Bulgarians are fascinating people. Their culture is very old and very deep. This past March I was given a delightful Bulgarian gift…martenitsa! I received a selection of martenitsa. They are only available in Bulgaria before March and disappear until the following year. I’ll have to wait until next March to get more. They are symbolic gifts with a historic background. What is the significance of the Martenitsa?
Ok, what is a martenitsa? A martenitsa is something to be worn. In Bulgaria, they have a tradition of giving a martenitsa as an act of friendship and affection. On the first day of March they give these tiny gifts to people they care for, to wear or put around their wrist. Martenitsa come in a variety of shapes, sizes and formats, but they have this in common. Martenitsa are made of thread, and are composed of two colored threads, white and red. I was told many Bulgarians end up wearing dozens of these tiny decorations. They became similar to walking Christmas trees with red and white ornaments, if only for a day or two. Martenitsa is considered a blessing for the year ahead and a sign of affection.
In Bulgaria they have a holiday called Baba Marta, which means “Grandmother March”. It is a holiday to celebrate the beginning of spring, and kissing off winter. Baba Marta is a mystical figure of an old lady who symbolizes March, with wild mood swings just like their weather. Some March days might be nice, but on another day Grandmother March could drop a blizzard. Baba Matra symbolized how natue was temperamental and our desire to embrace spring.
March weather in Bulgaria can be rough, like an unending winter. Bulgaria’s climate is similar to my hometown Chicago, and March in Chicago is a desperate hope for winter to end. After a long winter, the need for the snow to stop and summer to start becomes palatable. Maybe a key to understanding the martenitsa is its premature celebration of the end of a long winter and the beginning of spring. It symbolizes hope that better days are soon ahead.
Chicago could use such a holiday. Chicago’s version of the martenitsa is the city parking ticket.
It is said the martenitsa’s white threads symbolize the snow of winter, and the red threads represent the beginning of summer with the reflection of a sunset. Angry Grandmother March finally gives sway to summer. Yet, I think there is more to this symbolism. The shape of the martenitsa often represents male and female figures along with red and white threads. Part of this symbolism is a touching legend in Bulgarian culture about tragedy concerning a brother and sister, with red and white representing blood on white clothing.
The symbolism of red and white is also a powerful fertility symbol representing male and female. Grandmother March departs and summer begins the cycle of life. With spring comes fertility and procreation. Folklore is full of this symbolism. Consider the symbolism of the Easter bunny and Easter eggs. The symbolism of fertility is very old. Looking at the male and female versions of the martenitsa, the fertility symbolism becomes clear to me. A fertility blessing is not only for procreation. It’s also for a healthy family life. and good fortune. And necessarily a healthy society for our children. For civilization. Exchanging martenitsa is an act of shared community.