Winter Carnival in Vevchani (North Macedonia): Between Commercial Festivity and Folklore Tradition

Abstract

This paper is based on fieldwork conducted in the Republic of North Macedonia, where in 2019 I observed the Vasilitsa winter folklore carnival held annually on January 12–13 in the village of Vevchani, near Ohrid. The tradition of winter masked carnivals exists throughout the Macedonian cultural area, with local variations and different names for the participants. The core structure of the event is a ritual drama that parodies a wedding ceremony and symbolically enacts themes of fertility and renewal. Masking practices and the use of noisemaking implements – jingling, clattering, and striking – serve both traditional ritual and modern entertainment purposes. The performances combine elements of folk drama, with prescribed roles, alongside improvised satirical scenes addressing contemporary political and social issues. Today, the carnival demonstrates the coexistence of traditional ritual forms and modern expressions, including theatrical spectacle and tourism-oriented activities. This interplay sustains the event’s status as a marker of both local identity and national cultural heritage. Examined in the context of globalisation – with its emphasis on multiculturalism and consumption – the Vevchani Carnival exemplifies the dynamic synergy between inherited ritual culture and contemporary festive practice. It reveals how tradition can be adapted and reinterpreted within modern frameworks, without losing its cultural resonance.