![]() ![]() Since then, on the first day of March, all Bulgarians wear red-and-white martenitsas that bring them health, joy and unity. He also added that the red-and-white yarn would never break because that bloody thread will always unite the Bulgarians. Then he stood before his army and admitted that his brothers and he had not listened to the advice of his father and for their disunity they paid with their blood. He also put a piece of this sacred adornment on each of his soldiers. He took the thread from Bayan and tied its white end with the red one. The Khazars saw him and his gigantic army and gingerly ran away.Īsparukh helped Huba and Bayan to cross the river. In this moment, Asparukh appeared on the other bank of the river with his soldiers. Bayan was struck by an arrow and the tip of the thread, which he held in his hand, reddened with his blood. She released the bird to fly and guide them, but at that point Khazar pursuers appeared and began shooting. Bayan produced a white thread which Huba tied to the leg of the dove. #BABA MARTA HOW TO#Only the bird was able to show them the way, but they had no idea how to get to the other side of the river. However, they did not know how to proceed. As planned, Bayan and Huba escaped the evil khan and reached the waters of the Danube. The brothers hit the road and left Bayan and Huba in captivity.Īfter some time, a dove with a gold thread on its leg flew inside Huba’s cell. Asparukh promised to send them a bird with a gold thread tied to its leg – a sign that they should flee. #BABA MARTA FREE#One of them went north, the others – among which Asparukh – went south.īefore the brothers separated, they had a secret huddle at which Huba and Bayan decided to stay with Khan Ashina until the others find a free land. All his other brothers embarked on a search of a new land for their tribes. The eldest brother – Bayan – recognised the Khazars and stayed with his captivated sister. They will admit he is their leader and he will release Huba and their lands. The Khazar chieftain made an offer to the Bulgars. As a result, they captured Kubrat’s daughter – Huba. Time passed and the Khazars attacked the Bulgars. The tribal chief of the Bulgars (Proto-Bulgarians), Kubrat, called all of his 5 sons and told them to never separate from each other and to always stick together – to be strong as a whole so that their enemies cannot enslave them. This is how the tradition of martenitsa exchanging commenced. It is believed that the swallow came to Khan Asparukh exactly on March 1 st. The red colour came from the bird’s blood because its leg was slightly injured from the thread. First legendĪccording to some folklore stories, Khan Asparukh received a gift from his sister – a medley of flowers tied to the leg of a bird thanks to a white thread. All of them stem from the founder of the Bulgarian state – Khan Asparukh. There are more than a couple of legends about the very origins of the Bulgarian martenitsa. Then he/she has to take off the martenitsa and tie it to a tree that is blossoming so that it is also healthy and, as a result, will bear more fruit. They are worn until the bearer sees a swallow, a stork or a budding tree. Some of them are pinned to the clothes, other are worn as bracelets on the wrists or around the neck. People give these pretty adornments to friends, family or beloved ones. This custom represents the equilibrium between life and death, happiness and sorrow, good and bad.įollowing tradition, martenitsas are always bestowed and not purchased for oneself. ![]() Red symbolises life while white characterises purity. The red and white yarns are a symbol of blossoming health. ![]() As you have seen from the cover photo, Pizho is predominantly in white colour, while Penda, the female one, is a proud owner of a (red) dress with white hints around her hands. The two dolls are called Pizho and Penda. A martenitsa is a tiny piece of adornment, usually in the form of a band wrist, composed of white and red interwoven yarns typically in the form of a male and female dolls. On that day, people start wearing martenitsas (the name comes from the Bulgarian word for March – „mart“), throughout the month until the wearer sees the first signs of spring – either a swallow, a stork or a budding tree. The first day of March in Bulgaria is known as Baba Marta which translates as “Grandmother March”. If not, brace yourself for a colourful story. If you have been to Bulgaria in March, you may already know something about martenitsa. ![]()
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