A reveller poses for the camera while participating in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Every year, the Macedonian village of Vevcani marks the Orthodox St. Vasilij Day, which is the beginning of the old Julian calendar, with a 1,400-year-old carnival called the Vevcani carnival. It is rooted in pre-Christian traditions with old Pagan beliefs and rituals.
The Vevcani carnival is the ritual of calling after Saint Basil the Great that coincides with the Twelve Days of Orthodox Christmas and the Orthodox New Year. This year the festival was celebrated from Jan 12 to Jan 14.
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets wearing masks that portray pagan rituals, religious issues, or political satires of current events. The participants of the Carnival are known as "Vasiličari".
It is believed that the Vevcani Carnival as an event unites all forms of expression of traditional culture and eventually transforms the needs of contemporary society, treating topics from today. The Carnival and the village of Vevcani officially became a part of the World Federation of Carnival Cities in 1993.
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
A reveler participates in a parade on the street during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
Revelers participate in a parade on the streets during a carnival to mark the annual Orthodox St. Vasilij Day in the village of Vevcani, south of the Macedonian capital of Skopje.Reuters
