What does Macedonian Christmas look like? Big fires are lit, children go caroling, but they don’t get presents

Macedonian Christmas is carried in the Orthodox spirit.

Why are big bonfires lit on Christmas Eve?

What does a typical Christmas greeting sound like?

What must not be missing on the Christmas Eve table?

Discover with us how Christmas is celebrated in Macedonia.

When is Christmas celebrated in Macedonia?

Like millions of Orthodox believers worldwide, Macedonians follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7, when most Christians go to church and then return home for a big family lunch. People often go caroling a day earlier, on January 6 or Christmas Day.

The traditional greeting on January 7 is “Hristos se rodi,” i.e., Christ was born. The answer is “Navistina se rodi,” he really was born. Merry Christmas is called “Sreken Božik” in Macedonian.

Do you know Macedonian Christmas traditions?

In general, Christmas celebrations start very late in the evening on January 5, when traditional bonfires are lit, songs are sung, dances are performed, and warm homemade brandy “rakija” is distributed in towns and villages all over Macedonia. Where did this burning of fires come from?

Macedonians believe that the fire symbolizes the warmth of the cave where Jesus was born. In contrast, the merriment around the fire is done to spread happiness, prosperity, and health to all in preparation for the glad tidings of the birth of Christ to come.

The fires burn until the early morning of January 6, or Christmas Day, called Badnik in Macedonian, when the children wake up and go in groups to carol from house to house. According to custom, people reward the little carolers for their wishes and sing with chestnuts, nuts, apples, and coins. In some regions, carols are already sung on January 5.

As in many other countries of the former Yugoslavia, such as Serbia or Montenegro, Christmas in Macedonia is associated with the Badnik, or traditional oak log, which is brought home on Christmas Day and lit in the evening.

Houses are often decorated with oak branches, but classic Christmas trees are popular today. On Christmas Day, straw is placed on the floor or under the tablecloth.

Who brings the children’s presents?

Like neighboring Orthodox countries, Santa Claus brings gifts to Macedonian children—not for Christmas but for the New Year. Children usually unwrap them on the morning of January 1. Traditionally, children do not receive any other gifts during the Christmas holidays.

What is eaten in Macedonia at Christmas?

On Christmas Day, January 6, people look forward to a special Christmas dinner, traditionally called “posna”, which does not contain dairy, meat, or animal products. Dishes may include nuts, fresh and dried fruit, baked cod or trout, bread, bean soup, potato salad, ajvar or red pepper dip, rice-stuffed cabbage leaves called sarma, and pickled vegetables.

At the end of the meal, a special dessert is eaten in the style of our Christmas; it is baked with a coin, and everyone breaks off a piece. Whoever finds the coin in their piece will be lucky for the year.

This coin is usually kept in a glass of wine until the following year as a house protector. Legend has it that the coin represents good luck, but it’s also meant to remind us of the hard work we should put in if we want to have a successful year.

On Christmas Eve, January 7, when Lent has already begun, a rich lunch consists of various types of roast meat, cheesecakes, salads, and sweets.

How do you prepare your Ajvar?

Ajvar is most often produced at the beginning of autumn, when the pepper harvest is the largest, traditionally it is made only from red bell peppers. There are many variants of Ajvar recipes.

Ingredients:

• 8-12 fresh red peppers (sweet or medium hot, according to taste)
• 4 medium-sized eggplants
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves of garlic,
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• fresh parsley for garnish

Method:

1. Bake the peppers and aubergines in an oven to 482°F until the skin darkens and “blisters” form.
2. Place the roasted vegetables in a paper bag and let them “simmer” in their heat for 10 minutes.
3. Afterward, peel and clean the peppers and aubergines, and throw away the skin together with the seeds.
4. Mash the peppers and eggplant pulp to form a slightly loose mass.
5. You can do this with a fork or in a food processor.
6. Heat three tablespoons of oil in a large pan and fry the finely chopped onion until soft. Add the crushed garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
7. Remove from heat, stir in the pepper-eggplant mixture, and mix well.
8. Slowly pour the remaining oil into the mixture, stirring constantly to absorb all the oil.
9. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
10. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh parsley.

Serve as an appetizer spread on slices of bread or use as a side dish with grilled or roasted meat.

What places to visit in Macedonia at Christmas?

Although most tourists come to Macedonia in summer and spring, the country has many underrated winter destinations. Since most of the territory is covered by mountains, Christmas in Macedonia is often associated with snow.

• Skopje, Macedonia’s capital, is surrounded by mountains beautifully covered with snow in winter. Several Christmas events and markets take place in the center, where you can soak up the atmosphere of a real Macedonian Christmas.

• Ohrid – the city on the shore of the lake of the same name is known for its large number of churches, which, of course, are enveloped in a unique atmosphere that can be seen throughout the city at Christmas time.

• Kruševo – with an altitude of 1350 m above sea level – is the highest town on the Balkan Peninsula. It is not only a major center for winter tourism but also an important historic city that was the stronghold of the first Republic of Macedonia, known as the Republic of Kruševo, when the Macedonians first gained their independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1903 for short time.