Martenitza

On my first day in Bulgaria, one of the things that stood out to me were little red and white threads attached to the branches of trees. Upon closer inspection, the threads had beads and charms attached to their ends. Each seemed unique in some way. Throughout Bulgaria, whether I was in an urban area, a city like Sofia, or in the rural regions, wherever there was a tree, there were these intriguing threads, the colour of Christmas candy canes. They adorned the trees like coloured frosting on a cake. I soon discovered that these threads were not the work of fairies, but were something known as "Martenitza".

What is martenitza?

Martenitza (plural: martenitzi) is a Bulgarian custom with its origins in Bulgarian folklore. On March 1st, people wear these red and white decorations, which are said to provide health and strength. The red is likened to the redness of good apples and the white is akin to clean snow. It is a tradition which exists in the present day and it marks the start of the spring.

The legend of the martenitza

Legend tells us that this tradition is associated with Khan Asparuh, the founder of the Bulgarian state. In early March, he is said to have received a swallow as a greeting from his sister. The bird was carrying flowers, bound together with a red and white thread. Ever since, Bulgarians mark the start of the spring and agricultural year with this custom.

Decorative martenitzi

In addition to their identifiable red and white threads, people often add additional decorations, such as beads, coins, flowers and tassels. One of the things that captivated me so much about martenitzi is even though I must have seen hundreds of them, each one looked individual and unique.

Where do people place martenitzi?

Not only do Bulgarians tie martenitzi to trees, they also give them as gifts to their loved ones, place them on the entrance to their homes, or on their pets.

The mythical power of martenitzi

It is believed that the martenitza drives away evil forces and brings health and prosperity for the year.

What does the red and white represent?

The red thread represents health and strength, and the masculine force. The white represents longevity, and the feminine force.

What happens after March?

As stated above, Bulgarians first wear their martenitza on March 1st each year. Usually, they wear their martenitza for the entire month, or whenever they see the first swallow of the year. After that, they take it off and put it on a blossomed tree.

A love charm

Another belief is that after a boy or girl has taken their martenitza off, if they place it under a stone, the following year, they will find their soul mate and settle down.

On my last day in Bulgaria, I went to a little shop and bought some martenitzi of my own. Not only do they remind me of my wonderful trip to Bulgaria, but next year, I will definitely practise this custom to encourage prosperity into my life!

Rebecca