Why Red and White Martenitsas?

Because we, Bulgarians, are and will always be closer to pagan roots and universal magic.

We will keep wearing tens of bracelets on our wrists for days because we can tell exactly who gave us each and what blessings came with it.

We will keep hanging them on blossoming trees because each comes with the whispered breath of a wish-come-true.

Because Martenitsas are our own, authentic Web of Life. And the tree we hang them on is the Tree of Life. And the strings we weave them from are the Umbilical Cord of Life that connects to our deepest roots, to the veins of our history, to the treasure chest of our archetypes.

The legends say that they come from the time of our first Khan -Asparuh and the little piece of white cloth, stained with blood, that he sent to his sister in a plea for help. We tell our children that the medicine woman opened her big chest of magic, found a special herb and sent it back to the chief, tied on the tiny leg of a pigeon. We imagine in vivid colours how the almighty Khan was brought back to life with the help of the fragile bird which was the messenger of his salvation.

And we keep whirling up stories. Because we don't know.

The only thing we say for sure is that it is in our blood to love these tiny tassels of red and white wool. To believe in their power of protection. And to carry it further through the centuries to come.