The Martenitsa Festival was held in Brussels for the third consecutive year. Cultural organizations from Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova presented their country's traditions related to the "Baba Marta" holiday, which heralds spring. The initiative is well-received, says Tanya Staneva, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Cultural Association in Belgium.

"The purpose of our meeting with the children is to teach them that this is a tradition they should remember and follow, wherever they are in the world. I am very happy that this is happening for the third consecutive year. The Bulgarian pavilion is richly adorned with Martenitsas. This collaboration is related to the fact that in 2017, Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia and Moldova applied for Martenitsa to be included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On this occasion, all of us unite to celebrate our common holiday", says Tanya Staneva.

Handmade Martenitsas were sold at the Bulgarian pavilion. The funds raised from the charity event will go to the children of Karin Dom-Bulgaria.

At the Martenitsa Festival in Brussels, children had the opportunity to participate in workshops for making Martenitsas. The more dexterous ones managed on their own, while others managed with the help of their mothers or volunteers from the Bulgarian Cultural Association.

"We are here to show the children the symbols of the white and red thread, how they intertwine, and how Martenitsas are made", said Mladenka who volunteers at the Bulgarian Cultural Association. "Most children who are born abroad don't fully understand the symbols. They don't understand some of the words we use, like piskyul (tassel) for example, and they say pompon instead. We teach them some Bulgarian words and traditions", Mladenka said further.