Prespa Lake

The two Prespa Lakes – Golema (Great) and Mala (Small) are the only ones on the Balkan Peninsula to have islands. The five- Golum Grad, Mala Grad, Pirg, Agios Achillaeos and Vidrinec- are located in the three countries that share the lakes today, Macedonia, Albania and Greece. With its irregular coastline, plethora of bays, extraordinary cleanliness of water, pristine nature, and setting between three national parks, Prespa is truly a place one must visit.

With a surface area of 273 sq. km, Great Prespa Lake is the second largest in Macedonia after Ohrid. Between the two lies the Galicica Mountain, through which flows an underground stream named Zavir.

Through it, Lake Prespa supplies Lake Ohrid with water that comes out on the other side near the monastery of St. Naum and in the Biljana spring near Ohrid town.

The Prespa region is ecologically speaking the cleanest part of Macedonia, its nature seemingly untouched by human hands. The white pelican, black raven, heron and gull all congregate near the lake so abundant with fish, which include varieties such as trout, carp, red finned carp, chub, barbell, and others.

While the unpopulated island of Golem Grad is a protected nature reserve, it is also accessible to tourists. The island is characterized by its century-old juniper trees, as well as the abundance of endemic animal life. When the level of the water falls, old settlements from the 11th and 12th centuries become visible.

Dojran Lake

The area of the Dojran Lake is 43km2 and its average depth is 3-5 metres. This lake has the biggest rate of fish production in Europe. Fishing is done in the old tradional way in this lake, by using birds-Cormorants. From the wooden houses built on the lake, the fishermen use trained birds to drive the fish into their nets. Now, however, the houses are on the land and that incapacitates this unique way of fishing. From the total quantity of water flowing into the lake 67% comes from the territory of the Republic of Greece, while 33% from our country. Every re-directing of the waters has grave consequences on the water level of the lake. Thus, by re-directing the waters and by overusing it for agricultural needs, this lake has become seriously endangered and it has lost about 5 million m3 water since 1978.

As a result of the improper exploatation of waters, the level of the water decreased significantly and the consequences were grave for the flora and fauna of the lake. The level of the water in the lake at the moment is 2.5 metres less than the minimal level. Dojran Lake is in deadly agony. If the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece do not do something about this as soon as possible, this lake might vanish from the world maps. The international public can help by providing solutions for this environmental problem.

Ohrid Lake

The lake is one of the largest biological reserves in Europe, possessing unique flora and fauna which are extinct elswere. Only Lake Ohrid, Lake Tanganyka, Lake Caspi, and Lake Baikal are believed to have been formed during the Tertiary Period some 2-4 million years ago, and hence these lakes are characterized by unique flora and fauna distinct to that period. Due to its age, many of Lake Ohrid’s aquatic species are endemic including ten of the seventeen fish species. In addition, there are five particular endemic species which are restricted to small areas of the Lake such as special various birds, as well as four fish spawning grounds. Because of its rich history and unique flora and fauna, Lake Ohrid was declared a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural heritage Site in 1980. A clear danger exists to maintaining the long-term ecological stability of Lake Ohrid, unless action is taken to improve environmental management of the catchment area and the shoreline to prevent the accumulation of pollutants in the lake. Despite a number of remedial measures, less than 25% of wastewater in the catchment is treated. These conditions have led to an increase in the total phosphorus concentration of about 0.25mg/m3 over the past decade with a mean contrentacion estimated at between 7-8 mg/m3. The current loading of dissolved phosphorus is approximately 150 tons per year, and this would need to be reduced to 100 tons per year to keep the main concentration of phosphorus below 7 mg/m3.

National Parks in Macedonia

National Parks in Macedonia offer unique experience amidst their majestic natural surrounding. In Macedonia there are mainly four national parks, each of which is strictly protected by law. They are Mount Galicica national park, Jasen national park, Mavrovo national park and Pelister national park.

Among the above mentioned National Parks in Macedonia, the Pelister national park is considered to be the first national park of Macedonia. It is situated close to the town of Bitola. It occupuies an approximate area of 1,600 hectares. It comprises 2 glacial lakes, which is known as Pelisterski Oci.

On the other hand, in the western part of Macedonia, there is the Mavrovo national park. In the year 1949 this park approval of a national park. It covers an approximate area of 11,750 hectares. While taking a trip across this national park one can come across 1,000 types of plant species, 100 of which are quite rare.

Moreover, the Galicica national park is there to enrapture you. It is located between Ohrid and Prespa lake and is covering an area of 22,750 hectares. Other than this, a traveler can visit Jasen national park that also have a unique charm and unspoilt beauty to offer you.

Macedonia attractions

Tourists planning a holiday in Macedonia this year, should not miss the Macedonia attractions. Tourists will love to explore the land of Macedonia and enjoy the sights of nature and the different tourist spots. Macedonia is located in the south eastern part of Europe. The capital of the country is Skopje.

In Macedonia, there are a number of churches and monasteries. They can visit monastery of Saint Panteleimon, monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski, monastery of St Naum and Markov monastery. The churches like Macedonian Orthodox Church, St George's Church and St John Caneo Church attract a number of visitors. The museums in Macedonia have good collection of exhibits for their visitors.

Macedonia has some beautiful lakes. These lake regions are a pleasure to visit during the summer months. Lake Ohrid is one of the beautiful tourist spot in Macedonia. The lake regions of Dojran, Prespa, Mavrovo and Popova Sapka can be visited.

In Macedonia, tourists can also visit the small villages like Village Vevcni, Struga. The tourist spots in Macedonia offer fascinating natural sights. There are mountains and several springs, the sight of which can be savored while on short trips.

Other tourist attractions in Macedonia are the fortress like Marko's Fortress, Skopje Fortress "Kale" and Samuel's Fortress. These monuments have historical significances and reflects the architectural grandeur of the contemporary periods.

While on a travel to Macedonia, tourists can take time out to visit some of the other Macedonia attractions. They can visit the botanical gardens or in the national parks of Macedonia.

Macedonia education system

Macedonia education system can be classified into two broad divisions i.e., pre-higher and higher education system. The pre-higher education at Macedonia can be further classified into primary, secondary and high education system.

The first 8 year education in Macedonia is considered as the primary level education. At present there are 344 schools in Macedonia that caters to the primary educational need of around 253,997 students. Till the year 2000, there were 92 high schools that offered secondary education. Out of these 92, 3 were run by private bodies while 4 were run specifically for the disabled students.

Secondary education in Republic of Macedonia comprises of the following :

• vocational education
• high school education for disabled students
• classical high school education
• art high school education

Other educational institutes in Macedonia include colleges and pedagogical academies that offer two year programs in various subjects. Apart from these, there are numerous universities at Macedonia that offer 4 to 6 year programs. After the successful completion of these programs, the students are awarded a Diploma with professional title such as Engineer, Lawyer, Teacher, etc. at lower level and Graduate Lawyer, graduate Teacher, Graduate Engineer, etc. at higher level.

Presently, the Macedonia education system is undergoing reformation. The system is getting much more simpler so that it can match itself with the educational systems of other European nations.

Macedonia literature

The Macedonia literature in its proper form date back to the times, when the Cyrilic code of letters were being introduced in The Nineteenth century. The founders of the Cyrilic way of writing Macedonian, St, Cyril and St. Methodus were the propounders of the first literary works of Macedonia. Thus the texts of Thessaloniki is the first official literature of Macedonia. All initial literary writings were focused on religious texts and other church related topics. This genre of writing was represented by Kiril Pejcinovic-Tetoec, Joakim Krcovski and Teodosij Sinaitski. At a later period, the church literature was abandoned. The new school of writers included Dimitar,Constantine Miladinov, Rajko Zinzifov,ConstantineGrigor Prlicev, Andrea Petkovic, Constantine and Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov-Dzinot to name the most important of them all. There were also a train of some lesser known authors who contributed to the development of the literature of Macedonia. This was the foundation of the modern literature in Macedonia. During the long period of Ottoman domination over Macedonia, the indigenous literature had suffered stagnation. It was after the first world war, that contemporary Macedonia literature revived once again. It started with news paper journals. The Macedonian literature has since then contributed largely to post war literature.

macedonian history

The Republic of Macedonia occupies the western half of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Historic Macedonia was defeated by Rome and became a Roman province in 148 B.C. After the Roman Empire was divided in A.D. 395, Macedonia was intermittently ruled by the Byzantine Empire until Turkey took possession of the land in 1371. The Ottoman Turks dominated Macedonia for the next five centuries, until 1913. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there was a constant struggle by the Balkan powers to possess Macedonia for its economic wealth and its strategic military corridors. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, ending the Russo-Turkish War, gave the largest part of Macedonia to Bulgaria. Bulgaria lost much of its Macedonian territory when it was defeated by the Greeks and Serbs in the Second Balkan War of 1913. Most of Macedonia went to Serbia and the remainder was divided among Greece and Bulgaria.

In 1918, Serbia, which included much of Macedonia, joined in union with Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. Bulgaria joined the Axis powers in World War II and occupied parts of Yugoslavia, including Macedonia, in 1941. During the occupation of their country, Macedonian resistance fighters fought a guerrilla war against the invading troops. The Yugoslavian federation was reestablished after the defeat of Germany in 1945, and in 1946, the government removed the Vardar territory of Macedonia from Serbian control and made it an autonomous Yugoslavian republic. Later, when President Tito recognized the Macedonian people as a separate nation, Macedonia's distinct culture and language were able to flourish, no longer suppressed by outside rule.

On Sept. 8, 1991, Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia and asked for recognition from the European Union nations. It became a member of the UN in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) because Greece vociferously protested Macedonia's right to the name, which is also the name of a large northern province of Greece. To Greece, the use of the name implies Macedonia's interest in territorial expansion into the Greek province. Greece has imposed two trade embargoes against the country as a result.

Tensions between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians continued to rise during the Kosovo crisis, during which more than 140,000 refugees streamed into the country from neighboring Kosovo. Most of the refugees returned to Kosovo in 2000.

The long-simmering resentment of Macedonia's ethnic Albanians erupted into violence in March 2001, prompting the government to send troops into the heavily Albanian western section of the country. The rebels sought greater autonomy within Macedonia. In Aug. 2001, after six months of fighting, the rebels and the Macedonian government signed a peace agreement that allowed a British-led NATO force to enter the country and disarm the guerrillas. In Nov. 2001, Macedonia's parliament agreed to constitutional amendments giving broader rights to its Albanian minority. Albanian became one of the country's two official languages.

In Sept. 2002 elections, a center-left coalition ousted the governing coalition, which had been embroiled in previous years' guerrilla insurgency. Branko Crvenkovski of the Together for Macedonia coalition became the new prime minister. In Feb. 2004, President Boris Trajkovski was killed in a plane crash. Prime Minister Crvenkovski was then elected president; three prime ministers have served under him. In August 2004, parliament approved legislation redrawing internal borders and giving ethnic Albanians more local autonomy in regions where Albanians predominate.

On June 1, 2008, one person died and nine people were wounded when violence erupted between two ethnic Albanian groups, the Democratic Union for Integration and the Democratic Party of Albanians, during parliamentary elections. At least 17 polling stations suspended voting due to intimidation, violence, and missing ballot boxes and voting materials. The election interruption further impeded Macedonia's chance of becoming a European Union member.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, of the coalition "For a Better Macedonia" party, won parliamentary elections on June 1, 2008, with 48% of the vote. The Democratic Union for Integration and the Democratic Party of Albanians took 11% and 10% of the vote, respectively.

ethnology

Macedonia and the world reunited again in Gorno Maalo and Dolno Maalo in Vevcani through the masks of the traditional Vevcani Carnival that opened yesterday. After the opening of the carnival addressed by Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, masks reminding us again of our “rose” reality, our hardship and joy and our virtues and weaknesses marched through the village. Minister Kanceska-Milevska as the government representative, deeply aware of irony the world renowned masquerade inherently brought, said that “The Vevcani Carnival brings tradition as well as irony and satire of current events, which completely and spontaneously create a perfect reverse image of the time and place we live in.” At the carnival, there was the unavoidable Vasilica folk dance headed by Bride and Groom. Furthermore, people were “operated on” live in the alleys of Vevcani, and some of their intimate body parts were ripped off. We saw prominent faces and events coloured in many colours in a vivid procession that filled Vevcani with a positive spirit. According to tradition, Vasilica Carnival participants dedicated the evening to visiting people’s homes where they chased out evil spirits. The evening closed with a great party with Leb i Sol, Dani and Blagoja Grujovski and a spectacular fireworks. “National Culture in Kumanovo and Kumanovo Area” is the title of an exhibition opening in the Art Gallery of the Culture Centre in Kumanovo at 8.00 p.m. today. The purpose of the show is to present the woman in a peasant home and woman in an urban home associated with daily house chores. “This is an ambience-type show with 160 exhibits with different topics from the ethnological area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” the show coordinator Milica Pesevska – Nikolovska says. Prepared by the Ethnological Department with the National Institution Museum in Kumanovo, the exhibition will be opened by Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska - Milevska. An exhibition of items, “From Women’s Past Tradition” is opening in the Art Gallery in Veles at 1.00 p.m. today. The show presents 30 items contributing to explanation of the culture, ethnology and history of the Veles area

Cuisine & Wine

Macedonia has a long and praised tradition of culinary delights. Over the centuries, many civilizations have enjoyed the produce of its fertile soil. Having avoided negative influences of urbanization, Macedonia remains the agricultural heartland of the Balkans, filled with a wonderful variety of foodstuffs native to both Mediterranean and Central European climates. In fact, few countries as small as Macedonia can offer such variety of products including everything from citrus fruits, grapes and hazelnuts to tobacco, rice and mountain teas. In addition, Macedonia is also rich in meat, producing beef, chicken, pork and lamb, and a whole range of game. Macedonia’s many lakes yield a variety of freshwater fish, most famous of all being Lake Ohrid Trout. As a dairy producer, Macedonia is especially well known for its cheeses: soft white cheese (sirenje), similar to Greek feta; yellow cheese (kashkaval), similar to Italian Locatello Romano; and also its yoghurt and milk. Every Macedonian village offers unique and tasty local varieties. Macedonia is also famous for its wines, produced by unusually high quality grapes, such as Vranec, classic Cabernet Sauvignon, and mellow Merlot. Today, several small boutique wineries in Macedonia produce delectable red and white wines comparable to any French, Italian or California vintages. Besides its wines, Macedonian vintners produce fiery brandy (rakija) and mastica. Products of Macedonia breweries are enthusiastically guzzled by tourists and locals alike. Traditional Macedonian cuisine combines Balkan and Mediterranean characteristics, inherited largely from Turkish tastes that prevailed during long centuries of Ottoman rule. Some specialties, such as taratur (sour yogurt with bits of cucumber), pindzur (cream salad with peppers and eggplant) and the world-famous baklava are characteristic of Balkan cuisine in general. Other Turkish-influenced dishes include grilled beef kabobs and the omnipresent burek, a flaky sort of pie filled with ham, cheese, spinach, ground beef and combinations thereof. Macedonian dishes like tavce gravce (baked beans), shopska salata (a salad made of sliced tomato, cucumber and onion, topped with ground soft white cheese), selsko meso (pork chops and champignon mushrooms in a rich brown gravy), pastrmajlija (a sort of pizza topped with meat and sometimes egg) and, above all, ajvar (the national sauce, made from sweet red peppers).

Megalithic Observatory Kokino, 4th on NASA list.

Megalithic Observatory Kokino spreads on both platforms each of them possessing own typical contents. Observatory length is around 90 metres and its width is around 50 metres. Thrones are the most impressive and can be immediately seen on the site. As we have already mentioned, the thrones are oriented in north-south direction, so the person sitting on the throne is oriented towards the east and east horizon. This provided the base for the archaeologists’ assumptions that from this place people observed the rise of celestial objects on the horizon. Despite this, the astronomical measurements and analyze had shown that the thrones are sacred and ritual places, but there is no link with the astronomical observations. To answer why this ancient site is considered to be observatory, we should remind on the primary characteristics of the Sun and Moon’s movements. In the course of one calendar year, Sun and the Full Moon rise in different places on horizon, also determining the so called extreme rise positions on the horizon. This mean that Sun in winter when the day is the shortest or in the day of the winter solstice (22nd of December) rises in it’s the southernmost position on the horizon. Then, day by day it moves towards the north and on the day of vernal equinox (21st of March) Sun rises on east. Sun continues to move toward the north, the length of the day increases and in the day of summer solstice (21st of June) Sun reaches its northernmost point on the horizon. After that Sun returns back and in a day of the autumn equinox (23rd of September) again it will rise on east, and on 22nd of December it will complete the cycle rising in the winter solstice point. Every careful observer of the Sun can easily notice and mark points of the Sun rise in the days of the winter solstice, vernal and autumn equinox and summer solstice. Megalithic observatory Kokino Such types of markers are found on the Megalithic Observatory Kokino. The summer solstice marker is well preserved, vernal and autumn equinox marker has some small damages, and the winter solstice marker has greatest damages. These damages most probably are due to the catastrophic earthquakes. Moon has more complex movements and marking the points of the Full Moon rise are rather difficult. Simplest way of explaining is that in winter Moon moves on the sky on the places where the Sun moves in summer, and in summer it moves on the places where the sun moves in winter time. Thus, around the markers of the summer and winter solstice on the left and the right side there should be two stone markers that will mark the Full Moon rise points in its typical extreme positions. These types of stone markers can be also found in the area of the ancient observatory. In order this site to be ranked as observatory there should be one more very important condition fulfilled. All seven markers must be seen from one same place, or lines that go through the markers to cut-cross in one point, which is in fact the central position of the observatory and that is also identified on the site. Archaeo-astronomical analyze facilitate in accurate determination of the construction time when the stone markers for marking the Sun rise and Moon rise points on the horizon were built. Analyze has shown that the stone markers are built in the decades around 1800 B.C., meaning the Megalithic Observatory Kokino is at least 3800 years old. Prove that we are really dealing with marked points of the Sun and Moon rise can be seen on the documented photographs where the rise of the Sun over the stone marker in the day of the summer solstice is shown. As a consequence of the Earth rotation axis precession, today Sun rise a little bit lower and little bit to the left from the marker, but exactly that is an evidence for the accuracy of the stone marker, as these deviations are anticipated by the exact astronomical analyze. Kokino Such evidences were accepted by the American Space Agency NASA and in 2005 this agency ranged Megalithic Observatory Kokino on the 4-th place on the World’s Ancient Observatories list.

The Mountains in Macedonia

The mountains in Macedonia are divided according to the following criteria:Time of origin, the geological composition, the size and the geographical orientation, they are divided in two groups: Rhodope and Dinaric. Height: high, medium and low.In the first division, the Rhodope group is considered as older and embraces the larger part of the mountain regions in eastern Macedonia, while the Dinaric group is younger and divided in 3 subgroups: Vardar zone, which includes the mountains on the both sides of the river Vardar, right after the great curve of the river north-west of Skopje. Pelagonia massif, located on the west-southwest of the Vardar zone and eastern of the Shara zone. Shara zone, the highest one in Macedonia, is located in the most western part of the country, and stretches in north-south direction along the borders with Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and Greece. [Macedonian mountains] According to the second division, the group of high mountains of altitude above 2000 meters includes: Korab 2764 (2864m), Shar Planina (2747m) Baba (2601m), Jakupica (2540m), Nidze (2521m), Deshat (2373m), Krchin (2341m), Galichica (2288m), Stogovo (2273m), Jablanica (2257 m), Osogovo (2252m), Kozhuf (2171m), Bistra (2163m), Raduka (2080m), Cheloica (2062m) and Belasica (2029m). Medium mountains between 1000 and 2000m height above see level include: Plakenska (1999m), Vlaina (1932m), Pesok (1917m) Ilinska (1909m), Suva Gora (1857m), Kozjak (1822m), Karaorman (1794m), Busheva (1788m), Ljuben (1764m), Plachkovica (1754m), Babuna (1746m), Maleshevska (1745m), Ograzden (1744m), Bilino (1703m), Baba Sach (1698m), Selechka (1663m), Bigla (1656m), Crna Gora (1651m), Skopska Crna Gora (1628m), Bezimena (Nameless) with the peak Chave (1557m), Golak (1538m), Bukovik (1528m), Krushevska (1524m), Dren (1511m), Bezimena (Nameless), south of Krushevo, with the peak Buka (1494m), Bezimena (Nameless), north-west of Bitola, with the peak Bel Kamen (1431m), Goten (1430m), Osoj (1401m), German (1387m), Beaz Tepe (1348m), Kozjak (1326m), Bezimena (Nameless) western from Demir Hisar (1318m), Malinska (1235m), Zheden (1264m), Suva Planina (1189m), Konechka/Serta (1159m), Klepa (1150m), Vodno (1066m), Vitachevo (1039m), Gradeshka (1002m).The group of low mountains, from 500 to 1000m altitude comprises of: Plavush (996m), Smrdesh (971m), Mangovica (874m), Gradishanska (861m). [Landscape of Macedonian mountains] The mountains in the Republic of Macedonia, by their shape are very different, ranging from mild round shape in the eastern part, to fully Alpine in the western part. Such diversity offers great possibilities for developing sports as alpinism, sport climbing, speleological, cannoning, paragliding, skiing, ski-climbing etc. On the slopes of some of the mountains, there are ski-centers, such as Popova Shapka on Shar Planina, Mavrovo (Bistra), Begova Cheshma (Baba), Krushevo (Krushevo Mountain), Oteshevo (Galichica) and other smaller centers, constantly developing.

Macedonian Orthodox Church

the Macedonian Orthodox Church has a long history of education and enlightenment in a so called Eastern sense, which differs from the general Western understanding of this notion. The enlightener is God and enlightening is not confined only to the human mind, but reaches the deepest aspects of humanity. This becomes natural through the fact that Macedonia (Ohrid) was the seat of the first Slavic university in the 9th century. Its founder and head was St. Clement of Ohrid, who was also the first bishop of Slavic origin. The university educated some 3,500 disciples, who were -- together with their teachers -- the first intellectual potential of the Slavic world. The church has a secondary school and a school of religious studies in Skopje. It also has its own web site (www.mpc.org.mk) and most of its provinces publish magazines and books. The Macedonian Orthodox Church celebrates its feasts according to the Yulian calendar (old style) and services are held in Macedonian or in Old Church Slavic language. The Macedonian Orthodox Church has 10 provinces (seven in Macedonia and three abroad), 10 bishops, and about 350 priests. Macedonians, who are the majority of Macedonia's population, are Christian Orthodox (about 1,700,000 or 65%-70% of the entire population). Outside Macedonia, the church has some 1 million believers under its jurisdiction. A total of 30,000 people are baptized in all the provinces every year. "The phenomenon called Macedonian monasteries is the most expressive synonym of Macedonia, the sound of our blood circulation, because there has yet been no better name to summarize Macedonia than the institution of the monastery," a prominent Macedonian poet has said. The lives of monks and nuns, their prayers, and their exploits are interwoven not only with the Macedonian culture and education, but also with the very soil of this country. One cannot leave Lake Ohrid without a lifelong impression of the unique harmony between the country's nature and spirit. Amen, amen I say to you that man would deify himself and that the creation would be sanctified. This lake had been the cradle of hesychism before Mount Athos developed into heaven on earth and it maintained its bond with this spiritual center of Orthodoxy. This place -- as many others in Macedonia -- bears witness to the continuing efforts for the sanctification of this unique God-given Earth and to the potential of the man within, whom God has made immortal.

HISTORY AND ETHNIC RELATIONS

Emergence of the Nation. Byzantine documents indicate that the Slavs of Macedonia were a distinct group in the early medieval period, and Slavic dialects from Macedonia are identifiable from early Slavic documents. The modern national movement emerged in the nineteenth century. Although many Macedonians self-identified as Greeks, Bulgarians, or Serbs, a distinct sense of national identity developed from a sense of linguistic difference from Bulgarian and Serbian. Owing to Greek, Serbian, and Bulgarian territorial claims, Macedonian claims to nationhood were ignored until the end of World War II, when a Macedonian republic was established within the Yugoslav federation. That republic adopted an independent constitution on 17 November 1991. National Identity. At the beginning of the nineteenth century the primary source of identity was religion, but the focus shifted to language before the end of the century. As the modern Bulgarian and Serbian literary languages took shape, Macedonians attempted to create a literary language based on their speech, but Macedonian did not receive official recognition until 1944. It is claimed that a Macedonian national identity arose during World War II to keep Yugoslavian Macedonia separate from Bulgaria, but there is documentation that the development of a national identity was indigenous in the nineteenth century. Ethnic Relations. Ethnic Macedonians live in contiguous parts of Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania, and Muslim speakers of Slavic dialects classifiable as Macedonian who consider themselves to have a separate ethnicity (Goran) live in Kosovo and Albania. Albania recognizes as Macedonian only the Christians living in its southeast, omitting the Macedonian-speaking Muslim and Christian population of the eastern highlands and the Gorans. In 1999, Bulgaria recognized the independent existence of the Macedonian literary language, but in return Macedonia has renounced support for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. Greece claims to have no national minorities and thus does not recognize the existence of its Macedonian minority. In Greek EU-funded minority language projects, Macedonian has never been included. Within Macedonia, religion is as important an organizing principle as language: Most Macedonians, Serbs, and Aromanians (Vlahs) are Christian, and most Albanians, Turks, and Rom are Muslim. The national culture is identified with the Macedonian Orthodox Church, and Macedonian-speaking Muslims are divided among those who self-identify as Macedonians on the basis of language and those who self-identify as Muslims.

The story about Galichnik wedding

The Miac region is a renaissance epicenter in the Galichnik area from the three ethnographic and spiritual, empires, the Miac region - linguistic ethnic, national and individual, material as well as spiritual.Galichnik - Master piece of creating miac hand-houses-towers. Almost, within four decades, with small interruptions, on St.Peter's Day (12 th July), an atractive tourist manifestation called "Galichnik wedding" is held - unique of this kind in our country and wider. "Galichnik wedding" in its existence contributed to cherish tradition of the wedding customs and rituals of the inhabitants from the region in order to preserve the original folk songs, horas and to far away famous Galichnik peasant costume - made with filigree tailors accuracy, to preserve Galichnik which within the period of 1970-ies of thus century could be completely "dead".So,this manifestation contributed paving with asphalt the path through Bistra, from Mavrovo to Galichnik in 1974, started renewing of the Galichnik houses which are with very specific and authentic architecture, and building new ones. Galichnik wedding - The BrideBride on Galichnik wedding All this allows returning the life in Galichnik and there had been succeeded to live in life from St.George's Day to St.Mitre's Day, although some efforts are made to alive the place during winter months, permanently the whole year. St.Peter's "Galichnik wedding" is rich with lots of original and unique and unrepeatable wedding customs and rituals. During the wedding days, the zurle clucks and the drums echo from Galichnik to Reka, with all underground and on the earth echoing towards the stone of Bistra and the firmament. Those accompanist of migrant workers from this area of Macedonia, always announce the Galichnik wedding with its witnesses of wedding. And even today one message is still actual from the folklore song in wing the singer, on this day, sings and tells the Galichnik migrant worker like this: "Where You are - for St.Peter's Day to be at home." And it is true: The Galichnik migrant workers spread all over the world without lamenting neither money nor time to be at home this day - among theirs. And now as before, Galichnik on St.Peter's Day come to their Galichnik and among their families and relatives. Teshkoto, Macedonian DanceTeshkoto - Galichnik wedding Within two days, they gather themselves and perform the wedding ceremonies connected with the Galichnik wedding which lasted whole week half century ago. And the year, great number of wedding customs will be performed and swoon on Galichnik wedding day such as: expecting of the drums, mother - in law's hora, taking the bridal to the village fountain for water, hanging the wedding flag, invitation of the deaths, shaving the son - in - low, to bake the bread, wedding in the church St.Peter and Paul and customs dying slowly but which contain and hide many details from the Galichnik man's life in the past. Pitcures from Galichnik weddingPictures from wedding in Galichnik Every year, on St.Peter's Day, Galichnik will look like in the past, when there was life there. The people of Galichnik will remind themselves of their past, unforgettable time filled up with joy and sadness and on Upia "The Teshkoto" will be danced, a symbol of the difficulties and invincible clever people much suffered but always successfully passing over the various troubles in the period covered with a web-net. Following the Galichnik wedding will be special experience both for the guests and for the foreign visitors. To see all those beauties and features of "Galichnik wedding" You should come to Galichnik and to be present on this wedding spectacle. Galichnik wedding

60 year ASNOM

An exhibition “ASNOM 1944-2004” has been under way at the show rooms of the Museum of Macedonia. What the admirers of Macedonian history are enabled to see is a show of a few parts that chronologically link to and complement one another. The exhibition starts with 1918 and moves to 1941. Photographs, newspapers and papers of associations and societies that show the history of our country are exhibited. The initial part opens with a map of divided Macedonia and the events chronologically move until 1940 when World War II started in the Balkans. The second part includes the years after the war between 1941 and 1945 and presents documents and photographs of political and military leaders, photographs of occupying armies etc. Besides photos of the first partisan divisions, the accent is put on the Sar Planina Division. Personal items of heroes and fighters are displayed on the shelves. The focus of the exhibition is 1944 when the First Assembly of ASNOM (Antifascist Assembly of People’s Liberation of Macedonia) was held. This final and central section presents the original Manifesto and Declaration as well as numerous photographs, papers and rulings. The show also presents the first issue of the Nova Makedonija, Mlad Borec and Osten. Along with the personal items of heroes and fighters, one can see outfits, medicines, watches, radio station batteries, and field glasses. Interestingly for art lovers, drawings of World War II by the first cartoonist, Vasilie Popovic-Cico are also exhibited. The cartoons are mainly portraits of military and political leaders and artists participating in the People’s Liberation Struggle drawn at Gorno Vranovci in 1944. In light of the 60th anniversary from the first assembly of ASNOM, the Republic Bureau for Protection of Cultural Monuments intervened on four objects: Commemorative Mausoleum in Veles, Commemorative Mausoleum in Kicevo, Monument of Freedom in Kocani, as well as Partisan Printing House in village Bituse. The intervention on the Commemorative Mausoleum in Veles included a replacement of the concrete plates and new isolation. The mausoleum has a form of a shell, which encompasses the imposing mosaic, created by renowned Macedonian painter Petar Mazev. The reconstruction of the object included installation of new hydro-isolation, along with new concrete layer. Thus, the interventions enable a long-term protection of this significant monument. Furthermore, the Commemorative Mausoleum in Kicevo and the first Partisan Printing House in village Bituse were also reconstructed. One should also mention that the activities on the Monument of Freedom in Kocani are nearing their end, with full conservation and restoration of the mosaic by Gligor Cemerski. According to the director of the Republic Bureau for Protection of Cultural Monuments, Milan Ivanovski, all these four objects are priority activities of the program for protection of the Republic Bureau.

cultural monuments

Significant artefacts from the Eneolithic Era, or 4 century B.C. were found in St. Atanasy archaeological site near the village of Spancevo, Kocani area in two campaigns last year. Ceramic, clay, seashell items and women's figures in various forms are unearthed. According to the Museum of Macedonia, the most significant item is a man’s head, a rare specimen, which has enriched the collection of rare artefacts from this site. Archaeologists say the artefacts found are identical with the artefacts unearthed at the Pilevo archaeological site near the village of Burilcevo, Kocani area, which only confirms the relation of the two sites on the left and right banks of the Bregalnica. A new round of archaeological excavations started in the Bargala site near Stip, which dates from the fourth to sixth centuries. “New excavations are directed to discovering the main street of Bargala and we are expecting additional structures around the street,” says Trajce Nacev, archaeologist at the Institute for Protection of Monuments and Museum in Stip. The new archaeological excavations of Bargala are financially supported by the Ministry of Culture. Three-month archaeological excavations of the mediaeval fortress, Isar, overlooking Stip have given initial results. Wall canvasses on the acropolis have been determined, and an internal tower in the central part of the fortress has been found. Furthermore, the south defensive tower in the fortress wall has been located. The findings also include ceramic material, a small one-nave church with graves around and some bones of former inhabitants of the fortress within. Archaeologist Zvonko Beldedovski of the Stip Institute for Protection of Culture and Museum Stip, the head of the project involving 10 archaeologists and sixty workers, says new findings will shed light on organization of life in the mediaeval fortress in different periods of its existence.

100 years Ilinden

Fellow countrymen and dear neighbours ! We, your perennial neighbours, friends and acquaintances from beautiful Krushevo and its pretty villages, regardless of faith, nationality, sex or conviction, not being able to endure any more the tyranny of bloodthirsty murtats who hunger for human flesh, who would like to lead both you and us to slaughter, to reduce both you and us to poverty, and to turn our dear and wealthy land of Macedonia into a wasteland, we have today raised our heads and decided to defend ourselves with rifles in our hands from our and your enemies, and obtain freedom. You know very well that we are not evil and you understand that it is trouble that made us risk our lives, so that we might begin living like human beings or die like heroes! And because since the times of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers we have lived together like brothers of this land, we consider you as our own, and would like it to remain the same forever. We have not raised our rifles against you - it would be shameful for us to do so; we have not raised against the peaceful diligent and honest Turkish people who, like ourselves, earn their living through sweat full of blood - they are our brothers with whom we have always lived and would like to live again; we have not risen to slaughter and plunder, to set fire and steal - we have had enough of countless derebeyis pillaging and plundering our poor and blood-stained Macedonia; we have not risen to convert to Christianity and disgrace your mothers and sisters, wives and daughters; you should know that your property, your lives, your faith and your honour are as dear to us as our own. Alas, we have taken up arms only to protect our property, our lives, our faith and our honour. We are not murtats of our own land that has given birth to us, we are not robbers and plunderers, but revolutionaries sworn to die for justice and freedom; we rebel against tyranny and against slavery; we are fighting and will fight against murtats, against robbers, against oppressors and plunderers, against besmirchers of our honour and our faith and against those who benefit from our sweat and exploit our labour. Do not be afraid of us and of our villages - we shall not harm anyone. Not only do we consider you as our brothers, but we also feel sorry for you as our brothers, since we understand that you are slaves like ourselves, slaves of the Sultan and of his beys, effendis and pashas, slaves of the rich and powerful, slaves of tyrants and oppressors, who have set fire to the empire from all four sides and have made us rise up for justice, for freedom and for human life. We invite you, too, to join us in our struggle for justice, freedom and human life! Come, Moslem brothers, let us together go against your and our enemies! Come under the banner of "Autonomous Macedonia"! Macedonia is the mother of us all and she calls on us for help. Let us break the chains of slavery, free ourselves from suffering and pain, and dry the rivers of blood and tears! Join us, brothers, let us fuse our souls and hearts and save ourselves, so that we and our children and our children's children might live in peace, work calmly and make progress!... Dear neighbours! We understand that you as Turks, Arnauts and Moslems might think that the empire is yours and that you are not slaves since there is no cross on the imperial flag but a star and a crescent. You will soon see and understand that this is not so and that you are wrong. Nevertheless, if you honour does not allow you to join us and declare yourselves against the Sultan's tyranny, we, your brothers in suffering and of the same homeland, shall do you no harm and shall not hate you. We will fight alone both for you and us, and if necessary, we will fight to the last man under the banner for our and your freedom, for our and your justice. "Freedom or Death" is written on our foreheads and on our blood-stained banner. We have already raised that banner and there is no way back. If you consider us as your brothers, too, if you wish us well, if you intend to live with us again as you have lived up to now, and if you are faithful and worthy sons of our mother Macedonia, you could help us in one way at least - and it would be a great help indeed - do not make partners of the enemy, do not raise guns against us and do not oppress the Christian villages! May God bless our holy struggle for justice and freedom! Long live the fighters for freedom and all honest and good Macedonian sons! Hurrah! For "Autonomous Macedonia!"

URBANISM, ARCHITECTURE, AND THE USE OF SPACE

URBANISM, ARCHITECTURE, AND THE USE OF SPACE The traditional culture is rural, but today more than 60 percent of the population is urban, with a quarter of the national residents living in metropolitan Skopje. Traditional architectural influences are Mediterranean, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Modern high-rise apartment blocks have a balcony, which often is used for storage and clothes drying. A traditional Muslim household has separate rooms for male and female guests, whereas a Christian house has a single room. In older urban neighborhoods, individual single-story rooms open into a central courtyard. Wealthier traditional urban houses have one or more upper stories projecting over the street. Urban areas are characterized by a historical center with an open bazaar. Skopje was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1963. The old main train station, torn in half with its clock stopped at the moment of the quake, was reinforced and left standing as a monument to the disaster. Many public monuments commemorate those fallen in World War II or Ilinden. Since 1991, many villages have restored or built new churches or mosques.

FOOD AND ECONOMY

Food in Daily Life. Breakfast is eaten around nine a.m. by workers in offices, but earlier by factory workers, and in the field in the country. Dinner is the main meal and is eaten at around two p.m. Supper is eaten later after the afternoon siesta. Meals are prepared immediately before consumption, although they may include leftovers. Hot food often is allowed to cool to room temperature. Breakfast can consist of bread and cheese, sometimes with eggs. Other meals can begin with meze (appetizers) served with rakia (fruit brandy). Bean casserole (tavche-gravche) is the national dish, and bread is considered the most basic food. In restaurants, pizza is especially popular. Hotel restaurants are popular venues for banquets, and there are many private restaurants. There are no food taboos other than those associated with religion, but folk beliefs about food abound. Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Among Christians, a bird is eaten for Christmas, and lamb for Easter. Among Muslims, a lamb is slaughtered for Kurban Bayram. At Christmas Eve dinner it is traditional to serve a cake with a coin in it. Sweet desserts are associated with religious holidays, New Year's Day, births, weddings, and funerals and commemorations. Blaga rakia (hot sugared fruit brandy) is served by the parents of the groom the morning after the wedding night if the bride is found to have been a virgin. Basic Economy. The traditional economy was agricultural and pastoral. The nation is now industrialized and has been integrated in international trade. Land Tenure and Property. Traditionally, land was held in common by the extended family, which was patrilocal and was defined patrilineally. After the division of property, wells and threshing floors often continued to be used collectively. Each village has a boundary that is the basic level of property division above that of the family. During the communist period, private property rights were restricted. Commercial Activities. Cash crops include sugar beets, sunflowers, cotton, rice, tobacco, grains, fruits and vegetables, opium poppies, wine, livestock, dairy products, fish, and hardwoods. There is a tourist industry and a traditional crafts industry. Major Industries. Steel, cement, mining, textiles, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, and furniture making are the largest industries. Trade. Exports include food products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Serbia was the major trading partner before the imposition of international sanctions. Other important major trading partners include the former Yugoslav republics, other Balkan states, and the European Union. Division of Labor. Labor is primarily based on agriculture, mining, and light industry. There were about one million persons in the labor force in 1998. In 1996, 38.8 percent of the labor force could not find employment. The minimum age of employment is fifteen years.

RELIGION

Religious Beliefs. The major religions are Orthodox Christianity (66 percent) and Islam (30 percent), with small groups of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and atheists. Most Jews were deported and killed by the Nazis, but a few still live in Macedonia. Belief in the evil eye is widespread, and religious practices in rural areas often reflect folk beliefs. Rituals and Holy Places. Rituals take place at the church or mosque, at the cemetery, in the village, and at home. The most important holidays are Christmas and Easter for Christians and Ramadan and Kurban Bayram for Muslims. Among the Rom, Saint George's Day on 6 May is the major holiday. The Aromanians celebrate 20 May as the Day of the Vlahs, to commemorate the Ottoman recognition of a separate Aromanian church (and therefore millet "nationality") in 1905. Among the customs still practiced are the lighting of bonfires and the singing of special songs on Christmas Eve. Traditionally on the Feast of the Epiphany, a cross is thrown into a major body of water to bless it for the new year. Death and the Afterlife. Relatives visit the grave on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after the burial; after six months; and after the first year to mourn, give out food, light candles and incense, and pour libations of water or wine. An unmarried young person is buried dressed for a wedding. Among folk beliefs are various practices to prevent a corpse from becoming a vampire.

Macedonia

Identification. The ancient Macedonians were considered non-Greek but are claimed as co-nationals by the modern Greeks. Modern Macedonians are Slavs descended from the peoples who arrived in the Balkans in the sixth and seventh centuries. There are six ethnic groups: Miyak, Brsyak, Southern, Struma-Mesta, Macedo-Shop, and Upper Vardar. Location and Geography. Macedonia is a land-locked nation located in southeastern Europe. The current border runs along mountain chains that separate the republic from Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, and Kosovo and Serbia. Macedonia is slightly larger than the state of Vermont with a total area of 9,781 square miles (25,333 square kilometers). The country consists mostly of mountains separated by flat river valleys. The capital, Skopje, is the largest city. Demography. In 1994, the population was 1,945,932. The population in that year was 67 percent Macedonian, 22 percent Albanian, and 4 percent Turkish, with smaller numbers of Roms (Gypsies), Vlahs (Aromanians), Serbs, Muslims, and others. The number of Macedonians in neighboring states is difficult to determine. Linguistic Affiliation. Macedonian is a South Slavic language in the Indo-European family whose closest relatives are Bulgarian and Serbian. There is a major east-west dialectal division and about twenty subdivisions. Macedonian evolved in contact with non-Slavic languages such as Greek, Albanian, Aromanian, and Turkish. During the Ottoman period, multilingualism was the norm, but today young Macedonian speakers are more likely to know English than the other national languages. Multilingualism is common in urban areas but is less common in rural areas. Symbolism. The unsuccessful Saint Elijah's Day (Ilinden) uprising of 1903 is the organizing metaphor of statehood. The Macedonian Peoples Republic (with Macedonian as the official language) was established in 1944. The sarcophagus of Gotse Delchev in a church in Skopje is near the site of a ceremonial commemoration that includes fireworks, picnics, and folk dancing. The national anthem refers to the sun of freedom, the struggle for rights, and the heroes of Ilinden. The first flag used after independence, featuring a yellow sixteen-pointed symbol in the center of a red field, was based on a symbol found at the presumed burial site of Philip of Macedon in Greek Macedonia in 1977. The use of this symbol infuriated the Greeks, and in 1995 the Macedonian parliament adopted a flag with a yellow circle with eight rays projecting to the edge of a red field. Other metaphors of community include "Mother Macedonia," "heart of the Balkans," and "oasis of peace."

Macedonian Dialects

The realisation of scholarly assignments related to the linguistic-geographical presentation of the features of the popular language and its diversity is certainly one of the more serious linguistic disciplines, which requires not only expertise but also resoluteness to invest outstanding efforts and great precision, equal to those of the filigree making. Hence, we tend to assess the results achieved by Academician Bozhidar Vidoeski (1920-1998) in this sphere from several aspects - not only as findings important for Macedonian linguistic studies, but also as cornerstones in the development of Macedonian dialectology. Concretely speaking, we should stress that Academician Vidoeski did research into the Macedonian dialects with great patience for more than four decades. In the first post-war years he travelled all over Macedonia, mainly on foot, from one village to another, collecting materials for the basics of Macedonian dialectology. This research was synchronic and diachronic, for he tried to present not only the differences between contemporary Macedonian speeches but also the development of Macedonian as a distinct language The creation of a general national language, i.e. raising popular language to the level of a literary language, is one of the most important, not to say the most important segment of a nation’s cultural life, especially when it goes together with the state-creation, which undoubtedly represents a turning point in one’s national history. The creation of new states and languages has rarely been cordially welcomed, and the Macedonian language and state were not an exception, as this act affected certain hegemonistic aspirations. Such complicated conditions, as a rule, contribute to the appearance of strong, enthusiastic and persistent personalities who approach the realisation of common national interests uncompromisingly and leave a mark on their time with their activities. In the case of Macedonia, these persons’ task was not an easy one, for they were supposed to prove that being late in realising the already manifested efforts to create a separate state and a national literary language did not give anybody the right to think or behave as if the seats had already been taken, i.e. that the Balkan map had already been tailored and the situation was definite. Such strong personalities who opened up wide paths to the development of the new Macedonian culture, especially through promoting the new, while at the same time the oldest, Slavonic literary language – Macedonian, were certainly represented by Krste P. Misirkov and Blazhe Koneski. Bozhidar Vidoeski was among the first students of Prof. Blazhe Koneski, and he soon became his closest associate. Their joint initiatives at the Faculty of Philosophy, and later at the Faculty of Philology, used to determine not only the developmental directions at the Macedonian Language Department, but also the projects of Macedonian linguistics in general for decades. The results of the above co-operation are many-sided. Yet, we will illustrate them most directly through Academician Vidoeski’s creative participation in the well-known "Historical Phonology of the Macedonian Language" by Academician Koneski, published in English. The above-mentioned works, collected in three volumes under the same title, "The Dialects of the Macedonian Language", published by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, can be divided into two groups: monographic descriptions of distinct dialectal regions (most often at all levels: phonetic-phonological, morpho-syntactic and lexical), and monographs of certain linguistic phenomena and their destiny within the dialectal diversity of the Macedonian popular language. What prevails in the first maturing stage of Prof. Vidoeski’s dialectological research is a series of monographic descriptions of certain dialectal regions – the Poreche dialect (1950), Northern Macedonian dialects (1. The Kumanovo-Kratovo group of dialects, 2: The dialect of the Skopska Crna Gora region) (1954); the Kichevo dialect (1957); the Kumanovo dialect (1961), to mention but a few. Soon, on the basis of his broadened knowledge gained from the this research, Vidoeski went for a more complicated elaboration - synthesis of the specific features of selected linguistic areas, which serve as a basis in the classification of the Macedonian dialects. The following monographic descriptions fall into this group: "Basic Dialectal Groups in Macedonia" (1960-1964); "Macedonian Dialects in the Light of Linguistic Geography" (1962-1963); "Dialectal Differentiation of the Macedonian Language (1970); "Dialectal Centre and Dialectal Periphery of the Macedonian Linguistic Area" (1976); "On the Differentiation of Dialects in the Skopje Region" (1985). A separate group of monographs elaborate in detail certain more important grammatical features (of course, at dialectal level, with the methods of linguistic geography): "Pronominal Forms in the Macedonian Dialects" (1965); "Accentual Systems in the Macedonian Dialects"(1969); "Descendants of the Vocal ‘r’ and ‘l’ in the Dialects of the Macedonian Language" (1970). "Vocal Systems in the Macedonian Literary and Dialectal Language" (1991). Of course, parallel with his other activities, Prof. Vidoeski continued his monographic presentation of the yet unexamined dialects: "Debar Dialects" (1984); "Bitola Speech" (1985); "The Razlog Dialect in Vuk’s Notes and Today" (1988); "Petrich Dialect" (1989). Worth noticing for its synthetic approach to the problems of Macedonian dialectological studies is his three-volume edition "Dialectology of the Macedonian Language." Its first volume was promoted some time ago as a posthumous edition. It consists of two parts: General Overview, and Western Dialects (monographs of basic speech complexes). The first, general part contains ten papers which, each in a different way, describe the dialectal differentiation of the Macedonian language. Regardless of the different aspects of analysing the problems, one can find certain points of contact among the papers. The first three, "Dialectal Differentiation of the Macedonian Language", "Stages of the Dialectal Differentiation of the Macedonian Language", and "Formation of the Macedonian Dialects", offer a comprehensive survey and a richly documented register of the ways and periods of differentiation of the Macedonian dialectal system. This means that the author does not stop at merely depicting the synchronic status of popular speech features, but also analyses the historical context, at the same time offering a reconstruction of the developmental stages. When speaking of the origin of various dialectal features, Vidoeski divides them into two groups: "Most of them appeared as a consequence of the internal development of the Macedonian language. However, there is a number of phenomena that appeared under the influence of the neighboring languages, such as the non-Slavonic Aromanian (Vlach), Albanian, Greek, somewhat later the Turkish language, and, of course, the Slavonic Bulgarian and Serbian, especially in the sphere of transitional speeches." As Vidoeski stresses, of greater importance for the dialectal differentiation of the Macedonian language are those innovative features that appeared as a result of internal processes within the language. Most of these features have been restricted to the Macedonian terrain and do not exceed the boundaries of the Macedonian linguistic territory. They have been deployed mainly in the central and western regions. Generally speaking, within the boundaries of the western dialect, there are two clear-cut areas, one of which is central, covers a larger territory and has an insignificant internal differentiation, while the other one is peripheral and contains numerous isoglosses of dozens of micro-systems. The zone bordering the Albanian linguistic territory manifests the greatest diversity, especially in the southwest (Macedonian-Albanian-Greek region) where there is greater concentration of Aromanian ethnic elements. What has contributed to the internal differentiation of the Macedonian dialects are those innovative specific features that have developed under the influence of the Balkan non-Slavonic languages. Some of these features have spread throughout the entire Macedonian territory and have become common Macedonian features. They are also characteristic of the Bulgarian language, and appear even in eastern and southern Serbian dialects. This means that they have become common Balkan features. However, there is a certain number of linguistic phenomena, as Vidoeski explains, of the above kind (Balkanisms), that have appeared on Macedonian terrain and remained within the Macedonian linguistic boundaries, covering greater or smaller areas. Some of these features have penetrated deeply into the dialect’s structure and have become relevant for the dialectal differentiation. The more one goes east or north, the smaller the frequency of these Balkanisms. Thus, the diminutive-expressive suffix -ule, the use of the preposition od with a possessive meaning, the deletion of the preposition vo, and the use of the pronominal form mu for feminine gender, appear only in the western speeches. The use of the preposition na with a direct object can be found in an even smaller area. As a summary of the above-mentioned group of papers, Vidoeski concludes that most of the linguistic innovations, i.e. their focal point, is located in central and western Macedonia. From this centre they have spread in all directions, but this spread was not balanced. Part of the dialectal innovations remained within smaller areas, some broke through as far as the linguistic periphery, or only to a portion of it, while only a small number crossed the linguistic boundaries. According to Prof. Vidoeski, there are places in the linguistic periphery where the innovations have fully prevailed, forcing the old features to disappear. However, there are also areas along the linguistic periphery where the old features have continued to exist. Today we can find most of the archaic features in the linguistic areas bordering the Albanian and Greek languages. In this entire area, instead of the old Slavonic groups -tj and -dj, the old -sht and -zhd have been preserved, not only in the stems but also in the derivative and grammatical morphemes. In this way, two kinds of speeches have been formed: central and peripheral. The central ones, with their innovative dialectal features manifest themselves as progressive, while the peripheral ones, which still contain some of the old features within them, manifest themselves as archaic.

Easter in Macedonia

This is the most important holidays celebrated. There is a great preparation for this day, and activities the week before follow a schedule made by the housewife. On Thursday before Easter eggs are dyed. The eggs are colored red, symbolizing the coming happiness in the resurrection. In some homes, beautiful designs are scraped on the service of a dyed egg with a sharp instrument. This unusual technique is the traditional Slavic Orthodox Christian style of decorating eggs. The first egg to be dyed is put aside and called "Protector of the House" (Chuvarsko Jajce). It is placed beside the family Icon and saved until next Easter, where the mother of the house burries it in the garden while nobody sees her. Some baking is done on Thursday, so that nothing but only essential duties are performed on GOOD FRIDAY. On Good Friday, the family observes a strict vegetarian fast and attends church, where they kiss the a grave of Christ. (Plashtenica). Even fish and oils are omitted from the menu on Good Friday and only nuts, fruits and vegetables are eaten. On Saturday, the house and the food for the coming day are prepared. There are traditional dishes for the Easter meal. A typical menu includes lamb, lamb soup, sarma (stuffed cabbage), salad and delicious cakes. Members of the family, and each guest who comes to the house, are offered eggs on Easter morning, with the greeting "Christ is risen" (Hristos Voskrese) and the response is always "Indeed he is risen" (Voistinu Voskrese). Eggs are taped, end to end, and if your egg is broken by another person's, you must give it to him/her.

Folklore Art in Macedonia

Always closely connected with their motherland, the Macedonians lived with centuries with the tradition they passed over from generation to generation and thus creating new, rare and unusual substantial and spiritual culture with patriarhic features. From their extensive cultural heritage, the Macedonian creators of impressive folklore poetry and music preserved significant cultural heritage even today - Macedonian folklore art. Macedonian folklore art developed alongside its creators as a reflection of the creative spirit and high values of the Macedonians. It matured on the basis of Old-Slavic and Balkan art as well as on the basis of the various elements from the other peoples, especially Byzantium and Turkey. Even today the Macedonians live together with several other nationalities (Vlahs, Albanians, Turks) that has an impact on the development of Macedonian art. Although Macedonian folklore embraces exotic elements, it still developed independently and uniquely transforming itself according to its taste and changing it into its indivisible part. Folklore Art in MacedoniaMacedonian Folklore Art The artistic activity and talent was transferred to everyday objects that, at the same time, were simple, beautiful and practical. Abiding the traditional technological process inherited from former times, the anonimuous author created various objects from plants and animal substances such as: wood, clay, stone, metal and other natural substances. The different objects for everyday use, especially the practical ones, were enriched with aesthetic features. Special attention was given to apparel design and decoration. The traditional costumes are the most obviuos and numerous examples of traditional creations. The traditional costumes in Macedonia were created for a long time, so the traces from old cultural influences are obviuos. The elements of the Old Balkan, the Slav culture as well as the oreinetal culture were also incorporated with the old cultural influences. Western Macedonia, divided into smaller regional units with different ethnic traits, is a real mosaic of various beautiful costumes, especially women's customes. The decorative Macedonian embroidery, with characteristical forms and picturesque colours, gives the national costumes special expression and originality. Women's garments are distinctively decorated. They are the main feature of such traditional artistic creations. The embroidery is not only an artistic expression and important element, but it is also the most distinctive part of the costumes from the different regions. It was their trademark according to which one could tell the origin of the costume. Most often Macedonian folklore embroidery was made of woolen or silk thread with red being the predominate colour. Light red is especially common for the Prilep, Bitola, Debar and Ohrid regions. Women's garments from Dolni Polog and Skopska Crna Gora are decorated with black embroidery and it reminds on the stylistic composition of Early Christian textile decor. Folklore textile in Macedonia is an important branch of folklore art. Although today its use is limited, it continues to be a necessary and indivisible part of every Macedonian in most regions. Macedonian carpets made in Ohrid, Prilep, Krusevo are especially significant. They are truly valuable because of the beauty, rich decoration and harmonic colours. Jewlery has a special place in Macedonian folklore art. It is considered as the most decorative and inseparable part of the traditional costumes alongside the embroidery. The jewlery is made of various substances (gold, silver, bronze, copper), and with different techniques (filigree, gravure, molding). The jewlery has various forms, many decorations and is harmonized with the costumes. Macedonian jewlery can be found in the well known filigree centres in Bitola, Ohrid, Struga, Skopje, from where the hand-made objects are distributed throughout the country. Same samples of jewlery are real filigree masterpieces with old preserved forms and elements. Especially richly ornamented is the jewlery found on the formal women's garment from Skopska Crna Gora, Skopska Blatija, Struga and Ohrid district, and Prilep valley. It gives the traditional costume a special artistic effect. Apart from the metal jewlery, various pearl ornaments from Eastern Macedonia can be found. The pearl jewlery is hand-made with very rich stylistic motifs. Various metal objects for everyday use made by blacksmiths have artistic forms and have hand-made gravure or a relief on the surface. These copper bowls are very frequent in Macedonia especially in the towns Ohrid, Prilep, Krusevo and Skopje. They have distinctive forms and original lines and are well combined functional objects. Pottery in Macedonia developed throughout many centuries, and today it can be found in the centres in Veles,Resen, Struga, Skopje, Debar, especially in village Vranestica, Kicevo district. Macedonian pottery is distinguished by its ancient forms that give the objects monumental impression. Such are the massive and heavy bowls from Debar, Struga and Skopje. The pottery objects are made of clay and they are decorated was quite primitive means: colours, graphite, relief motifs. With their different forms and rich decorations they leave the impression of well-developed sense for art and fertile imagaination. Folklore gravure reached its peak in the well known creations of the Macedonian carvers from Miyak, population that lived in the mountains near Debar. They gave form to the wood like professional wood-cutters and created special and specific art that raised the folklore level and became common Balkan heritage. The masters from Miyak created both surface carvings and deep carvings. They decorated the rich houses in the towns (in Tetovo, Debar), the churches St. Spas - Skopje, St. Dimitar - Bitola and the monastery St. Jovan Bigorski in Macedonia, as well as all over the Balkans, and left valuable cultural and historical monuments and masterpieces of this branch in the Macedonian folklore art.