GLOBETROTTER — macedonia

Macedonia is unbelievably green and its people are hospitable and welcoming. The country has monasteries, timeworn Turkish bazaars, Orthodox churches and space-age shopping centres. The most famous and popular Macedonian folk dance is called Teskoto. It is a male dance for which music is provided by the tapan and the zurla, a large pipes. This dance symbolises the national awakening of the Macedonian people. It is performed with dancers dressed in traditional Macedonian costumes. The major events held are Orthodox Christmas on 7 January and the Old New Year on 13 January. The nation’s special events held are Day of the 1903 Rebellion in 2 August; Republic Day in 8 September and 1941 Partisan Day in 11 October. In early July, the Balkan Festival of Folk Dances and Songs is celebrated. The Ohrid Summer Festival held from mid-July to mid-August is celebrated with classical concerts. Poets gather in Struga to celebrate International Festival of Poetry at the end of August.

The attractions of the country are Skopje and Ohrid. Skopje is the capital of Macedonia. It is strategically set on the Vardar River at a crossroads of Balkan routes. The Romans recognised the location’s importance when they made the city the centre of Dardania Province. Later conquerors included the Slavs, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Normans and Serbs, until the Turks arrived in 1392 and managed to hold onto Skopje until 1912. After a devastating earthquake in 1963, the modern city is created. Ohrid is the town famous for tourist mecca. Around 30 cultural monuments are situated in this area. Besides this, Lake Ohrid is also there. The lake is beautiful with striking vistas of the water from the beach and hills. It is the deepest lake in Europe and one of the world’s oldest lakes, too. The most popular food of Macedonia is Turkish-style grilled mincemeat. Cheese or Meat pie called Balkan burek and yoghurt are eaten as breakfast. Macedonian gravce na tavce which means beans in a skillet and Ohrid trout is also famous.