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Baba Marta ( Grandmother March ) from the new album 'The Blacksail Studio Sessions' by British singer / songwriter Jonathan Taylor. Featuring Valdi Totev i Dimi Dimitrova, Leigh Stothard and Hugh Bradley. Recorded at Black Sail Studios ( www.blacksailstudios.co.uk ) and produced by AFTERWISH.

Contack: Jonathantaylorbulgaria@gmail.com

Grandma March Day (or simply Baba Marta, Bulgarian: Баба Марта) is a holiday celebrated in Bulgaria, on the first of March. Martenitsa - usually in the form of a wrist band, woven by combining red and white colored threads - are worn on that day and through March, until a stork or a bloomed tree is seen, symbolizing warmer weather and well being. Older Bulgarians call it Birch Month, because it is around this time when birch trees start growing leaves and give sap. There's much folklore about Grandma March Day and the character of Baba Marta herself. The greeting exchanged on this day is Chestita Baba Marta (Честита Баба Марта -- Happy Baba Marta, often shortened to ЧБМ on greetings cards).

There are various theories and suggestions (even several legends, involving real historical figures) about the symbolism of these two particular colors - red & white, from which Martenitsa are made. An obvious explanation and perhaps a common belief people share, is that "red" stands for "life/birth" and "white" denotes "anew/on clear grounds". Combined together, they mean "newborn", "rebirth", "a new beginning"; a celebration of Life and Survival. Another popular explanation is that white stands for wisdom and red for good health, which means that anyone giving you a Martenitsa is wishing you both throughout the new year.

In March, these amulets, worn around one's wrists and on their attire, can be seen almost everywhere in Bulgaria and in the neighboring regions. Being a purely pagan ritual by origin, Baba Marta Day is one of the oldest, still existing traditions in Christian Europe.

Baba Marta - Jonathan Taylor (Lyrics)

I beg you baba marta will you save me?
For the lush of green the soil remains still dirty
The crops within the harvest plenty or the stomachs of my children are empty
I beg you Baba Marta show us mercy?

For the moods of this old lady are so wise
For the Balkan spring arives in great disguise
This place of over whelming beauty, fog of swallows and trees in blooming
Baba Marta show us guidance through your eyes

I wear my wrist adorned in red and white
For red the thread of passion and new life ahead
I wear the white for right and light behold
And for the good and evil I'll face before I'm old

For spring in Bansko is the place to go
For the beauty of the Pirrin in the snow
Or see the rivers of Montana, See the sunrise over Varna
And Russe mighty Danube in full flow

Will you bring the stork and baby?
Will you bring the spring my lady?
Baba Marta see the winter to the end
For I will wear my Martenitsa
To drive away the wind so bitter
And place within the rock and trees again

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