9 March is Mladentzi - The Day of the Holy Forty Martyrs

The Christian holiday Holy Forty Martyrs is also called "Svetoto" or All Saints' Day.

A legend of the Bulgarians from the village of Zelenovka, Tavria, tells how, on this day, God drives 40 red-hot spits into the earth to warm it and “the sun turns towards summer” and people can sow and plant.

As a protection against measles women bake small breads, cover them with honey, smoke them with incense and give them out to neighbors for the health of the children.

• On this day every housewife on this day cooks 40 red peppers stuffed with rice (Pulneni chushki).
• Everyone tries to eat 40 different things on this day.
• People don’t kill birds nor scald wool, so as not to make Grandmother Measles angry.
• Children go up a high hill, roll down stones and say: "Roll out, Winter, roll in Summer!"
• On this day snakes and lizards come out of their holes.
• People light fires, jump over them and get in the smoke to banish evil forces.
• The one who kills a snake on this day must cut off its head, put seeds of sweet basil in it and bury it into the ground.
• The seedlings that grow are magical. Lasses and lads, decorated with nosegays of such basil, are protected against diseases and 'evil eyes' and can make others fall head over heels in love with them.