On one day every July, St. Peter’s Day, locals and tourists alike are invited to attend the traditional Macedonian wedding celebrations at Galicnik, a legendary old village in the western mountains near Mavrovo.

 

 

The three-day feast, which includes much song, dance, eating and drinking, uses traditional customs, costumes, and rituals and dances that have been passed down over the centuries.

The Galicnik Wedding is an incomparable event that every visitor to Macedonia must experience at least once.

 

SATURDAY
19.30   DECORATING THE FLAG AND THE RIFLE	The top of the flag is decorated with flowers. Then the bridegroom hangs it on the right side of his house and a riffle is fired.
19.45   WELCOMING THE MUSICIANS	The musicians start performing from the hotel “Neda” and walk slowly to the bridegroom’s house. The bridegroom, his brother and his friends go to welcome the musicians. The welcoming is at the bride.
20.00   BRIDEGROOM’ S MOTHER DANCE	The dance is performed at the “Upija” and it’s led by the bridegroom’s mother. She carries a sieve on her head and a goblet in her hand.
20.30   TAKING THE GIRL TO THE TREE FOUNTAINS	A suite of matchmakers with torches go from the bridegroom’s house to the house of the bride. Then together with the girl they go the three fountains.
21.15 END	End of the Saturday’s festivities. Yet, the celebration among the people goes on.
SUNDAY
09.00   INVITING THE DEAD RELATIVES	A group of the closest relatives and the bridegroom visit the graves of the dead family members. The bridegroom invites them to his wedding.
09.45   INVITING THE GODFATHER	After the arrival from the cemetery, the bridegroom, his friends and his closest relatives invite the godfather to the wedding.
10.00   SHAVING THE BRIDEGROOM	In front of the “Upija” fountain one of the friends shaves the bridegroom, during which the closest relatives are in sorrow because the shaving is a symbol of separating the boy from his mother and father.
10.15   THE GROOM AND HIS SUITE GO FOR THE BRIDE	From the bridegroom’s house a suite of over 50 matchmakers go for the bride. The suite is led by the standard bearer and his friends on horses. The horses walk slowly in front of the suite. Before that one of the friends goes to the bride’s house to ask for permission for the arrival of the matchmakers. On the way back he joins the procession
10.30   ARRIVAL OF THE MATCHMAKERS	After the arrival of the matchmakers the standard bearer hands off the flag, which is hung by the window? Then one of the bridegroom’s friends leads his horse in front of the bride’s house where the bride looks at the bridegroom through her ring. The bridegroom kisses the hands of the bride’s parents and then they put a towel over his shoulder.
10.45   THE BRIDE WELCOMS THE MATCHMAKERS	In front of the house the bridegroom’s closest relatives sit at a table. The bridegroom’s mother gives presents to the bride and then the bride kisses her hands. After that she is dressed up and ready to go.
11.00   SEDING THE BRIDE WITH THE MATCHMAKERS	The bridegroom’s friend informs the matchmakers that the bride’s ready and they are all prepared to go. The bride climbs on a horse. The procession is led by the standard bearer.
11.15   WELCOMING THE BRIDE	The bridegroom’s mother welcomes the bride with a sieve, a cake and goblet with wine. She turns around the bride three times tapping her on the head with a cake. Then they put a bridle on her and the bridegroom’s cap. The bride gets off the horse. Then she walks into the house.
11.30   MARRIAGE CEREMONY	The bride, the bridegroom’s mother and father, the standard bearer and other relatives walk to the church. The bridegroom’s mother carries a kettle and a basil bouquet. She spatters the young couple and other guests from the house to the church. A carpet is laid in front the church and a flag is hung on the right side of the door.
12.00   MARRIAGE BANQUET	After the wedding ceremony at the “Upija” there is a wedding banquet. The godfather sits at the head of the table and the bridegroom calls a toast.
12.15   TAKING THE BRIDE TO “UPIJA” AND THEN SHE LEADS THE BRIDAL DANCE	The bridegroom’s father and godfather lead the suite. The bride is taken to the fountain to fill her water jugs. After that bride leads the brides dance.
12.30   FAREWELL TO THE MUSICIANS	After the end of the wedding customs, the closest relatives say goodbye to the musicians.
12.35   END	End of the wedding ceremonies.