From The Black Sea Association of National News Agencies:
On March 1, Bulgarians celebrate Baba Marta, a traditional festival marking the onset of spring. They exchange special red-and-white amulets, wishing each other "Chestita Baba Marta" - the Bulgarian equivalent of "Happy Spring" - and health and prosperity throughout the year.
Baba Marta is one of the best loved Bulgarian customs dating many centuries back.
The red-and-white good luck charm, called "martenitsa," is especially made for the occasion and is worn on one's clothing, wrist or neck (of people and pets), or round the left wrist, or is tied round the horns of cattle or round the branches of fruit trees. The wearer keeps it until a swallow or a stork returning from migration is first seen, after which it is hung on a branch in blossom or hidden under a rock to welcome spring and to represent the hope that the evil spirits will go to sleep.
Originally, "martenitsas" consisted simply of a red-and-white wool or silk thread, twisted leftward, with a gold or silver coin occasionally tied to it for an abundant harvest, or a blue bead to ward off evil spells.
The white is a symbol of strength, longevity, the male spirit and sunshine, while the red symbolizes the female spirit and is associated with health, blood, conception, birth and fertility.
The popular spring amulet was reckoned to protect the wearers from diseases, the evil eye and bad luck, and to ensure the fertility of livestock, a plentiful harvest, and farmers' good health and prosperity.
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I want to go on record as welcoming spring! However, it is snowing here. Again.
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