Baba Marta (Grandmother March)
March 1st is probably the most intrinsic holiday because it is unique to Bulgaria.
The custom of wearing martenitsas (red-and-white threads worn as a decoration)
is only popular in Bulgaria and it is perhaps the most positive one in all our folklore.
The traditions related to March 1st as well as the martenitsas themselves are
associated with optimism and anticipation of warmer weather, fertility and well-being.
This tradition is based upon the founding of Bulgaria in 681 AD and there are different
folk-legends about the origin of this celecrated day.

In the morning of 1st of March people set fire in the yards of their
houses, with lots of smoke. Then everybody jumps over the fire three
times, facing the rising sun, in order to be purified from evil forces and
guarded against diseases. The lady of the house takes out red clothes
and fabrics and puts them on the branches of the trees in front of the
house and on the fence. Only then she decorates the children and the
animals with the martenitzas made from woolen or cotton thread.

On the first of March and the days following all people give to each other
strips or small woolen dolls called Pigo and Penda, also known as
Martenitzi. They are so named because they bring the name of March,
or in Bulgarian, Mart. According to tradition, Mart is an angry old lady who
rapidly changes her mood from bad to good and back again. She is
Grandmother March, in Bulgarian"Baba Marta."

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