MARIAGE DE GALIČNIK

Since 1962, this festival (Галичка Свадба/Galička Svadba) has been the largest gathering of the Mijak community, a Macedonian Orthodox minority from the Debar region and Mount Bistra. A young Mijak couple is chosen, and their wedding in Galičnik gives rise to ceremonies in traditional dress, a parade on horseback, gunfire, dances, including theoro teškoto ("hard dance"), which is an evocation of the Mijak exodus. The Galičnik wedding attracts around 6,000 people, but on-site accommodation is scarce.