In Bulgaria, the First of March is a holiday of sorts. Leading up to the First of March, red and <del>yellow</del> white martenitsi are for sale all over the country. These little martenitsi are exchanged with friends and colleagues on March 1st. You wear the martenitsi until you see either a stork or the first bloom of spring on a tree. Then you hang your martenitisi in a tree or tuck it under a rock. <a title="March 2014 Martenitsi by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/12898097355/"><img alt="March 2014 Martenitsi" src="https://v4s2.yimg.com/sk/3692/12898097355_065f1eed31_z.jpg" width="100%" /></a> It's a holiday that makes me miss living in Bulgaria, a lot. There is so much joy in trading, sharing, giving and receiving martenitsi.<!--more--> March is a changeable month. Sometimes spring comes slowly little by little. Sometimes it snows. Sometimes spring roars in. But, spring will come. I gave martenitsi to my friends on Friday, February 28th. I put martenitsi on my coats on March 1st and today, I gave a few more away to friends. <a title="Spring Flowers in Ballard by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/12898112015/"><img alt="Spring Flowers in Ballard" src="https://v4s2.yimg.com/sk/3685/12898112015_429e48a7e1_z.jpg" width="100%" /></a> I think that spring is going to find me much sooner than later in Seattle. There was plenty of rain today and there are flowers already poking their heads out of the soil. I don't know that I am going to see any storks in Seattle but I bet a spot a blooming tree in the next two weeks! I hope that wherever you are, spring finds you soon too!!