Hi, Ahava,

We have a very special holiday in my country, Bulgaria (it's a small country in Southeast Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula), and it is actually today, on March 1. As far as I know, it is not celebrated in other countries. We call it Baba (= granny) Marta (from mart - the Bulgarian word for the month of March).
Baba Marta has a pagan origin, as is often the case with holidays. What is very specific about this day is that we all wear martenitsas. A martenitsa is made of two interwoven threads: one white and one red. The red symbolises friendship, love and health, the white stands for purity and sincerity. You wear a martenitsa until you see your first spring bird (a migrating birds, such as a stork or a swallow). Then you tie it on a fruit-bearing tree for fertility. The martenitsa tradition is believed to have been introduced by the Thracians who lived here many many years ago.
There is also a fortune-telling custom connected with Baba Marta. On March 1 people choose one day from March 1 to 22. If the day turns out sunny, the year will be successful for them. If the weather is bad, the year will be difficult.

I hope you'll find this information interesting and helpful. Happy Baba Marta!

Hi, Ahava,
I'm happy you like this holiday. Yes, these days most people wear their martenitsas around their wrists. When a friend gives you a martenitsa (as is the custom) you think of a wish while he/she ties it around your wrist. It is believed these wishes come true. You can also pin a martenitsa on the left side of your shirt/pullover/jacket/whatever. However, wearing it on your wrist is more convenient.
We do not have a special custom of going to picnic to tie our martenitsas on a tree. A tree in a park is a good solution for people living in the city. In the country, people have fruit-bearing trees in their yards. Once I tied my martenitsa on a tree in the yard of a monastery I like visiting in early spring - there were hundreds of martenitsas already there. Probably we felt it would be double luck to have the protection of the saints as well.