Честита баба марта!

You're reading this, which means you received my letter! This is the second year I have sent these out to people which I hold dear but most probably won't be able to see on the 1st of March. 

The first of March is one of my favourite Bulgarian holidays. If you know me and you have seen me on that day you would have received one of these bracelets -martenitsa before. Chances are many more than one over the years. Click on the smiley on the page above to read the wikipedia article, but in a nutshell, it symbolises the coming of spring and the red and white show how feminine and masculine intertwine. We say Chestita Baba Marta - Happy Grandma March, because we describe march as a feminine month represented by an entity called baba Marta - grandma March. On the first of March you tie a bracelet on all your close people you see that day, and vice versa. By the end of the day you're covered in bracelets and you usually keep 2 or 3 and wear them throughout the whole month. You take them off once you see a stork (yes, the big bird:), then you rip it off, make a wish and tie it to a fruit-bearing tree that's blossomed. Simple!

Once again,  hope next year I would be able to tie you one myself and wish you the same - health and happiness. 

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Zdravko