March 1 is celebrated as Baba Marta Day (Denyat na Baba Marta), one of Bulgaria’s most beloved folk holidays. It welcomes the coming of spring and the end of winter through the exchange of martenitsi—red and white threads symbolizing health, joy, and renewal.
- Baba (symbolic) – From Bulgarian, meaning grandmother. In this context, Baba Marta (“Grandmother March”) is a folkloric figure who personifies the month of March and the transition to spring.
- Marta – From the Latin Martius, related to Mars, the Roman god of spring and renewal. It symbolizes vitality, change, and the awakening of nature.
