Costumes and celebrations: March
<H2 class=title>The photo</H2>
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<DIV class=image><IMG height=353 alt="Martenitsi in Sofia" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/assets/images/2010/03/01/100301122810_mar_sofia_simone_470.jpg" width=470></DIV>
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<P>"I took this photo end of March 2008 in Sofia, Bulgaria. In the background you can see the Alexander-Nevski-Cathedrale and in the trees are hanging the famous Martenitsi.</P>
<P>"The last 2.5 years we were living in Bulgaria, so I could take part in this nice tradition."</P>
<P>Simone Königer<BR>(Germany)</P></DIV></DIV>
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<H2 class=title>About Martenitsa</H2>
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<P>A Martenitsa is made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1 until the end of March, or until the first time you see a stork. The name of this holiday is Baba Marta. Baba means grandmother in Bulgarian and Mart is the month of March. It is a Bulgarian tradition for welcoming the spring. <BR><BR>The red and white Martenitsi symbolize many things: good health, happiness and life. <BR><BR>On the first day of March and the next days the Bulgarians and also the foreigners living there, exchange and wear white and red tassels, small dolls and flowers.<BR><BR>Many people wear a lot of Martenitsi: you receive them as presents from relatives, friends and colleagues. There are different rituals when to take the Martenitsa off: for example when you see the first stork or a tree with blossoms. If you don’t see any of these at all by the end of March, you can tie the little Martenitsa to a tree, so a stork can pick it up!<BR><BR>It is a very popular Bulgarian tradition. At the end of February there are dozens of stalls in the street selling the newest types of Martenitsi and everybody is buying a bag full of them to give away</P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>