Macedonian Wedding Traditions

Galicnik which extends on the falls of mount Bistra is found 110 km away from the capital city of Macedonia. Each year Galicnik hosts a traditional Macedonian wedding in the beginning of July. This traditional wedding is a remainder of the past. When Galicnik had 1600 people living in 800 houses.

The sound of drums and trumpets echoes through mount Bistra and the valley of the river Radika. The people from Galicnik and some 7.000 quests from the Republic of Macedonia and from U.S.A, Germany, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and some other countries. Each tradition and ritual was followed with great interest and attention. All of this was captured on photo and film cameras.

This year the wedding started on Saturday afternoon with the arrival of the drums, and soon after that the mother in-low danced the (Svekrvino Oro) the Traditional Mother in-low dance.

In the front yard of the grooms house, girls and boys dressed in Traditional clothes which originate from Galicnik with flowers they decorated the "Barjak" which was then put on the house. The older people from Galicnik danced the "Hard Dance" (Teskoto) , the symbol at the people in this region. Whale dancing, they were reminded at the hard past, at the fortune seeking, at the weddings and the happiness. A few tears rolled down their wrinkled cheeks in grief for the past and happiness that Galicnik still lives.

On the second day at the wedding the rituals continued. On this day the groom together with his closest relatives invite the Godfather to attend the wedding. Before the wedding column was formed, the groom was shaved and few traditional songs were sung: " Nejke zetot berber da go brici, tuk mi saka mlad pobratim...". In the moment when the the in-lows were on their way to the bride they carried out the custom "Bodinjanje" where they race who will be first to get to the brides house.

Many customs were carried out there too: looking through the ring, giving presents, carrying the dowry and taking the bride. During the two days, a number of customs and rituals could be seen on the Galicnik wedding.

This gave outside a glimpse of the richness and atmosphere of wedding in the past. The marriage ceremony attracted the most guests. This takes place in the church temple "St. Petar and St. Pavle" in Galicnik. Each year the temple in filled with people.