March 1, 2023
A workshop for making "martenitsas" took place at Eindhoven Library on March 1. Organizers of the event were the BG Hub Eindhoven and Bulgarian reading club "Lezen is leuk."
The aim was to present a centuries-old "martenitsas" tradition, beloved by Bulgarians. Since 2017, this tradition of weaving, wearing, and hanging red and white string crafts has appeared on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The event at Eindhoven Library, led by Didi Pavlova, brought together people of all nationalities -- children and parents from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, North Korea, India, and the Netherlands. While crafting their string-jewelry for health and luck, the participants heard the story of "Baba Marta" in three languages. Baba Marta is a Bulgarian mythical figure who brings with her the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring.
The organizers report that the children had a lot of fun, and it is easy to see why this tradition has survived generation after generation. Thanks to Eindhoven Library and BG Hub Eindhoven for making this event possible!
The event was featured in a Bulgarian news publication. Check it out here!
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