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Macedonia

Culture

Macedonians treasure relationships (particularly family) and hospitality.  Evidence of these values is interwoven throughout Macedonian culture.  When a Macedonian enters a room where several people are, he or she will shake hands with and greet each person individually.  Overnight guests are given the best bed in the house, even if it means the hosts must sleep on the floor.  Visits often last for hours, involve lots of food and coffee, and no topic of conversation is off-limits.   

Here are some of the unique customs you will find in Macedonia:
  1. When visiting a friend, you should take a gift, like flowers, chocolates or fruit, and a special toy or candy for each of the children of the house.
  2. When you give flowers, they should be in odd numbers, not even.  Even numbers of flowers are reserved for funerals.
  3. Macedonians generally do not plan too far ahead, or confirm their plans until right before the event. So, almost every conversation regarding possible plans ends with, "OK, so we'll hear each other."  Translation: you need to call each other again before the event.
  4. Macedonians most often drink Turkish coffee and ethnic Albanians usually drink Russian Tea. When you have had enough tea, be sure and turn your spoon upside down on top of your glass, or they will just keep pouring!
  5. Bread is a major part of the diet and it's said that the average person eats a loaf of bread each day.
  6. Macedonia is a late night culture. You can go visiting at 10 PM, but don't show up between 3 - 6 PM, that's nap time.
  7. The "Promaja" or draft is the most common cause of illness in Macedonia.
  8. Macedonia is a very social culture where people are much more important than time. The favorite activity for young people is just hanging out and talking.
  9. If guests show up at your house, you must stay home and entertain them, even if you already had plans to go out.
  10. The 1st and 18th birthdays are the most significant. When it's your birthday you are expected to treat everyone else to a party, including buying or making the cake yourself.
  11. It is polite to take off your shoes as you enter someone's home. In the winter, they keep extra house slippers available to wear, so your feet don't get cold.
  12. Each fall people set up their portable aluminum wood stoves outside and make the traditional red pepper relishes called "ivar" and "lutenitsa." These will be eaten on bread throughout the winter when fresh vegetables are less available and more expensive.
  13. It is acceptable, and sometimes even necessary, to push and shove in the lines at the post office, bank, and especially getting on and off of public transportation.
  14. In Macedonia, New Years is bigger than Christmas, and the time when they will give gifts to one another and have parties.

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