A living Martenitsa to mark Baba Marta celebrations in Vratsa

Residents and visitors to the Bulgarian city of Vratsa are invited by the municipality to dress in red and white as they come together to celebrate, with smiles and festive spirit, the much-loved Bulgarian spring holiday of 1 March.

In the space between the municipal administration building and the Razvitie 1869 Community Cultural Centre, organisers will mark out the outline of a traditional martenitsa, within which participants will arrange themselves to form a living martenitsa, municipal officials said.

• Red and white – the Bulgarian spring health amulet is shrouded in legends and beliefs

Preparations for the Baba Marta celebrations began on 23 February with martenitsa-making workshops held in the foyer of the community centre. Participants included young people from the Youth Centre, representatives of local social services and members of the cultural centre.

A large decorative martenitsa, measuring around five metres in length, has also been specially created for the occasion.

On 1 March, performers portraying Baba Marta — the traditional symbol of spring — together with the folkloric characters Pizho and Penda, will distribute martenitsi along the city’s central pedestrian area.

Editors: Darina Grigorova, Elena Karkalanova