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native language. “You learn Bulgarian be-
cause you have to live with them. Now, it’s
my second language”, Raul told us.
Christmas tree:
María is Bulgarian and
also works at the laboratory. This is her first
job after graduating from college. Her work
consists of analysing samples of the mate-
rials used at the project. So many analyses
are performed that she decided to build a
Christmas tree with all the different sample
blocks that they had.
Martenitza and Baba Marta:
This is a
Bulgarian holiday that has also been cele-
brated at the bridge (Baba Marta, the old
Samuel and Emil
hang the martenitza
in a fruit tree, as
required by tradition.
María Kalaydzhieva works at the project
laboratory.
Quini and Miró, supervisors.
lady, grandmother Marta) where they ex-
change what is called martenitza, brace-
lets made of white and red braided threads
that symbolise the arrival of Spring, and the
desire for fertility, health, and happiness to
those receiving these bracelets. Traditiona-
lly, the martenitza is usually worn until the
first sighting of a stork in a tree or a tree in
bloom announcing the arrival of Spring. At
that point, one has to take the bracelet off
and hang it in a tree and recite the words
“take away my dark and evil winter and
bring me the clear and blessed summer”.
t h e p l a c e