The name March comes from Latin Martius, i.e. ‘of Mars’, the god of war, son of Jupiter and Junona. Old Bulgarians called it Birch month – the birch trees start growing leaves and oozing sap. Bulgarians called the month of March Baba Marta - granny Martha because its weather is unpredictable as women's behavior. On the first day of the month all young women get up very very early in the morning so that Granny Martha can't pee on their eyelids, i.e. make them feel sleepy throughout the incoming summer. By getting up early they are the first to meet the crotchety old woman which will make her smile and make the weather sunny throughout the month. People usually don't cut their hair in March so they don't accidentally cut their brains instead.

 

1 March

Holiday: Martuvane (mar-too-vah-neh) (Martenitzas)
Nameday: Marta, Martin
Remind me

On this day all Bulgarians exchange martenitzas. You can read more about martenitza here. The traditional Bulgarian martenitza can include coins, cloves of dry garlic, beads, iron rings, hairs of horsetail, snail shells, in addition to the white and red threads. That is why the martenitza is considered to be a charm against evil forces. Children wear their martenitzas on the right wrist, around the neck or on the breast, while young girls and brides wear it around the neck or woven into their hair. Men, however, tie the martenitza above their left elbow or left ankle. Martenitzas are tied on young animals and all fruit trees. People wear their martenitzas until they see a stork or a blossomed tree. Then they tie it on a fruit-tree branch or put it under a stone, make a wish, and are sure that it will come true.

Many many years ago, Khan Isperih left his home in the Tibet mountains in search of more fertile land for his people, the proto-Bulgarians. He and his tribe crossed many mountains and rivers until finally they stopped in the land of the Slavs, where Bulgaria now is. Slavs were a peaceful and cordial people. Slav women, dressed in white, brought him wine and food. But the khan was not happy for he was sick for his family – his mother and his sister Kalina who stayed home. He sat on the bank of a big river and starting shedding tears, big as pearls. He prayed to the sun and the Gods and a miracle happened. A swift swallow landed on his shoulder and listened to Isperih's grief. Then it took off to the khan's motherland and spoke to Kalina in a human voice. It told her that her brother had a new kingdom, that he grieved about her and sent her greetings. Kalina, happy as a hippo, decided to surprise her brother by sending him back something in return. She made a bunch of green plants, tied it with white woolen thread, tied some knots on it (these used to mean sending best regards) and gave it to the swallow to carry it back. Little after that the bird landed on Isperih's shoulder again but the long journey has hurt its wing and bright red blood had tinted the white thread. The khan took the present, read in the knots his sister’s greetings, and full of joy put the bunch on his chest - the red and white martenitza shone bright in the sunlight. Since then, every year on this very same day Isperich and his people make a bunch of twisted white and red threads and wear them for health and happiness.

Early in the morning people make fires in their yards. Everybody has to then jump over the fire three times, facing the rising sun, in order to be purified from winter's evil forces and to be safe from diseases. The woman of the house takes out red clothes and fabrics and hangs them on the trees in front of the house and on the fence. Then she starts decorating everyone - children, cattle, pass-buyers - with martenitzas.

 

6 March

Nameday: Krasimir, Krasimira
Remind me

These names mean ‘decoration of the world’.

 

7 March

Holiday: Todorovden (toe-doe-roff-dehn) (St. Theodore’s Day)
Nameday: Teodor, Todor, Todorka, Bozhidar, Bozhidara
Remind me

The days is also called Horse Easter. This is a holiday for the health of horses and young brides, newly wedded during the winter. “Theodoros” is of Greek origin and means ‘God’s gift’. On this day all women bake ritual buns in the shape of a horse or a horseshoe. Then they feed the horses and the young brides with them for health and fertility. When the mother-in-law gives a piece of the bun to the young bride, the latter kicks and neighs so that the young horses that will be born will are healthy and agile.

The culmination of the holiday is the kushia, i.e. horse race, the winner of which leads the horo in the village square later this day. After that all people visit his house, where the feast and the festivities continue. On these day only vegetarian dishes are prepared and served to guests.

 

9 March

Holiday: Mladentzi (mlah-den-tzee) (Holy Forty Martyrs)

The Christian holiday Holy Forty Martyrs is also called Svetoto or All Saints’ Day. On this day, it is believed that God drives 40 red-hot SHISH into the earth to warm it up so people can sow and plant. Children go up the hills, roll down stones and say Roll out, Winter, roll in Summer! On that day snakes and lizards come out of their holes. Anyone who kills a snake must cut its head, put seeds of sweet basil in it and bury it. The seedlings that will grow up will have magical powers. Young girls and boys decorated with this basil will be protected against diseases and evil eyes and will make others fall head over heels in love with them.

As the weather becomes warmer it becomes more likely for children to catch infections. As a protection against measles women bake small breads, cover them with honey, fumigate them with incense and give them to their neighbors. People don’t kill birds or poultry and don’t scald wool in order not to make Grandmother Measles angry.

Every housewife must cook 40 red peppers stuffed with rice. Everyone tries to eat 40 different things on this day. . People light fires, jump over them and through the smoke to banish evil forces.

 

10 March

Nameday: Galya, Galyo
Remind me

These names mean ‘black, tawny’.

 

23 March

Nameday: Lydia
Remind me

Lida means 'spoilt lass'.

 

24 March

Nameday: Zahari, Zaharina
Remind me

The name comes from Hebrew and means ‘God remembers’.

 

25 March

Holiday: Blagoveshtenie (Blah-go-vesh-ten-ee-eh) (The Annunciation)
Nameday: Blagoy, Blagovesta
Remind me

On the night before this day, everyone cleans their homes. Women sweep their houses and yards clean and burn the garbage so that sickness and disease go away. On this day, called also Blagovetz, women plant pumpkins so they will become pretty and mellow. The silk-worm breeders put silk-worm eggs in their bosom and if the weather turns out good, the silk produce will be abundant throughout the year. People open the bee hives and let the bees out. On this day the storks and the swallows (migratory birds) come back home after the winter. This is always a happy occasion for children who shout out load when they see a bird in the sky: Stork, motley and long-legged, bring me health and make me as fresh as a daisy!” Young girls who are expected to marry soon are quick to tie three knots on their kerchief and whisper with hope: Swallow, my dear sister, give me a sign what man will take me They put the head-cloth on top of the oven and after three days and three nights take it down to try to guess who their husband is. If they notice mud on the cloth – the groom will be a builder, if they find a scrap of paper – he will be a teacher and so on and so forth.

People try to eat well this date, to have money in their pockets and a good feeling at hear in order to be content, rich and joyful during the year. If they hear a cuckoo before they do this, it's already too late. Blagovetz is also celebrated by treasure-hunters. Once upon a time it was very common to burry money in the ground in order to save them for later. It is believed that late at night before Blagovetz the coins emanate a blue glow which could be seen above where they are buried. This is enough for treasure-hunters to visit all mounds, dry wells and deserted places around the places they live hoping to see the glow which will make them rich.

 

28–31 March

Holiday: Babini dni (bah-bin-ee dnee) (Granny’s Days)

Long, long ago, when March only had 28 days, in a little mountain village there lived a quarrelsome old woman with her two white goats. On the last day of March when the sun came out the old woman took the goats to the hill so they can graze and get some sun. But the woman couldn't resist her shrew nature - she started making fun of Granny Martha for leaving. She shouted at the forest: Marta – parta, go away, I took out my goats, be-e-e-…  No one has got away with talking to Granny Martha like this - she became furious even more because her time was really running out. But instead of leaving, she flew back to her brother February and asked him to borrow three of his days. Like a good little brother, February agreed and gave them to her. Then Granny Marta came back and started raging, blowing piercing whirlwinds and throwing ice bolts to the ground freezing the old woman and her two goats. So from that day on, March has 31 instead of 28 days and people respect these last three days because they don't want to end up like the old shrew. These days are also called borrowed. People plant beans by their houses for they grow to be sweeter and try not to do any field work. If the weather is clear and nice, people know that silkworms in the spring will be healthy and there will be more silk. If the days are cloudy and rainy, the silkworms will be weak and fruit-trees yield will not be strong.