Have You Heard of the Martenichka Tradition? 🌸 Father Martha Ritual 🌟🌸

Hello.❤

I live in the Thrace region of Turkey. Since I am close to Bulgaria, many traditions from there are practiced here as well. For example, Matenichka (martenitsa). Every year in March, bracelets made of red and white threads are worn and wishes are made. In fact, martenichka is made to celebrate the arrival of spring. In this article, I will briefly talk about this tradition.

At the beginning of March, my neighbor gave me this bracelet as a gift. People gift marteniçkas to their loved ones with the wishes of health and abundance. Before I put on the bracelet, I made a few wishes that I really wanted to come true. The colors of the threads of the bracelets made have meaning.

Red color; health and strength. White color; represents long life.

After the wishes are made, you have to wait. Wristbands must be worn during March until they see a stork or a swallow. I was wearing my bracelet until yesterday, but finally today, storks started to come to our town.

If you see the birds I mentioned during the month of March, you should remove them from your wrist and hang them on a blooming tree. Thus, it is believed that wishes will come true.

I hung my bracelet on the blooming plum tree in our neighbor's garden. While I was hanging it, I did not neglect to make my wish again.

People don't just do it for themselves. Some of them attach the red and white colored yarn they prepared to their animals, houses and trees in the garden. In this way, wishes are made for a fruitful year for the new agricultural year.

Regardless, I love these local rituals. I don't know if my wishes come true or not, but I can say that I enjoyed doing it. I will continue to do so every year. I was happy enough that my neighbor thought of me and bought me this bracelet. As she handed it to me, she said, "I know you like that kind of thing, so I thought of you as soon as I saw it."

Last year, I made my own bracelet in March. I didn't do it this year when my neighbor bought it, but next year I will prepare bracelets for others. Have you guys heard of martenicka? Those who have never heard of it before have now learned. Who knows, maybe those of you who are interested in such traditions like me will make their own marteniçka next year ❤

For me, Father Marta day ended beautifully today. See you again on Father Marta day with new wishes next year.🎈

I wish a new spring where everyone's wishes will come true.

-love