Martenitsa is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1 until around the end of March (or the first time an individual sees a stork, swallow or budding tree). People tie their martenitsa on a branch of a fruit tree, thus giving the tree health and luck, which the person wearing the martenitsa has enjoyed himself while wearing it. The common belief is that by wearing the red and white colours of the martenitsa people ask Baba Marta for mercy. In Bulgarian folklore the name Baba Marta is related to a grumpy old lady whose mood swings change very rapidly. This is an old pagan tradition and remains almost unchanged today.
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