A look inside North Macedonia's traditional Vevcani Carnival
The 1,400-year-old tradition marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Julian calendar.Â
Revelers crowd the main square in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, during the carnival parade on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Masked revelers take part in the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Masked revelers take part in the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers take part in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers perform during the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers take part in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers perform during the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers perform during the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
People in costumes play and sing during a carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers in costumes participate in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Men disguised as spiders take part in a carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Men disguised as spiders take part in a carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A woman takes part in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A reveler takes part in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A reveler takes part in the carnival parade through the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Revelers perform during the carnival parade in the village of Vevcani, in the southwestern part of North Macedonia, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. In its fourteen century-old tradition, the Vevcani carnival is always held on Orthodox St. Basil's day, marking the beginning of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The participants in the carnival find an inspiration for their masks in old pagan beliefs and rituals, while some of the masks are based on political and social events, but in a satirical context. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)