Make a Martenitsa
At a special event the foreign students of UNWE had the opportunity to get acquainted with one of the best Bulgarian traditions - decorating with Martenitsa.
During the initiative organized by the Rector's Office Directorate with the support of the Student Council the undergraduates could make their own martenitsa under the expert guidance of the university employees.
 |
"Happy Baba Marta! Be safe and sound", addressed to the students and employees the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and outlined: "Let's wish such events to become a tradition and to gather not only the foreign students but also the Bulgarian ones as well as the lecturers and employees to honour this very nice Bulgarian holiday dedicated to health, good relations, hope and spring. Let all we be merry and happy".
 |
| Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov |
 |
 |
| The Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov and Emerson Abens from Rwanda, student in the Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security, are decorating each other with martenitsas for health and good luck. |
"Today we want to present to the foreign students at the university a unique and significant Bulgarian tradition - the celebration of Baba Marta and martenitsas. A custom that is registered in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage", said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Simeonova, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the International Economics and Politics Faculty. She told the students the legend of the Bulgarian martenitsa and outlined: "No other nation in the world has such a custom. The traditional martenitsa is made of white and red wool thread. No matter what the history of the martenitsa is, the most important thing is the message it leaves in each of us and it is to give love, to have an open and wide open heart towards others and to pass on the good".
 |
Emerson Abens from Rwanda, student in the Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security, was the most active in the traditional Bulgarian custom. He said that he has been already acquainted with the unique Bulgarian custom and it is not the first time he puts on a martenitsa because the holiday is wonderful. "I will bring this beautiful Bulgarian tradition to Rwanda, I will tell about it and I will decorate with a martenitsa my family and friends so they have good health."
 |
The event was attended by representatives of the Student Council and employees from the Educational Activuty Directorate, International Students and European Diploma Supplements Division and the University Centre for Students and Lecturers Mobility.
The foreign students also had the opportunity to taste the traditional Bulgarian mekitsas and herbal tea.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Legend for the Bulgarian Martenitsa
