arts & cultural experiences
acedonia
spot for watching the parade . The parade itself had an air of improvisation , criticism , sarcasm and just plain randomness as all the carnival groups performed their plays for hundreds of on-lookers while making their way up the steep mountain road . Many of the performances symbolized or ridiculed social events and figures . I found it interesting to hear that officially women do not participate in the carnival - they do dress up in disguise , but do not take off their masks in the end . I caught one rare sighting of a woman peeking out from her costume . I ’ m just sorry to say she was one of those poo-flinging people I was running away from during the parade , as they literally sliced into the crowds from all directions with their cow tails and bags of manure . The Vevcani Carnival was quite possibly the scariest moment of my Peace Corps Service ; in a good way .
Carnivals in Macedonia
Vevcani Carnival Prochka Carnival Bozovce Carnival Strumica Carnival
Read on for a sneak peak at other intriguing carnival events to add to next year ’ s bucket list for how to ring in the holidays , Macedonian style .
by numerous guests from Macedonia , Ukraine , Serbia , Bulgaria and Slovenia . Prochka , or The Day of Forgiveness according to the Orthodox Church , is a feast which precedes the honorable fast season , the greatest fasting period which prepares all Christians for the greatest feast of the church year , Easter .
According to me , Prochka is a three day event , but the highlight is the parade on Sunday . Sunday is the day most commonly referred to as Prochka in
Prilep . It begins with masked visitors going doorto-door ( usually to those they know , although I received an unknown masked kid at my apartment this year ) requesting forgiveness . The requestor is then presented with money .... now isn ’ t that somethin ’! Not only are you granted forgiveness , but you are paid for your sins as well . For the parade , teams come from all over , both nationally and internationally , to compete for the best costume award . A masquerade ball is the culminating event on Sunday night . ( Ask Julie about that !) Spring 2013 – 13 Spring 2013 – 13