Martenits for the statues

The first day of March came. The whole of Bulgaria has changed with white and red.
The martenitsa is a ritual decoration of twisted threads that is put on on March 1 for health. The martenitsa is a small ornament , made mostly of woolen or cotton yarn in two main colors - white and red, with which Bulgarians adorn themselves every year on March 1 - the holiday of Baba Marta . Nominated by Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Moldova and Romania and included in UNESCO's Representative List of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In its classic form, the martenitsa is a twisted white and red thread, most often woolen. Colors have a strictly defined meaning: red – blood, life; white - purity, happiness. The tradition is on the first day of March for the oldest woman in the family to tie a twisted white and red thread on the children's hands for health and against magic.

Martenits are worn until the appearance of the first flowering tree or the first migratory bird , that is, until the onset of spring . In some parts they are worn until the end of March. They are then placed on a tree or under a stone. In the latter case, you can guess by them. If after a month there are ants under the stone , the year will be fertile and successful. Another custom is that the martenets, worn until the first spring, are then tied to the branches of a flowering tree or bush. Thus, in many places in Bulgaria, you can traditionally see trees and bushes decorated with marigolds. Another custom is to wear martenits until the first storks are seen and only then to hang them on a tree. In some parts of Bulgaria domestic animals and fruit trees are also decorated with martensia. Sometimes the martenitsa is released into the nearest river "so that it may go as the river flows". The tradition also says that happiness and luck is brought by the martenitsa that is given to you. That's why everyone gives their relatives and friends martenits.