I've been obsessed with spring recently.  Most people are obsessed with things like chocolate, fast cars, new technology, facebook or micro-brew beers.  But I am not most people and these days I am obsessed with the idea of spring.

I wake up and check the weather hoping for some sign that spring is around the corner.  I look out the window to see if we have more or less snow than the day before.  And for the record, it's been snowy and cold now for the better part of three weeks.  It's been so damn cold that you can see your breath on the bus and you bottom freezes if you sit down on a seat.  So I read the five day weather report hoping for something that's not snow. I am obsessed.

However this morning, I got up late, made some coffee and I realized this: who needs the groundhog? <!--more-->

In the States, we wait and obsess over whether or not Punxsutawney Phil will emerge from his burrow on February 2 and sees his shadow. If he sees his shadow, it's said that winter weather will continue for six more weeks.  For the record, this year he saw his shadow.

But who cares? In a moment of clarity, I realized this is an imperfect science.  A cup of coffee later, it was clear I've got to stop obsessing about spring.

Then it hit me. Who needs Groundhogs when there are Martenitsas?

They're a sure-fire sign that spring is coming. First, because the whole country is committed to them--children, grandmothers and even Bulgarians with big necks and big wrists.  Second,  they break up the monotony of late winter with a little gift giving and lot of good feeling. Third, they are cute and so is spring. Fourth, once you put one on you're officially allowed to look for signs of spring--not because you're a crazy-obsessed person but because you've got to leave your martenitsa in a tree or under a stone for good luck.

So I decided that instead of obsessing over spring I am going to start keeping my eye out for martenitsas.

I love martenitsas. A lot more than I love snow.  Spring will come but luckily for me martenitsas will come before spring.  I can hardly wait for March 1st.