Nina Stefanova's photos

Martenitsa - bracelet

Baba Marta ("Granny March") is the name of a mythical figure who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring. Her holiday of the same name is celebrated in Bulgaria on March 1 with the exchange and wearing of martenitsi. The tradition of giving to friends red-and-white interwoven strings brings health and happiness during the year, a lucky charm against evil spirits and is a reminder that spring is near. They are worn around the wrist or on clothes. In the small villages in the mountains people decorate their houses, kids and domestic animals. Three months that are personified in Bulgarian mythical present - January, February and March . January and February are presented as brothers with cayenne character - Big Sechko and Little Sechko . Baba Marta is considered to be their sister, who sometimes is smiling and well-intentioned, sometimes is unpredictable evil. One says that on that day she does her pre-spring cleaning and shakes her mattress for the last time before the next winter - all the feathers that come out of it pour on Earth like snow - the last snow of the year. People wear martenitsa for a certain period, the end of which usually is connected with the first signs of spring - blossomed trees or spring birds like storks or swallows . Some people then tie their martenitsa to a tree. Baba Marta folklore is also present in southern and eastern Serbia. Честита Баба марта ! ;-)

Kukeri are elaborately costumed Bulgarian men who perform traditional rituals intended to scare away evil spirits. The costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals (sometimes double-faced) and large bells attached to the belt. Around New Year and before Lent, the kukeri walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They are also believed to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village during the year. Kuker is a divinity personifying fecundity After parading around the village they usually gather at the village square to dance wildly and amuse the people. The custom in our country goes back to the Thracians, which is celebrated during the days of the Thracian god of joy Dionysus and meeting new agricultural year related to tilling the fields. Mummery celebrate the passing of winter and the onset of summer fertility. embed.btv.bg/lbin/global/embed.php?v=2111309601

Choki

Choki in New Year :)

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