Macedonian Folklore

Macedonian Folklore arts

Always closely connected with their motherland, the Macedonians lived with centuries with the tradition they passed over from generation to generation and thus creating new, rare and unusual substantial and spiritual culture with patriarhic features. From their extensive cultural heritage, the Macedonian creators of impressive folklore poetry and music preserved significant cultural heritage even today - Macedonian folklore art.

It developed on the basis of Old-Slavic and Balkan art as well as on the basis of the various elements from the other peoples, especially Byzatine and Turkey. Although Macedonian folklore embraces exotic elements, it still developed independently and uniquely transforming itself according to its taste and changing it into its indivisible part.

Macedonian Folk Costumes

The Folk Costumes in Macedonia's museums are priceless documents. They remain as a testimony of the remarkable creative aptitude of the Macedonian people, who in the course of many centuries succeeded in creating their own Folk Costumes whose features are a depiction of past epochs.

Most often Macedonian folklore embroidery was made of woollen or silk thread with red being the predominate colour.

The Folk Costumes in Macedonia have a tradition of many centuries. They are an integral part of the Macedonian culture and represent a significant branch of the national artistic creations.

Macedonian Jewellery

It's considered as the most decorative and inseparable part of the traditional costumes alongside the embroidery. The jewlery is made of various substances (gold, silver, bronze, copper), and with different techniques (filigree, gravure, molding). Some samples are real filigree masterpieces with old preserved forms and elements.

Pottery in Macedonia

Pottery in Macedonia developed throughout many centuries, and today it can be found in the centres in Resen and especially in village Vranestica (Kicevo district). The pottery objects are made of clay and they are decorated was quite primitive means: colours, graphite, relief motifs. With their different forms and rich decorations they leave the impression of well-developed sense for art and fertile imagaination.

Woodcarving in Macedonia

The number of the master pieces is high and they are prove for the flourishing woodcarving tradition, for which Macedonia is well-recognized. The arts are mostly of unknown authors, but with high capabilities and extreme values (of which most important are those in the Saint Spas church in Skopje and Saint Jovan Bigorski monastery, near Debar. Most known woodcarvers are the maestros, Petar Filipovski-Garkata, and his brothers: Marko and Makarie Frckovski.

Macedonian Literature

Macedonian literature has its roots in the rich heritage of Slavonic literacy and the distinguished literary schools of the Macedonian monasteries. Its more recent development has been marked by the work of Miladinov brothers, Grigor Prlicev, Rayko Zinzifov and others from the Macedonian Revival period (middle of 19th century). In the early 20th century their work was further developed by Voydan Pop Georgiev-cernodrinski, Nikola Kirov-Majski and Atanas Razdolov. The poet Kosta Solev-Racin, with his collection entitled is considered to be the founder of modern Macedonian literature.

Macedonian Music

Traditional folklore music which can be rural or urban includes: Lyric songs, Epic songs, Labour songs, Ritual songs, Humorous songs, Folk dance (oro), old urban music (starogradska muzika), the old calgija style etc. Popular songs are Kales bre Andjo, Biljana platno belese, Dafino vino crveno, Narode Makedonski and many others.

Rhythms from this region tend to be rhythmically very complex. Often referenced oro dances are Teskoto from the village of Galicnik, Kalajdziskoto Komitskoto (The Dance of the Komiti freedom fighters) and others. The most eminent professional folklore association is Tanec.