Vevcani Carnival kicks off

The traditional masks of groom, bride and August the Fool will parade in Vevcani on January 13-14 at the carnival celebrating the departure of old and arrival of the new year according to the old calendar. 

The carnival honoring Saint Basil the Great is known for its archaic spirit and unique masks mixing pagan rituals and modern celebrations. The carnival takes place in the village of Vevcani, which is magically transformed into a theatre in its own right, free of borders, where every house, street is a stage for those behind the masks to perform their roles and play their games as true actors.

The event will unofficially kick off on January 12 with a concert that will include performances by musicians from Macedonia and neighboring countries. 

The main parade will take place on January 13, where the old new year will be welcomed outdoors in the center of Vevcani. The next day, masks will be set on fire as a ritual.

Come to Vevcani to see how tradition and predecessors are being honored, Pero Ilieski - the mayor of Vevcani municipality - told a press conference last week. The Vevcani carnival has been supported by the Ministry of Culture for the last three years. It is a great pleasure to be part of this event, Deputy Culture Minister Dragan Nedeljkovic said at the press conference.

For over 1,400 years the Vevcani Carnival has been an interesting mix of paganism and modernism. The main characteristics of the event are: archaism, secretiveness, and improvisation. Its particular features distinguish it from any other carnival worldwide.

During the carnival, the disguised participants enjoy every freedom and passion to 'place the world upside down' -- a freedom of spirit, creativity and a sense of improvisation, criticism, and sarcasm. Officially, women do not participate in the carnival -- they do disguise, but unlike men, do not take off their masks in the end.

In 1993, the Vevcani carnival, or more precisely, the municipality of Vevcani, joined FECC - the Federation of European Carnival Cities.

Vevcani ready for this year Carnival

The traditional masks of groom, bride and August the Fool will parade in Vevcani on January 13-14 at the carnival celebrating the departure of old and arrival of the new year according to the old calendar. 

The carnival honoring Saint Basil the Great is known for its archaic spirit and unique masks mixing pagan rituals and modern celebrations. The carnival takes place in the village of Vevcani, which is magically transformed into a theatre in its own right, free of borders, where every house, street is a stage for those behind the masks to perform their roles and play their games as true actors.

The event will unofficially kick off on January 12 with a concert that will include performances by musicians from Macedonia and neighboring countries.

The main parade will take place on January 13, where the old new year will be welcomed outdoors in the center of Vevcani. The next day, masks will be set on fire as a ritual.

Come to Vevcani to see how tradition and predecessors are being honored, Pero Ilieski - the mayor of Vevcani municipality - told a press conference on Friday.

The Vevcani carnival has been supported by the Ministry of Culture for the last three years. It is a great pleasure to be part of this event, Deputy Culture Minister Dragan Nedeljkovic said today.

For over 1,400 years the Vevcani Carnival has been an interesting mix of paganism and modernism. The main characteristics of the event are: archaism, secretiveness, and improvisation. Its particular features distinguish it from any other carnival worldwide.

During the carnival, the disguised participants enjoy every freedom and passion to 'place the world upside down' -- a freedom of spirit, creativity and a sense of improvisation, criticism, and sarcasm. Officially, women do not participate in the carnival -- they do disguise, but unlike men, do not take off their masks in the end.

In 1993, the Vevcani carnival, or more precisely, the municipality of Vevcani, joined FECC - the Federation of European Carnival Cities.

Strumica Carnival 2012 is in Full Swing

This year's Strumica Carnival kicked off late on Saturday with a 3,000-strong masquerade.

During a three-hour carnival program, masked participants paraded the town streets and the square, in the attendance of representatives of the International Carnival Cities Association and the diplomatic corps in Macedonia.

Over 30,000 guests witnessed the unforgettable image of colors, sounds and creations, followed by all-night parties in Strumica clubs.

Federation European of Carnival Cities (FECC) President Henk Ferdinand Van Der Kroon presented carnival groups "Starry City" and "Moulin Rouge" with medals honoring their long-standing participation at the Strumica Carnival.

The awards to the best masks will be presented on Tuesday.

Vevcani Carnival 2012 in full Swing

The event unofficially began on January 12 with a concert that will include performances by rock bands from Macedonia and Croatia.The main parade will take place on January 13, where the old new year will be welcomed outdoors in the center of Vevcani. The next day, masks will be set on fire as a ritual.
The Vevcani carnival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and sponsored by Macedonian Telecom.In 1993, the Vevcani carnival, or more precisely, the municipality of Vevcani, joined FECC - the Federation of European Carnival Cities.
The traditional masks of groom, bride and August the Fool will parade in Vevcani on January 13 and 14 at the carnival celebrating the passing of the old year and the coming of the new one according to the old calendar. Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska - Milevska will address the official opening.
The carnival honoring Saint Basil the Great is known for its archaic spirit and unique masks mixing pagan rituals and modern celebrations. The carnival takes place in the village of Vevcani, which is magically transformed into a theatre in its own right, free of borders, where every house and every street is a stage for those behind the masks to perform their roles and play their games as true actors.
It's easy to say, no one mocks politicians, celebrities, countries ... better than the Vevcani carnival.

Vevcani carnival is a pearl of Macedonia's tradition, says Kanceska-Milevska
A group mask created by the inhabitants of Vevcani reflecting Macedonian-Greek relations was the most talked about mask among visitors of this year's Vevcani Carnival.

Other masks included US president Barack Obama, a "Flying to Europe" mask, the hand of VMRO-DPMNE, etc. Scenes from cowboy movies were re-enacted and Tito's Pioneers, Muslim priests, dead people paraded through the village of Vevcani. This year, Macedonian politicians were spared, there were no masks making fun of any local politician.

Opening the carnival, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said all well-intentioned visitors with a carnival spirit were part of an unique satire reminding us of events and persons who had marked 2011.

"The Vevcani Carnival offers a game without protocol. It is a valuable pearl in the Macedonian tradition and a brand which makes Macedonia famous in the world. This carnival is being celebrated with a sense of preserving a valuable sample of the Macedonian tradition that amazes with its originality," Milevska said.

She vowed that the Ministry of Culture would keep on supporting the traditional carnival in Vevcani.

At midnight, the old new year (Vasilica) was welcomed at the Vevcani Springs.

The carnival ends on Saturday after all of the masks will be set on fire.

Vevcani Carnival begins

The traditional Vasilica Carnival, dedicated to St.Basil the Great and the banishment of evil, is held in Vevcani on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event begins with an improvised fair for alternative tourism and concerts of Vlado Janevski, Vlatko Stefanovski, bands Milko and Riblja Corba on Tuesday, whereas the traditional masked ball and related customs will be held on Wednesday.
A novelty of this year's festival edition is the New Year's bazaar for craftsmen and souvenir producers. "One should attend the carnival and feel the Vevcani spirit and humour, where no one is forgiven, be it famous or common person", said chairperson of the Vevcani Carnival Board Liljana Popovska. Vevcani mayor Pero Ilieski urged people to come to the carnival and feel the spirit of masked people, including children, "who are a guarantee that tradition will not die out".
The carnival's roots originate from paganism, whereas its long-standing tradition represents a merger between the mythic and ancient with the modern. The event has an international spirit, since a number of foreign guests also take part, coming from Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Turkey.
This year's Vevcani Carnival is organized by "Tetragon", association for alternative tourism "Balkanika" and association "Denica", along with the support from the culture and economy ministries.