Tradition & Customs

1. Christmas in Macedonia
Tradition & customs

2. Orhtodox Christmas
• Most Christians in Macedonia belong to the Orthodox Church
and so Christmas is celebrated on January 7th (Orthodox
Church use the 'Julian' Calendar for their festivals).

3. • Christmas celebrations really start on 5th
January which is called 'Kolede'. On this day
people, especially children, like to go carol
singing around their neighbors. They are given
fruits, nuts and money(usually coins).

4. • When the singing has finished people gather
around big bonfires. They are sometimes held
in parks where hundreds of people can go to
see them. Others like smaller events where
the local community comes together. Lots of
traditional food is eaten.

5. • At the end of the night a special Christmas
bread which has a coin baked in it is passed
around. Everyone takes a piece and if you find
the coin you'll get luck for the next year (and
you might also have to host the bonfire the
next year!).

6. • On Christmas Eve, called ‘Badnik’ (6th January) people look forward to the
special Christmas meal that will be eaten in the evening. The meal is called
'posna' and traditionally contains no dairy, meat or animal products.
Dishes might include nuts, fresh and dried fruits, baked cod or trout,
bread, bean soup or baked beans, the famous ‘tavce gravce’ , potato
salad, Ajvar (red-pepper dip), Sarma (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and
spices) and pickled vegetables. Coin bread or Christmas Cake with a coin
in it is eaten at the end of the meal.

7. • Christmas Eve is also when the traditional oak yule
log, called a 'badnik', is brought into the house and is
lit (the Christmas Eve meal is also sometimes called
'badnik dinner'). Houses are also often decorated
with oak branches and Christmas trees are popular.
There's sometimes straw either on the floor or under
the tablecloth.

8. • On Christmas Day (7th January) most Christians go to
a Church service and then come home to eat a large
Christmas feast! There's the traditional Christmas
Day greeting "Hristos se rodi" or "Христос се роди!"
(Christ is born) to which you reply "Navistina se rodi"
(He truly is born!).

9. • In Macedonian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Sreken
Božik' (Среќен Божик).
• The big Christmas Day meal might include different
roasted meats, cheese pies, salads and lots of bread,
cakes and sweets. Christmas celebrations often last
for another three days after Christmas Day.

10. The End !
• Hope that you liked our presentation!