Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnerships for the school education project :“Puppets mission: childhood without borders“ 2014-2016

Macedonian Christmas traditions

The day before Christmas, people dress up in old costumes . One of them is the bride and the others help the bride fight the evil

spirits.

They lighten a big fire which is a symbol of something good and new to be born.

Children, also dressed in costumes, come in the streets and give them sausages or

money.

Music is an inevitable part of the event. More instruments , the merrier is.

They throw empty alcohol bottles inside the big box to show that they give up from all

evil vices.

A mixture of light and black colors is a symbol of both bad and good things

happening in life.

They keep moving with the bells in order to frighten the evil spirits.

The child goes together with the grandmother to take part in the ceremony.

Five minutes more to fight the bad spirits.

The evil creatures are beginning to melt under a lot of pressure and chasing.

People are happy at the end and celebrate this with a street parade where teenagers give different performances organized by

their schools.