Macedonia

Macedonia  **Александар**
 * = Historical Summary ||= Historical Timeline ||= Historical Enemies ||
 * = Historical Conflicts ||= Map of the Country

|| Flag and Significance || Traditional Cultures ||= Traditional Clothing ||= Traditional Foods ||

Macedonian Information

**Capital:** Skopje **Latitude:** 41.59 **Longitude:** 21.26 **Population:** 2,072,086 (rank=143) **Area, sq. mi.:** 9,928 (rank=146) **Area, sq. km.:** 25,713 **Human Dev. Index rank:** 72 of 182 countries **Adjusted for women:** 62 of 155 countries **Real GDP per capita:** $7,200 **Adult literacy rate:** 99% (male); 95% (female) **Infant mortality rate:** 15 per 1,000 births **Life expectancy:** 71 (male); 76 (female) __The official name is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.__

 __ [|Hear the national anthem.] __ The national anthem is “Today Above Macedonia.” Adopted in 1992. Lyrics by Vlado Maleski. Music by Todor Skalovski.

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=193&cn=Macedonia ^ mostly from here.
 * [[image:http://online.culturegrams.com/world/images/spacer.gif width="1" height="1"]] || [[image:http://online.culturegrams.com/world/images/spacer.gif width="4" height="1"]] || * Macedonians celebrate their //imenden// (name day), personal holidays commemorating the saint after whom a person is named.
 * The most popular sports in Macedonia are basketball, soccer, and handball.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; list-style-type: square;">Traditional instruments include the //gajda//, a type of bagpipe.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; list-style-type: square;">Favorite dishes are stuffed peppers and //sarma// (rice- or meat-filled cabbage or grape leaves). ||

In the **<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Republic of Macedonia] **, the main **<span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|religion] ** is <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Orthodox Christianity], followed by <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Islam]. There are also many other religious groups in Macedonia, including <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Baptists], <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Catholics] , <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Protestants] , <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Hindus] and <span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Jews]. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Republic_of_Macedonia

 <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">The Slavs of Macedonia lived in the early medieval period. Dialects from Macedonia are classified from early Slavic Documents. In the 1900's, the modern national movement occured. Most Macedonians identify themselves as either Greeks, Bulgarian, or Serbian. The idea of national identity was created from a sense of rhetorical difference from their Bulgarian or Serbian heritage. Owing territory to Greek, Serbian, Macedonia's claim of becoming a nation were not seen until after WWII. After WWII, a Macedonian republic was formed in the Yugoslav federation, the Yugoslav state that existed from the second half of WWII and wasn't officially dissolved until around 1992. The republic adopted a constitution of independence on November, 17, 1991, in which became an independent country.

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> Macedonia is a very peaceful country. Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military leaders of his time, was king of this land. He conquered most of Europe, Asia, and Africa. He took over the Persian and Egypt Empire. He had few enemies for he was very feared. When he conquered a town country, he basically let them be free. He let the slaves and servants free and killed the tyrants. He survived many attacks but died of a fever. In the medieval times, Turkey ruled over Macedonia and they did not like it. They rebelled and fought for freedom with help from Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia helped Macedonia be free. After that they split Macedonia in thirds and they each had some part of the territory. Since Macedonia was fully established in 1991, it does not have many enemies.



The most major conflict Macedonia since it got independance, is with Greece. Greece says that Macedonia cannot have the name "Macedonia" because apparently, Macedonians trace back to Greece heritage and nothing else. Also, since the Macedonian language is from the Slavic language family and they believe Macedonia should not have the name because since 4000 b.c., the Macedonians spoke Greece and still do today. Also Macedonia is "Greek territory" and they should be refered as Greek too. Macedonia really, however, love their nationality and see themselves as a country, not a territory. Macedonia also refered to ancient Greek as neighbors, not kinsmen, and Macedonian has always been the native language. Finally, Macedonia controlled Greek territory in the b.c. times, not Greek controlling Macedonia, where Greek gets the idea that Macedonia is their territory.



<span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #444444; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="color: #eb7002; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Macedonian Flag Meaning: ** <span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #444444; font-family: arial,verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The sun design is a simplified version of the Star of Vergina, which appeared on Macedonia's former national flag. Red has been a significant color throughout the history of Macedonian flags. The sun also represents "the new sun of liberty", which is mentioned in the country's national anthem. <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; border-collapse: separate; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[] a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2081.html



http://www.worldmapsinfo.com/map-of-europe.html http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/language.html  Cultures Theatre: In the culture of Macedonia there are 13 professional theaters. About 870 professional actors, singers, ballet dancers, directors, playwrights, set and costume designers, etc. are members of the Macedonian National Theatre (Drama, Opera and Ballet companies), the Drama Theatre, the Theatre of the Nationalities (Albanian and Turkish Drama companies) and the other theatre companies. Professional theatre for children and amateur also make up the theatrical world. Art: Macedonia has some of the most outstanding gifted painters, sculptures and graphic artists of its time. Its one of the countries with the most beautiful preserved Byzantine fresco paintings from the period between the 11th and 16th centuries. The culture of Macedonia has the countries most outstanding works of the mediaeval masters of fresco and icon-paintings. Cuisine: Also referred to as Slav Macedonian cuisine, it represents the Balkans, Turkish, Bulgarian, Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine. Mediterranean to some extent Italian and also Hungarian influence can be felt in the Macedonian cuisine. A variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits grow because of the relatively warm climate. It's famous for its rich 'Shopska' salad, a must for every meal besides its different types of dairy products, wines, and local alcoholic beverages, such as 'rakija' and 'mastika'. Overall a diverse range of cuisine greets the Macedonian art and culture. http://www.123independenceday.com/macedonian/art-and-culture.html  Clothing Macedonians wear modern, Western-style clothing. However, they preserve a certain level of old-fashioned formality in their style of dress. For example, people will generally avoid entering a grocery store, bank, or other public place dressed in work clothes.Macedonia's traditional, intricately embroidered folk costumes include garments made of coarse, tightly woven wool yarn. Men wear vests, white linen shirts, pants resembling English riding breeches, and a pojas (pronounced PO-yahs)—a wide cloth belt. Women wear ankle-length dresses, a wide apron, a white linen shirt, a pojas, and a head scarf. Men's traditional attire is predominantly black, while women's is red and white. For footwear, both genders wear opinci (pronounced o-PIN-tsi)—leather slippers with a curved tip.http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Macedonians.html

 ** [1564-1565] **The Mariovo-Prilep Rebellion is the first recorded significant Macedonian resistance movement against the Turkish occupation. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> ** [1767] ** U nder pressure from the Greek Patriarch in Istanbul, the Turks abolish the Ohrid Archbishopric, which had been keeping alive the spiritual soul of the Macedonians since the times of Tsar Samuel. **[1878-1879]** The Macedonians rebel again in eastern Macedonia against the Turkish occupation with the Krersna Uprising. The Macedonian freedom fighters adopt a constitution known as the Rules of the Macedonian Uprising Committee. The uprising sets strong influence on the growth of Macedonian national awareness. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> **[1891]** Bishop Theodosius of Skopje begins a campaign for an independent Macedonian Orthodox Church and restoration of the Ohrid Archbishopric, which had been abolished in 1767. The Bulgarians effectively destroy the idea. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> **[1903]** The Macedonian revolutionaries "Gemidzii" carry out series of attacks on number of buildings in Salonica in order to draw the attention of the European public towards the plight of the Macedonian people. On August 2, 1903 VMRO launches the Ilinden Uprising against the Turks and declares Macedonian independence. The revolutionaries liberate the town of Krushevo and establish a Republic with a government. The uprising is brutally crushed by the Turks. Krushevo is burned to the ground and more then 150 Macedonian villages destroyed. In this same year Krste Misirkov from Pella (Postol), the founder of the modern Macedonian literary language and orthography, publishes his "On Macedonian Matters", in which he projects the principles for standardization of the Macedonian literary language. <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> ** [1908] ** The Young Turk revolution shutters the Ottoman Empire. The Macedonian revolutionary organization, through Jane Sandanski and the newly formed National Federal Party. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> **[1912-13]** Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria join forces, and with the help of 100,000 Macedonians defeat the Turkish army in Macedonia. Macedonia is denied independence and the Treaty of Bucharest (August 1913) partitions the country between Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Greece takes the biggest, southern half of Macedonia (Aegean Macedonia) and renames it to "Northern Greece”. The Greek army burns to the ground the town Kukush, the birthplace of the Macedonian leader Georgi (Goce) Delcev. Bulgaria annexed the Pirin region and abolished the Macedonian name, and Serbia took over the Vardar region and renamed it to "Southern Serbia". <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">    **[1914-1918]** In 1914, World War I erupts. Bulgaria sides with the Central powers and by 1915 occupies the Serbian held part of Macedonia (Vardar). The defeat of the Central powers and the end of World War I in 1918 saw the partition of 1913 reconfirmed and Macedonia is left divided.  **[1924]** The May Manifesto, resolution of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia on the right of the Macedonian people to self-determination. **[1945]** The first government of the People's Republic of Macedonia is founded (April 16) with Lazar Kolisevski as its President. **[1946]** The first constitution of the People's Republic of Macedonia is adopted. Start of university education in Macedonian (Faculty of Philosophy). **[1946-1949]** In the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) that followed World War II, the Macedonians of Aegean Macedonia fight on the side of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) as it promised them their rights after the war. About half of the 35,000 soldiers of DAG are Macedonians. On the liberated territory in Aegean Macedonia 87 Macedonian schools are opened, newspapers in Macedonian are published, and cultural and artistic associations created. But after few years of KKE's success, the communists lose the war, and the Macedonians are once again stripped of their human rights. **[1989]** The United Macedonian Organization - Ilinden (OMO Ilinden) is founded in Pirin Macedonia, demanding cultural and national autonomy for the Macedonians in the Pirin part of Macedonia. **[1991]** On a referendum on September 8 the Macedonians proclaim independence. Kiro Gligorov is elected first president of independent Macedonia. New constitution is adopted, declaring the Republic of Macedonia a sovereign, independent, civil, and democratic state, and recognizing complete equality of the Macedonians and the ethnic minorities in the country. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> **[1993]** Macedonia is admitted to the United Nations. **[1994]** A fraid that Macedonia might put forward a historical, cultural, and linguistic, claim over Aegean Macedonia, Greece insists that the there is no Macedonian nation and that the Macedonians have no right to use the name "Macedonia". Greece imposes a trade embargo on Macedonia because of the Macedonian refusal to rename the country, nation, and language, and change the Constitution Article 47 that specifies "the Republic of Macedonia cares for the statue and rights of those persons belonging to the Macedonian people in neighboring countries”. At the same time, Greece withdrew from the Greek - Macedonian talks, monitored by the UN as a mediator, and blocked any acceptance of Macedonia in the international institutions by using its power to veto new members. **[1995]** Macedonia becomes a member of the Council of Europe.  The Human Rights Watch condemns Greece for the oppression of its large ethnic Macedonian minority, which Greece denies it exists. Both Amnesty International and the European Parliament also urge Greece to recognize the existence of the Macedonian language and stop the oppression of the ethnic Macedonians on the Macedonian territory it appropriated in 1913. <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/ConciseMacedonia/timeline.html
 * [1828-1878]** Greece (1828), Serbia (1830), and Bulgaria (1878) gain independence from Turkish rule and display territorial aspirations on Macedonian territory. The so-called "Macedonian Question" appears. T he Greeks, Bulgarians, and Serbs compete in their quest to occupy Macedonia and in the same time put obstacles to Macedonian independence.
 * [1893]** The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO) is founded in Salonica. Under the slogan "Macedonia for the Macedonians", its objectives are national freedom and establishment of independent Macedonian state. Georgi (Gotse) Delchev becomes its leader.
 * [ ** **1919]** At the Paris Peace conference the demands of the Macedonians for independent and united Macedonia are ignored.
 * [1935]** The Macedonian National Movement MANAPO is established in the Vardar part of Macedonia.
 * [1940]** The Fifth Nationwide Conference of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia passes a resolution on the equality and self-determination of the Macedonian people.
 * [1941]** World War II erupts and Bulgaria as fascist ally of Hitler’s Germany occupies almost all of Macedonia (both Vardar and Aegean) and collaborates with the Nazis for the departure of the Jews of Salonica to concentration camps. On October 11, 1941, the Macedonians launch a war for liberation of Macedonia from the Bulgarian occupation.
 * [1943] ** The anti-fascist sentiment lends support for the growing communist movement and the Communist Party of Macedonia is established. The first unit of the Army of Macedonia is founded and government bodies (national liberation councils) are formed over the whole territory of Macedonia. The Headquarters of the National Liberation Army (NOV) publishes a manifesto of the goals of the war for liberation.
 * [1946]** Bulgaria, under the leadership of Geogi Dimitrov officially recognizes the existence of the Macedonian nation and the right of the Pirin part of Macedonia to be attached to the People’s Republic of Macedonia. The majority of the population in the Pirin part of Macedonia declares itself as Macedonian in a free census.
 * [1956] ** In the Bulgarian census of 1956, the majority of the population of Pirin Macedonia again declares itself as Macedonian. Since then Bulgaria under nationalist Todor Zhivkov reverts its decision of recognizing the Macedonian nation and once again forbids free expression of Macedonian nationality and language.
 * [1988] ** Greek Prime-Minister Papandreu and the Foreign Affairs' Karolos Papulias, agree to recognize the Macedonian language in Greece. The banker’s affair "Koskotas" brings down the PASOK government, and the documents were never signed.
 * Cyrilic || Roman || Pronounciation ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/A.gif align="center"]] || ===**A**=== || 'a' as in 'rather' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/B.gif align="center"]] || ===**B**=== || 'b' as in 'brother' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/V.gif align="center"]] || ===**V**=== || 'v' as in 'vodka' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/G.gif align="center"]] || ===**G**=== || 'g' as in 'got' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/D.gif align="center"]] || ===**D**=== || 'd' as in 'do' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/GG.gif align="center"]] || ===**Gj**=== || as the dj sound in 'verdure' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/E.gif align="center"]] || ===**E**=== || the e sound in 'bear' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/ZZ.gif align="center"]] || ===**Zh**=== || 'zh' as in 'treasure' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/Z.gif align="center"]] || ===**Z**=== || 'z' as in 'zero' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/ZS.gif align="center"]] || ===**Dz**=== || 'z' plus 'y' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/I.gif align="center"]] || ===**I**=== || 'i' as in 'machine' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/J.gif align="center"]] || ===**J**=== || 'y' as in 'young' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/K.gif align="center"]] || ===**K**=== || 'k' as in 'keg' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/L.gif align="center"]] || ===**L**=== || 'l' as in 'lad' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/LL.gif align="center"]] || ===**Lj**=== || the 'ly' sound in 'colliery' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/M.gif align="center"]] || ===**M**=== || 'm' as in 'map' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/N.gif align="center"]] || ===**N**=== || 'n' as in 'no' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/NJ.gif align="center"]] || ===**Nj**=== || 'ny' as in 'canyon' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/O.gif align="center"]] || ===**O**=== || 'o' as in 'shawl' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/P.gif align="center"]] || ===**P**=== || 'p' as in 'pop' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/R.gif align="center"]] || ===**R**=== || 'r' as in 'rock' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/S.gif align="center"]] || ===**S**=== || 's' as in 'loss' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/T.gif align="center"]] || ===**T**=== || 't' as in 'too' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/KK.gif align="center"]] || ===**Kj**=== || 'k' plus 'y' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/U.gif align="center"]] || ===**U**=== || 'oo' as in 'book' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/F.gif align="center"]] || ===**F**=== || 'f' as in 'fat' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/H.gif align="center"]] || ===**H**=== || 'h' as in 'hot' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/C.gif align="center"]] || ===**C**=== || 'ts' as in 'cats' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/CH.gif align="center"]] || ===**Ch**=== || 'ch' as in 'chop' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/DZ.gif align="center"]] || ===**Dzh**=== || 'j' as in 'just' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/SS.gif align="center"]] || ===**Sh**=== || 'sh' as in 'hush' ||
 * [[image:http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~dusko/gifs/SS.gif align="center"]] || ===**Sh**=== || 'sh' as in 'hush' ||

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