One Man in Bulgaria

Wherever I wondered during the previous week brightly coloured stalls could be found selling all manner of Martenitsi.  The one thing they have in common is a thread of red and white. Some have beads some are the more traditional 'Pizho and Penda' as seen here.  These tokens are given to loved ones, friends and family on Baba Marta day, the 1st of March. The tradition is celebrated throughout Bulgaria and according to some sources believed to be the oldest Pagan festival in Europe.  Baba Marta - Grandma March Day celebrates the end of winter and the coming of spring. She is supposed to be a very bad tempered old lady who's mood swings determine the weather, the sun comes out when she smiles. Some say she doing the spring clean, the feathers from the shaken duvet fall to earth as the last snow of winter. Others that the marteniti are to please her into shortening the winter. The tokens which are given and must never be bought for oneself are worn on the clothing or around