Baba Marta

A day for the coming of spring. Baba means Grandma, Marta is March. It’s celebrated on the first of March and the weather throughout the month is said to reflect Baba Marta’s mercurial temperament: sunny and warm when she’s happy, cold and snowy when she’s not. Along with the martenitsi, there are two small dolls which are similar to corn dollies, but made out of red and white wool. The white one is male and called Pizho, the red is female and called Penda. You’ll see these decorating buildings and rooms everywhere as well as being worn as pendants.