Martenitsa

A Martenitsa (Bulgarian: мартеница, pronounced [ˈmartɛnit͡sa]; Macedonian: мартинка, romanized: martinka; Greek: μάρτης, romanized: mártis [ˈmaɾ.tis]; Romanian: mărțișor [mər.t͡siˈʃor] ⓘ; Albanian: verore; Turkish: marteniçka [marteˈnit͡ʃka]) is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and usually in the form of two dolls, a white male and a red female.

[2][3][4] A typical Martenitsa consists of two small wool dolls, Pizho and Penda (Bulgarian: Пижо и Пенда).

[citation needed] Beginning on the first of March, one or more are worn pinned to clothing, or around the wrist or neck, until the wearer sees a stork or swallow returning from migration, or a blossoming tree, and then removes the Martenitsa.

The common belief is that by wearing the red and white colors of the Martenitsa, people ask Baba Marta for mercy.

[citation needed] The first returning stork or swallow is taken as a harbinger of spring and as evidence that Baba Marta is in a good mood and is about to retire.

[6] Others put it under a stone with the idea that the kind of creature (usually an insect) closest to the token the next day will determine the person's health for the rest of the year.

[citation needed] Modern Martenitsi take a wider variety of forms and often incorporate colored beads and other elaboration.

Some specific features of the ritual, especially tying the twisted white and red woolen threads, are a result of centuries-old tradition and suggest Thracian (paleo-Balkan) or possibly Hellenic or Roman origins.