Newsletters
The historic mountain village of Galichnik in western North Macedonia once again hosted one of the Balkans' most distinctive wedding traditions, bringing together visitors from across the country and abroad for a ceremony rooted in centuries-old customs.
Held about 110 kilometers from Skopje, the Galichnik Wedding is regarded as one of North Macedonia's major cultural heritage events.
This year, Aleksandar Pendaroski and Martina Mihaylova married according to traditional village rituals, as guests watched the ceremony unfold among Galichnik's stone houses and mountain streets.
The wedding events began on July 10 under the patronage of the North Macedonian Presidency and with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The three-day program is set to end today.
Although the wedding ritual has been passed down for centuries, it began to be organized as a festival in 1963. Since then, the event has brought out both local residents and visitors who want to see the customs preserved in their original setting.
The wedding opened with traditional drum and zurna music, with the zurna referring to a loud wind instrument widely used in Balkan and Anatolian folk celebrations.
As part of the ceremony, the groom was shaved in the village square before relatives and participants came together to form the wedding procession. Dressed in colorful traditional clothing, the group then moved through the village streets and headed toward the bride's house.
The ceremony was also attended by North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, Mavrovo and Rostuse Mayor Oner Jakuposki, and representatives from several institutions and organizations.
Aleksandar and Martina later took part in a religious wedding ceremony at the village church. The celebrations continued in the village square, where traditional folk dances drew strong interest from the guests.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
