Baba Marta is a mythical creature who controls the end of the cold winter and the start of spring in Bulgaria.
Appearance and Behaviour
Baba Marta is described as an old lady with contrasting moods. During the month of March where the weather in Bulgaria is warm and sunny, Baba Marta is believed to be happy. On the other hand, she is angry when the winter frost returns. To bring about the spring season faster, the people aim to make her happy.
She is said to be an aggressive lady who is always resentful towards her two brothers. The sun only comes out when she smiles. One folklore relays that Baba Marta is doing her pre-spring cleaning and shakes her mattress for the last time before the next winter arrives so all the feathers from the mattress pour on Earth as snow.
Modern Times
A holiday for Baba Marta is celebrated in Bulgaria every March 1. Bulgarians exchange martenitsas as a tradition. When they see the first signs of spring like a blooming tree or a stork, the people will take off their martenitsas. Some people tie their martenitsas to a tree so that it would be fruitful, while others put it under the rocks to predict the type of current year.