martenitsa

On this day people give each other bracelets or pendants made from red and white string called martenitsa martenitsi for plural.

Baba Marta Jess 2009

On this day people give each other bracelets or pendants made from red and white string called martenitsa martenitsi for plural.

Archive 2009-04-01 Wil Dalton 2009

This transfers the good luck that you receive when you are given a martenitsa to the tree and gives it long life and prosperity.

Archive 2009-04-01 Wil Dalton 2009

This transfers the good luck that you receive when you are given a martenitsa to the tree and gives it long life and prosperity.

Baba Marta Jess 2009

For scale, here it is next to a standard length martenitsa:

Archive 2008-03-23 2008

In celebration of Baba Marta, Bulgarians wear a “martenitsa,” which is a red and white tassel or braided bracelet.

3-2-06 Chestita Baba Marta - Честита Баба Марта Maxwell Woods 2007

In celebration of Baba Marta, Bulgarians wear a “martenitsa,” which is a red and white tassel or braided bracelet.

Archive 2007-09-30 Maxwell Woods 2007

Then, you take off the martenitsa and tie it to a tree, to hopefully bring a fruitful harvest.

3-2-06 Chestita Baba Marta - Честита Баба Марта Maxwell Woods 2007

If they see a stork, they place the martenitsa under a rock or some say, throw it in a river.

Archive 2007-10-07 Maxwell Woods 2007

If they see a tree, they tie the martenitsa to that tree.

Archive 2007-10-07 Maxwell Woods 2007

We kept seeing trees and bushes adorned with red-and-white bracelets called “martenitsa” – we learned why when another custodian put a couple on our wrists.

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