Families gathering to offer soap and a fresh towel to their caregivers.

Today, as the winter frost settles over Bulgaria, we pause to celebrate one of our most heartfelt traditions: . While many modern holidays focus on the future, Babinden looks back with gratitude to the women who ensured our very first moments on this earth were safe and full of care. The Tradition of the "Baba"

Celebrating Babinden 2016: Honoring the Hands That Bring Life

To the midwives and healthcare professionals working in maternity wards today—thank you. Your hands are the first to hold our future, and today, we wash away the weariness of your hard work with our deepest gratitude.

In the past, the baba was the village midwife—a figure of immense respect and knowledge. On this day, mothers who have given birth in the past year visit the midwife to perform a ritual washing of her hands. It is a symbolic act of cleansing and a profound "thank you" for the labor (quite literally) she performed. In return, the midwife ties colorful threads on the children’s wrists and sprinkles them with water for health. Why It Matters in 2016