[caption id="attachment_704" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Me buying Martenitsas--Thanks for the uber-flattering picture of both of us, Max. We are both actually much better looking in person."]<img class="size-medium wp-image-704" title="Martenitsas" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc05628.jpg?w=225" alt="Me buying Martenitsas--Thanks for the uber-flattering picture of both of us, Max. We are both actually much better looking in person." width="225" height="300" />[/caption]

Two weeks ago table started appearing all over Sofia.  The tables were full of red and white do-hickies and priced from .10 -1.00 Leva or maybe slightly more.  Martenitsas had arrived.  <span lang="bg">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martenitsa" target="_blank">мартеница</a> are everywhere. </span>

<span lang="bg">They are made out of red and white string.  I am told that the red and white represent life (red) and purity (white) but I've also heard that the red protects you from disease and the white makes you live longer.  Either way they are supposed to bring the wearer good luck.  Some are worn on the wrist like a bracelet while others are pinned on near the neck with a safety pin.
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Martenitsas are part of the tradition of spring in Bulgaria.  You buy them (or make them) and give them to friends, family and colleagues on (or slightly after) the First of March.  You are supposed to always give the martenitsas away--you don't buy one for yourself. Then you wear the martenitsa.  I think this is especially true if you are a child.<!--more-->

Then you wear the martenitsa until spring has arrived this is marked by seeing a stork or a sparrow or a blossoming tree or by the date March 22nd.  Then when you see one of these birds, a blooming tree or when the 22nd of March arrives you hang your martenitsa on a tree branch or you put it under a rock. This is important.  It's supposed to determine your luck for the year.  I am not exactly sure how this part works but I can attest to seeing lots of martenitsas hanging in the low branches of bare trees this winter so it's clear that people do take this part of the tradition seriously.

The word martenitsa derives from the name of the month of March in Bulgarian Mart (март).  There's also something going on with an old woman known as Baba Marta (<strong> </strong>баба март) or Grandmother March but as of today, I am not really sure what her deal is.  One<a href="http://storksmojo.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/grandmother-march-and-the-stork/" target="_blank"> blog</a>, I read says that: in the Bulgarian folklore, she is an old grumpy grandma and her mood swings bring sunshine or freezing snowy weather.  (Poor grandmother.)

I bought some today from a woman selling them near the Women's Bazaar.  She told me all about them.  I understood only a little bit of what she was saying but she told me I could buy them for the children in my life (hum, not yet) and my colleagues.  Luckily my landlord has invited me over for lunch on March 1st to celebrate so I bought a few martenitsas for his family and I bought a few for my own family as well.  Only they wont get them until I return to the States.