Why March has 31 Days
A Bulgarian Legend
Translated by Paraskeva Armstrong and retold by Moni Sheehan

In Bulgaria, 1st March marks the beginning of spring, and the month of March is personified as Baba Marta (Grandmother March), a hunched old woman whose unpredictable temper is reflected in the changeable March weather. She is always arguing with her brother, Little Sechko (February), who likes a drop to drink.

Long ago, March had only 28 days and February had 31. One year on the last day of March, the sun was shining brightly. It was a fine day so an old woman decided that she would take her goats up to pasture early before the proper time. "Why should Baba Marta mind?" she said to herself. "After all, isn't she a woman, like I am? Grandmother to grandmother, what will she do?"

Baba Marta overheard her, and watched in a fury as the old woman set off up the mountainside with her herd of goats. At once Marta stormed off to her brother, Little Sechko. "Brother," she cried. "Now it's time for you to repay me for stealing my wine. Lend me three of your days so that I can kill that old woman who mocks me by taking her goats early to pasture." So Little Sechko, remembering how Marta had once threatened to shit on his beard, gave his sister what she wanted.

Then Marta started to blow and to storm, to rant and rampage across the mountain breathing icy winds and blizzards of snow. For three days and three nights she raged. And the old woman on the bare mountainside shivered and shook until her heart grew numb, her blood froze and she turned to stone.

For three days and three nights Baba Marta raged, but at last her anger subsided, the weather calmed and the sun smiled.

The people of the village wondered what had happened to the old woman during the terrible snow storm so as soon as the fine weather came they went up to the mountain pastures to look for her. There they found her, turned to stone, but from her bottom a spring of water was flowing. Although the villagers were very thirsty after their long climb, they could not bring themselves to bend down and drink from the spring because it made them laugh so much!

So Baba Marta wreaked her revenge and had the last laugh on the old woman. And that is why from that day to this, Baba Marta has 31 days, and Little Sechko only has 28.
 

The Bulgarian Dragon
A brief overview
Article written by Moni Sheehan

There are many stories about the zmey, or dragon, a complex being, combining elements from Thracian, Slavic and Proto Bulgarian mythologies. It is sometimes portrayed as a bad character, but often it is seen as benign and has an important place in Bulgarian myth and folklore. It has elemental power and is associated with fertility and sexuality.

Each village had its own guardian zmey to protect the harvest and battle with the malignant forces that cause drought and hail. The ferocity of these battles gave rise to thunderstorms and lightening, linking the zmey to the Slavic thunder god, Perun and to his Christian successor, St. Ilya.

Part snake, part bird, part human, zmeys are associated with both fire and water. They live in caves, lakes or mountain palaces and glow as they fly. They can summon whirlwinds or become invisible at will. They are immensely strong, and a human who eats a dragon's heart gains some of that power.

They are shape shifters and can take on an alluring human form but they can also change into dogs, flower garlands, or even necklaces. Zmeys are predominantly male, but the rare zmeyitsas (the females of the species) can shape shift into bears.  Conversely humans can become dragons, either through magical means or by taking certain herbs.

Zmeys often fall in love with humans, who then may grow pale and lovesick. They may pine away, for dragon love can be deadly. The only cure is to take a potion made with herbs such as gentian, tansy and wormwood to repulse the dragon. Zmeys are attracted by music, and have been known to seduce maidens with the beauty of their kaval-playing (a kaval is a kind of wooden flute). Sometimes they will trick a vain or arrogant maiden and carry her off.

Marriage to a zmey can be a metaphor for death as union with the dark lord of the underworld.

But sometimes humans marry a zmey and give birth to offspring who look human in every way except for tiny wings growing under their arms. Twelve maidens are then called in under oath of silence and secrecy to weave a shirt for the child to hide its wings. The dragon child can then safely enter the human world, and no-one will ever see his/her true nature except for the pure in heart.

(Zmeys should not be confused with their evil relatives, the lamia and the hala. These reptilian beasties often have three heads and have a different origin to the zmey.  In particular, lamias and halas are always female whereas zmeys are predominantly male. Also they are associated with drought and hail respectively, thus threatening the fertility of the land. As such, they are enemies of the zmey.)

Read about our show, The Dragon Lover

Nastraddin Hodja

Nastraddin Hodja is a Turkish trickster character of legendary wit, wisdom and cunning known throughout the Near and Middle East, and the Balkans. Outside of Bulgaria, his name is often spelt "Nasreddin". He was probably a real historical figure, an imam (an Islamic religious leader) in the 14th century, and possibly a jester in the court of the Mongol king, Timur Ling, known in the west as Tamerlane. The tales, anecdotes and jokes attributed to him have universal appeal and were assimilated into Bulgarian culture during the period of Ottoman domination.

In this anecdote, there is a reference to St Ilya, the Christian incarnation of the Slavic thunder god, Perun.
 

Nastraddin Hodja Explains the World
A humorous/trickster tale
Translated by Paraskeva Armstrong and retold by Moni Sheehan

One day, a man from Nastraddin Hodja's congregation came up to him.
"Tell me," said the man, "is the earth very big?"

"No" said the Hodja, "It's not very big. The sun is like a little bug and it crawls around the earth in just one day. So the earth is not that big."

"Is the sky very high?" asked the man.

"No," replied the Hodja. "It's not very high. St Ilya harnesses his horses to his chariot and races across the sky, and that's why it thunders. We can hear the thunder down here on earth, so the sky is not that high."

"What about the other world?" the man asked. "Is it very far away?"

"Yes, it's very far away," the Hodja replied. "My father went there forty years ago and he still hasn't returned."

Hitur Petur (Sly Peter)

Hitur Petur, Sly or Clever Peter, is a Bulgarian peasant trickster character. He's crafty, sometimes slightly sinister and sometimes even quite cruel.
 

Hitur Petur and the Rich Man
A humorous / trickster tale
Translated by Paraskeva Armstrong and retold by Moni Sheehan

One day Hitur Petur was walking down the street when he met a rich man. "Hey you," said the rich man, "Why did you not bow to me?"

"Why should I bow to you?" asked Hitur Petur.

"Because I'm rich and have 1000 gold pieces."

"So, you've got 1000 gold pieces. They are yours, not mine, so why should I bow to you?" replied Hitur Petur.

"What if I give you 500 of my gold pieces? Will you bow to me then?" asked the rich man.

"If you give me 500, you'll have 500 and I'll have 500 and we'll be equal. Why should I bow to you then?" said Hitur Petur.

"What if I'm tired of being rich and give you all my gold pieces?" asked the rich man.

"If you give me all your gold coins, that will be good. I'll have 1000 and you'll have nothing. But why then should I bow to you?" And Hitur Petur turned and walked away.

Riddles

Bulgaria has a rich store of riddles. They are poetic, rhyming and alliterative in character. Traditionally they often formed part of the courtship process when young men and women tested each other's wit and wisdom.

As small as walnuts, they sit in a low place, but they reach to the sky.
The eyes

What is the sweetest and the bitterest thing in the world.
The tongue

A world without people
Cities without houses
Forests without trees
And seas without water.
A map
 

Proverbs and Sayings

Bulgaria's proverbs and sayings encapsulate the traditional wit and wisdom of its people, and offer a wry commentary on the ways of the world.

It's not so easy to make a snake show you its legs.

Work like you're going to live for 100 years, but live like you'll die tomorrow.

You can wash a dirty bottom, but you can't wash a dirty tongue.

A sweet word opens iron gates.

You can't make nothing out of something, but you can make something out of nothing.

Shut your eyes because I'm going to lie to you.

A word is not a sparrow, but once you release it, you can't catch it.

Up until the age of 25, you can get married under your own steam.
Over 25, your relatives try and find you a match
Over 30, the whole village tries to find you a match
Over 35, and even the devil can't find you a match.

It's not so important that I am well, but that my neighbour is worse off than me.

There is no hero without a wound.

 

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