Photographer's Note
Today is the 1st of March and it’s one very special day for Bulgarian people. It’s a long standing tradition on that day to give each other these little small red and white objects called Martenitsa. They bear the name of March, in Bulgarian Mart and stand for symbols of good health and good luck. According to our tradition, behind the name Mart stands an angry old lady who changes her mood very rapidly. Her name is Grandma Marta, in Bulgarian Baba Marta.
The tradition has remained almost the same today as it began. Today Bulgarians give the red and white colors to please Baba Marta so she will not make us cold. In doing so, we hope the spring will come as soon as possible. Once we have those tokens, which we put on our clothes or wrist, we wear them until we see a stork. After seeing this bird, we have to take away the tokens; because the stork is showing us that the spring is already here. In the different parts of the country, however, the process of taking away the token is different. Some tie it on a fruit tree, thus giving the tree the health and luck that we had while having the token. Others put it under a stone. The kind of insect we find right next to the token the next day will determine our health for the rest of the year. If it is a worm, it will be a very healthy year, and we will have success. It is the same in with an ant; the difference is that we will have to work a lot to reach success. If it is a spider, then we are in trouble and we might not have that luck with health and personal success.
The "martenitsa" is also an odd artistic image of nature. At that period of the year, nature is full of hopes and expectations. It also symbolized the purity of the white snow going away and the red settings of the sun becoming more and more intensive with the coming spring. These two natural resources are necessary for the life as well as the male and female spirits.
A decoration with "martenitsi" is the most typical and unique Bulgarian tradition. Now the "martenitsa" symbolized new life, conception, fertility, and spring. This holiday is for joy, health and long life.
Gerrit, cengiz, AiresSantos, efigesta, Rinie_Hoff, pitai, ahmetgedikli, pablominto, banukulaksiz έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
Gerrit
(59968) 2006-03-01 3:13
Hi Vesela,
It's always good to see old traditions still alive. I hope this one will stand against the tendency to follow americanised commercial feasts like Valentine.
Good, curious making, picture of this funny particles.
Thanks and regards and happy Santa Marta, Gerrit
Koyama
(609) 2006-03-01 3:49
Hi Vesela,
At the first sight of small thumnail, red and white colors resembled me of japanese "mizuhiki"(please refer to Iida Mizuhiki Assn.).
Your explanation recalled me of "shimenawa" hung around shrines and houses decorating the comming of the new year.
Shimenawa also decorates Sumo champions you know.
Koyama
PixelTerror
(0) 2006-03-01 4:19
Hi Vesela,
The photo taken alone would probably not be very interesting, but coming together with the excellent note you have written, it becomes a post with excellent TE value as it fits perfectly in the "Learn about the world theme" and I'm glad I can learn this way about the traditions of your country.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves
AiresSantos
(56155) 2006-03-01 4:42
Welcome again, Vesela.
Very interesting work because we can learn about your traditions.
I like the graphism and the point of view. Good colors and frame.
Have a nice day and greetings,
Aires dos Santos
efigesta
(12188) 2006-03-01 5:04
Hi my friend
interesting note here with a nic pic, with a great idea from yopur people
regards
manuel
pitai
(3985) 2006-03-01 7:49
hello Vesela, well very curios tradition. Nice to learn something diferent from other cultures. What you do with the Martenitsas later? THe image with out the text wouldn't make any sense. So very well done, Gabriel
ahmetgedikli
(25609) 2006-03-01 17:06
Hi Vesela,
This is really stunning... Beautiful note and traditions. Your day's celebration!
Have a nice day. Ahmet
pablominto
(53746) 2006-03-03 1:38
Dear Vesela,
An interesting custom well depicted!
Nice story in your note and this a news for me... Your composition is pleasant and the red & white works fine!
Cute factor very high!
Greetings,
Pablo -
Galmeida
(12559) 2006-03-05 6:49
Hi Vesela,
Excelent information guidelines about country traditions and ceremony in a photo artwork composition. Nicely seen, done and composed. Good colors, beautiful details and a excelent enquadrement of the elements. Glad to see your new and so nice post. Congratulations and have a nice week.
Best Regards.
Fernando
rabdelnoor
(3423) 2006-03-05 16:43
Hi Vesela,
Very interesting capture of these "martenitsi" and thanks for the informative and cultural note. My best regards.
Ricardo
teta5
(1203) 2006-04-21 16:14
Hi Vesela,
the picture and NOTE are really interesting!
i don't know this Bulgarian tradition!
THANKS FOR SHARING!
have a good SPRING!
best regards,
Aneta
fijiphil
(1355) 2006-05-04 12:30
The image is OK, the note is great. I will now impress my Bulgarian girlfriend, Iskra, with my knowledge of her traditions.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Vesela Ignatova (Vesela)
(967)
- Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 2006-03-00
- Categories: Καθημερινότητα, Τελετή, Έργο τέχνης, Γεγονός
- Camera: Olympus-D575 Zoom
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Date Submitted: 2006-03-01 2:55
Discussions
- To pitai: Hi Gabriel! (1)
by Vesela, last updated 2006-03-02 02:32 - To Koyama: Thanks... (1)
by Vesela, last updated 2006-03-02 02:43 - To rallka: Zdravei Ralitsa! (1)
by Vesela, last updated 2006-03-05 04:38