Every year on March 1, people in Bulgaria put on red and white martenitsas – a symbol of health, happiness, marking the end of winter and the coming of spring.
Called Granny Marta, March 1 is the day on which we say goodbye to winter and wish one another health and prosperity. According to an ancient legend, the tradition of donning martenitsas goes back to ancient times when Thracians inhabited our lands; to them they were a symbol of the eternity of life and the immortality of the human spirit. According to a more recent legend, martenitsas are connected with the settlement of Bulgarians on the Balkan Peninsula during the times of Khan Asparuh. The tradition of pinning martenitsas onto one’s clothes is also observed in Romania, Moldova, Albania, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia
Bulgaria’s Energy Minister, Zhecho Stankov, has reassured citizens and businesses that the country’s fuel supplies are sufficient to last for an extended period. “Our priority is secure supply at affordable prices — and that is guaranteed, ” Stankov..
The ruling GERB party claimed that employers are in favour of a higher VAT rate, but employer organisations denied this, insisting that no such proposal had ever been made. This clarification followed a meeting between GERB leader Boyko Borissov..
The European Commission has disbursed €438.6 million to Bulgaria as part of the second payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). On 3 October 2025, the Commission partially approved the payment, stating that Bulgaria "still needs to..
The Sofia City Court has postponed the extradition case of Igor Grechushkin, the owner of a cargo ship linked to the explosion at the port of Beirut in..
The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) has proposed the introduction of temporary restrictions on the movement of heavy trucks weighing over 12 tons along..
On Tuesday, minimum temperatures will range from 8 to 13°C , with Sofia seeing around 9°C. Rain is expected across the country, with heavier showers in..
Overcast, rain
Rain
Partly cloudy, chance of rain