Clyde Hill Elementary PTA

Martenitsa (Bulgarian: мартеница) is an amulet or bracelet made of red and white yarn that symbolizes the coming of spring. Bulgarians begin to wear them on March 1st (Baba Marta or Granny Marta) and continue to wear them until they see a stork or the first day of Spring. At that point, people remove the bracelet and tie it to a blossoming tree to ensure good health and luck throughout the year. The tradition dates back to Thracian times to welcome spring. Orpheus is said to have decorated his harp with such an item. The tradition was saved even during Bulgaria's five centuries of Ottoman oppression where celebrating traditions, expressing your religion, going to Church, celebrating holidays were forbidden and were punished by a death sentence. In the ancient world, the year was divided into two seasons: winter and summer, and March 1st ushered in the summer. The colors on the martenitsa also date back to ancient times. The red was symbolic of the sun's rays, and the white was the last snow of winter. The two tassels twisted together provided both humans and livestock protection from the evil forces of the cold winter.