The Wedding of Galicnik: Crowning of love with drums and zurnas
Galicnik is a remote mountain village that is known for its distinctive architecture, traditional customs, and picturesque surroundings, but this place has a special spotlight in the summer when the Traditional Wedding in Galicnik is happening.
The Traditional Wedding in Galicnik is a unique and culturally significant event, that was named the most successful tourist event last year by the Tourism Support Agency, and the most traditional wedding festival in Europe by the New York Times and National Geographic.
It is preserved wedding tradition that the people of the village of Galicnik keep doing the same way their ancestors did 600 years ago. However, 50 years ago this tradition was claimed as a national heritage and it is being funded by the government as a huge cultural and tourist event.
Here is why this cultural event is so special:
The wedding ceremony in Galicnik typically takes place over the course of three days and involves a series of rituals, customs, and festivities. On the first day, the bride and groom, along with their families and guests, arrive in the village on the first day and are welcomed by the local community with traditional music and dance.
On the second day, the wedding ceremony itself takes place. According to customs, early in the morning, the dead are invited to the cemetery and the couple goes to the house of the godfather, from whom the groom asks for a blessing. The most exciting custom is the shaving of the groom which marks his transformation from boy to man. Then there is a haircut. A ducat (small golden penny) is placed in his cut hair, as a symbol of wealth and progeny. These customs are followed by going to the bride's house. Dressed in a traditional Galician costume, she welcomes the guests on the balcony of her house. Then she utters, looking through the ring: "Through the ring, I look into your heart to enter."
The bride and groom are dressed in traditional clothing, and the ceremony is conducted by a local priest or religious leader. After the ceremony, there is a feast, where guests enjoy traditional Macedonian cuisine and drink rakija, a popular brandy in the region.
On the third day, the wedding party participates in a procession through the village, accompanied by music and dancing. Mounted on a horse, the bride goes to the house of her future husband. The mother-in-law welcomes the bride with a sieve, a cake, and a jug of wine, who dismounts from the horse and enters the house after the litany. After the wedding in the church "St. Petar and Pavle", the bride is carried on the water of the "Upia" fountain.
The bridal dance is performed, gifts are given to the nearest and dearest, the pie is broken and after the wedding customs, the drums and trumpets are sent off to the nearest relatives.
This is followed by more feasting and celebration, as the newlyweds and their guests enjoy each other's company and take part in traditional games and activities.
Visitors and guests of the Galicnik Wedding are witnessing 30 customs that are e performed during the wedding days. About 100 young people dressed in authentic Galician costumes, traditional dances with about 30 professional participants, cavalry, and horses, ie a total of about 450 people, take part in the event.
A particularly striking feature of the entire event is the colorful costumes of all the participants in the wedding celebration, which is an important part of the ceremony and reflects the cultural heritage of the region.
A special attraction is the costume of the bride, which is unique in itself and weighs 17 kg. The dress is typically made from hand-woven wool or silk fabric, with intricate embroidery and embellishments. White, yellow, and red colors prevail on it and the rich embroidery distributed on the sleeves and on the front of the shirt is dominant. An integral part of the bridal costume is the jewelry made with filigree precision and unique gold and silver elements. Her hair is braided and adorned with flowers or a crown, depending on local customs and traditions. The bride's footwear is also an important part of her wedding attire. She typically wears traditional leather sandals, which are decorated with intricate embroidery and embellishments. The whole set can weigh up to 30 kilograms.
Overall, the traditional dress of the bride in Galicnik's wedding is a beautiful and symbolic representation of local culture and heritage. It is a testament to the skills and craftsmanship of the region's artisans and reflects the deep connection between the people of Galicnik and their cultural traditions.
The traditional wedding in Galicnik is a vibrant and joyous celebration of local culture and customs and it is an event exciting to visit.
*The zurna is a double reed wind instrument played in North Macedonia and is part of the traditional folklore.