Granny Marta and her brothers

published on 2/28/11 11:34 AM

Photo: Архив

Granny Marta and her brothers

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In Bulgarian folklore traditions the 12 months of the year are given names different from the commonly used ones. In the past people referred to October as grape harvest time or Saint Demetrius month, for example. But there are four months to which human qualities are attributed – January, February, March, and April. There are a number of mythical stories related to these months. We are to present some of them to you in today’s’ edition of Folk Studio by Albena Bezovska.

In Orthodox Christian tradition September 1 is the beginning of the Church year. The calendar year starts on the first day of Goliam (Big) Sechko, most commonly known as January. During this month, all agricultural activities are suspended. In folklore tales, Malak (Small) Sechko or February is Goliam Sechko’s brother. The two live high in the mountains, together with their sister Marta, or Baba Marta (Granny Marta), as people call the month of March even nowadays. Baba Marta is the only female mythical character in the Bulgarian folklore calendar and her mood swings change very rapidly. There are various beliefs related to the month, which is also a time for a number of rituals. If Baba Marta smiles, spring blooms in its full beauty, but if she frowns, snow and winds bring cold once more.

A common tradition is cleaning the homes on March 1. Women used to clean the house and yard at dawn and then burn the waste. This was the first of a series of ritual fires that take place during the spring. Kids used to jump over the fire, while women banged on metal plates in order to get rid of lizards and snakes in their houses. Women also used to wear red on March 1. Red is an important color, as it makes the old grumpy Baba Marta smile. According to folklore tales, she did not like seeing old people but only young and beautifully dressed lads and lasses. That is why old people used to stay at home on this day. There is a tale, which tells the story of a woman who did not observe this rule and early in the morning took her goat to the meadows. “What would Marta do to me? She is a woman like me. She is not so powerful like her brothers,” the woman thought. Marta became angry and sent a terrible blizzard, which turned the woman and her goat into ice figures.

Another folk tale tells the story of Malak Sechko and Goliam Sechko drinking all the wine, which Baba Marta kept for the holiday. Each of the three had a cask of wine but after the brothers finished theirs, they secretly drank the wine Marta had kept for a celebration. Marta was very happy when her holiday came but after finding her cask empty became mad with fury and sent terrible storms. Soon she calmed down, forgave her brothers with a big smile and trees blossomed.

Of course, Baba Marta loves the traditional martenitsi - gifts made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1 until the first time one sees a stork, or a budding tree. In the past a day before March 1 women made the martenitzi to give to their children and relatives. Being one of the most ancient Bulgarian rituals, this custom is still widely observed today.

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Granny Marta and her brothers

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