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Baba Marta and martenitsa: the first of March

On the morning of 1 March, red-and-white yarn ornaments appear on wrists and lapels across Bulgaria: martenitsi. The custom is tied to Baba Marta, the folk personification of March, and marks the turn towards spring. For a newcomer it is probably the easiest way into local life, because a martenitsa is not bought for oneself — it is given away.

Culture and language · Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

What lies behind the custom

Baba Marta embodies the month of March in folk imagination, with a temperament as changeable as the weather. The white and red threads are commonly read as health and a fresh start, and the two colours together are associated with the passage from winter to spring. The custom is not exclusive to Bulgaria: a comparable spring practice exists in neighbouring Balkan countries, and it appears on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity through a joint multinational file.

How it is practised

  1. Tied on 1 March

    A martenitsa is given, not kept: family, colleagues and neighbours tie them on one another. It goes on the wrist or is pinned to clothing.

  2. Worn until the first sign of spring

    The most common practice is to wear it until you see a stork, a swallow or a tree in blossom. In some regions it is customary to take it off on a set day of the month instead.

  3. Left on a tree

    That is why trees in parks and along roads fill with red-and-white threads by late March. Elsewhere the thread is placed under a stone or set on running water.

1 March is not 3 March

1 March is a working and school day. For the current list of non-working days, rely on Council of Ministers decisions.
DateWhat it isPublic holiday
1 MarchBaba Marta — the martenitsa customNo, a folk custom
3 MarchNational Day — Liberation DayYes
24 MayDay of Slavonic script and Bulgarian cultureYes

Practical notes for newcomers

  • Martenitsi go on sale at street stalls and in shops during the last days of February; buying a handful and handing them out at work is entirely ordinary.
  • The greeting when tying one on is "Chestita Baba Marta", and the same phrase comes back in reply.
  • Children usually receive Pizho and Penda, the two small yarn figures; schools and kindergartens run workshops for making them.
  • The custom is seasonal rather than religious; joining in is a personal choice and nobody treats it as an obligation.

"For health" is a folk formula

Associating the martenitsa with health belongs to folk expression and is not a medical claim. This article describes the custom in its cultural context only.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a martenitsa for myself?

The point of the custom is giving, so tying one on yourself is not customary. In practice people buy several and hand them out, so everyone ends up wearing one received from someone else.

When should I take it off?

Most commonly at the first sign of spring — a stork, a swallow or a blossoming tree. In some areas a fixed day of the month is used instead. There is no strict rule, and looking at what people around you do is the practical guide.

Are workplaces closed on 1 March?

No. 1 March is not a public holiday; institutions, schools and businesses operate normally. The public holiday is 3 March.

Sources

The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.

  1. UNESCO — Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists · 2026-08-16
  2. Министерство на културата на Република България — https://mc.government.bg/ · 2026-08-16
  3. Българска академия на науките — етнографски изследвания — https://www.bas.bg/ · 2026-08-16
  4. Официален туристически портал на България — https://bulgariatravel.org/ · 2026-08-16

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Baba Marta and martenitsa: the first of March | Bulgaristan.bg