Elbetitsa

The 'Elbetitsa' symbol is a very ancient one that can be found in many teritories and cultures. During the times of the Baghatur honorific title, the Elbetitsa was used to sumbolise Bulgarian power and strenght. After the Chirstianisation of Bulgarians the meaning of Elbetitsa shifts to representing 'The First 8'. 'The First 8' meaning the 8 cycles of nature - Winter/North, Summer/South, Spring/East, Autumn/West. The Elbetitsa consists of an 8 beam star or two crossed crosses with equal shoulders, combined with the upsilon 'Y' sign.

It is also a symbol of The Mother Goddess, and is often seen on women's clothing. It is a positive symbol, encoded with wishes for health, prosperity and harmonisation of the mother. The embroidery of Elbetitsa can be done in a number of way, depending on a persons choice. It can be done by compositioning geometrical figures illustrating animals or plants. The animal figures in Elbetitsa are connected to protection, and the plant ones represent the connection of the person with nature. And depending on what specific animal or plant elemetns are embroidered the meaning of the whole Elbetitsa symbol becomes even richer, as each ornament brings its own idndividual meaning.