IN NORTH MACEDONIA
❏ Mother in law prepares mekici ( type of fried dough ) immediately after baby was born . Mekici are combined with sugar , so the child will have a sweet life and are given to close people , relatives , neighbors and in the hospital among the medical stuff where the baby was born . After the baby is born , grandmothers go to church and take a little prayer and holly water for the baby . Holly water is poured in the water in which the baby baths and the mother should drink from it . If holly water remains on the last 40th day , then it is poured in the ground .
❏ Mother and the baby are not allowed to leave the home ( if not necessary ) for 40 days . In general , almost in all cities throughout Macedonia are respected the 40 days when the mother and the baby should not leave home nor should be visited . After 40 days , the mother and baby take a big prayer in the church and after that they visit 3 houses . During these 40 days the mother is considered " unclean ", so there must be no intimate relationship with her husband . Also , after the 40th day , the baby can be visited by other people . The reason why they are waiting for 40 days is usually protection against any infections . During the 40 days , the mother must not dry clothes outside after sunset and must not come out after sunset . When it comes to visiting a baby , girls must not have a monthly cycles , so that the baby does not get rash . Also , guests mustn ' t come in the evening , only during the day , because if they come when it ' s dark , then they can bring the child dark and thus magic and spirits . During the 40 days , the mother must not say " good bye ", she mustn ' t take out anything from the house not walk someone to the door so to keep her milk .
❏ Baptism - a ritual purification of the body in water . Baptism in Christianity is a fundamental mystery of the church . After receiving the baptism , the person can be called a Christian , becomes a full member of the Christian church and acquires the right to all other mysteries and services of the church , but also takes on all other responsibilities in the church . Baptism itself was emphasized by Jesus Christ .
Filip-Jovica NIKKAREV