site.btaMartenitsas: Timeless Tradition Meets Modern Artistry

On March 1, Bulgarian artisans once again delight with innovative and artistic martenitsas. Among this year's newest and most original designs are handmade knitted flowers that, with a gentle motion, transform into charming miniature dolls.

These unique martenitsas blend traditional elements with contemporary artisanship. Each flower is carefully crafted from soft yarn, unfolding to reveal a tiny doll symbolising health and joy. Artisans share that Bulgarian folklore inspires these creations.

Creating handmade martenitsas is an art that requires patience, skill, and attention to detail. Preparations for the festival continue throughout the year, intensifying over the last three months. Thousands of martenitsas are crafted annually, involving entire families in their production. Traditional designs, such as wristbands and decorations featuring Pizho and Penda, remain particularly popular.

Velichka Toteva, an experienced martenitsa artisan, described this tradition as Bulgaria’s most distinctive festival. "According to legend, Baba Marta sweeps away winter with her broom, opening paths for storks and swallows. I make martenitsas almost all year. Seeing the finished product brings me great joy. When buyers appreciate my work, that's the greatest reward for me. My family also participates, which teaches younger generations valuable skills and introduces them to Bulgarian customs and traditions," Toteva said.

She added that customers seek new, distinctive models each year, including special orders such as gymnast-shaped martenitsas, swallow-shaped martenitsas, and bottles decorated with Bulgarian motifs and figures of Pizho and Penda. Many of these creations find their way to Bulgarians living abroad, reflecting the tradition's ongoing cultural significance and connection.

The tradition of making martenitsas remains vibrant today, with artisans continuing to create these spring symbols with dedication and attention to detail. According to legend, white symbolises purity, innocence, longevity, and new beginnings, while red represents health, strength, and vitality.

Belief holds that martenitsas guard against evil spirits, bringing luck and prosperity. They are worn until the wearer sees the first returning stork, swallow, or blossoming tree, after which the martenitsa is tied to a branch, symbolising health and fertility.

Acting on a joint application by Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia), UNESCO inscribed the martenitsa spring tradition on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2017. "The element has deep roots in the beliefs and traditions of the population of the urban and rural regions across all four countries. The submitting States have indicated the social functions of the element, which enhances the cohesion of the communities concerned, marks the beginning of agricultural activities, serves a psychological and magic function, and helps foster a sense of identity. Both genders play significant roles in the enactment of the practice. Knowledge and skills related to the element are transmitted to the younger generation, especially by women, through informal education. It is clear that the element constitutes a constantly recreated practice of cultural heritage shared by people from four States, symbolically expressing interaction with nature and interpersonal relationships," the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee said in its decision.

The amulet is called martinka in North Macedonia and mărţişor in Romania and Moldova.