Several of my students at English Club Solunska gave me martinitzi on the 29th, but typically you wait until March 1, when you put the bracelets on your friends and say something like "Happy Baba Marta. I wish for you to be healthy and to have good fortune this year!" One sweet student's comment to me was "I hope you find love this year." With the number of martinitzi I have received, it's easy to say that that one has happened!
Yesterday was full of unexpected meetings with friends. It's amazing to me that in a city the size of Sofia, I can actually run into people I know! One of the sweet women from my choir and who also comes to English Club was in my neighborhood to visit a friend and we just happened to run into each other! A few hours later I jumped on the metro and ended up sitting next to a friend I haven't seen in months. It was so much fun not only to see them, but to be able to exchange martinitzi. I don't agree with the symbolism of the martinitzi, but it does give a fun excuse to give people little trinkets and let them know that you care about them!
Free Sofia Tour Blog has a great article about Baba Marta and martinitzi.