An exhibition of martenitsas, produced and marketed at the time when Bulgaria was the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, is shown at the Regional Museum of History in Rousse. Apart from different red-and-white works typical of the era, you can also read holiday celebrations that have become particularly popular between the two World Wars.

Among the most popular during the Communist rule in Bulgaria for children were martenitsas with plastic animals and animated figures. The most favourite of them were glowing in the dark kittens, puppies, bunnies, bears and other children’s heroes that wore a badge with added red and white tassels. Naturally, after the spring, these martenitsas were simply turned into жвдусхж фьажея.

Almost 450 martenitsas with typical Pijo and Penda and various knits and figures can be seen during the exhibition. Most of them are donated to the museum by the Bulgarian Marianka de Montes, who lives in France. The oldest martenitsas in the museum’s collection date back to the 1950s.