. Bulgarian people offers themselves the said bracelets on the 1st of march and wear them until they see a blossoming tree: when they do, ,they put them on those trees, as a guarantee of prosperity.
Making the little bracelet is a task that anyone can manage ( with a bit of training of course) and it’s often the children who are the most enthousiast about the craft of those little bit of patrimony.
It is still very popular in the country and you will often see people with a lot of bracelet on their wrists or others pining little doll of Pizho and Penda on their coat.
Nowadays, martenitsa tend to evolve by adding beads or even adding green treads to the white and red ones, which give a very bulgarian mix of color.
Various forms of Martenitsa (dolls, bracelets) / ©Alice de Villeblanche
Blooming tree with martenitsa, Veliko Tarnovo / ©Alice de Villeblanche
Pijo and Penda martenitsa on a tree branch, Preslav / ©Alice de Villeblanche
ORIGIN AND LEGEND
Like a lot of traditional customs, several legends exists regarding the origin of martenitsa, some of them more popular than other.
Most legends however implies the celebration of spring and renewal of the nature. Usually, spring itself is personified by the figure of Baba Marta, an old lady embodying the month of March. Some other sources suggest that the tradition was link to ancient Roman agrarian rites regarding the god Mars.
A later story link the tradition to the history of Bulgaria itself by saying that after the decisive battle of Ongal, where Bulgarians army prevails over Byzantine forces, the Khan sent doves with white treads attached to announce the bulgarian victory. But the doves were shot by a Byzantine archer and part of the treads was soaked in blood, giving the white and red combination of threads we know today as martenitsa.
But the most famous tale regarding the ancient practice is probably the tale of Pizho and Penda.
Baba Marta with kids, Preslav / ©Hunt On Photos Studio
