Strumica Carnival

The Strumica Carnival is one of the most notable customs and

traditions of its kind in Macedonia, held every year during the
so-called Trimeri Days, marking the start of the Lenten Fast,
which always begins on Sunday Eve of Forgiveness and lasts
until Wednesday. Tuesday is the traditional carnival night,
when masked groups stroll through town to the homes of
engaged girls until early in the morning. Yet, the carnival's
association with the Trimeri Days is merely in terms of its
timing, but not the meaning, since Trimeri is a Christian
tradition, while the carnival a remnant from a pagan cult.

The Strumica Carnival is a very long tradition, mentioned by chronicler Evlija Celebija as early as 1670.
Passing through Strumica, he wrote: "...I came to a town situated in the foothills of a high hill and I saw that
masked people ran from one house to another, in laughter, whistle, and song...," clearly indicating the
possibility that it was during the Trimeri carnival festivities in Strumica.

The ancient origins of the carnival are further indicated by many features of the
masks, costumes, and objects that have remained in use (leather garment, horns
from many animals, ox, male goat, ram), as well as the allusion to numerous
cripples with crutches who appear in the carnival (exorcism, wishes for health,
fertility, etc.). This is typical of its original pagan form, which later experienced
a transformation in traditional form or mask, which is still remembered by the
eldest residents of Strumica. Another feature of the carnival's traditional form is
the presence of many erotic elements and songs.

The present-day carnival has assumed a modern dimension, with influences from
similar carnivals worldwide, although its traditional custom of going to engaged
girls' houses remains.

Through its multicolored appearance, figures, and masks

with different motives and topics, it aims to demonstrate the
infinite struggle, dualism, and antagonism between good and evil, realism and sarcasm,
irony, satire, and tradition. The masks are chosen by the participants themselves. Each
participant chooses his/her own idea for disguise, while a group disguise represents the
idea of the whole group. The masks are made by the participants themselves and are very
rarely ready-made. Preparations begin very early, usually two, three, or more months before
the carnival. The commonest mask types include the anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and
zoo-anthropomorphic masks.

The whole town lives with and for the carnival. It is a great event in which hundreds of
masked people participate, in addition to several thousands visitors from Strumica and
lately from other towns in Macedonia and abroad, watching this very attractive and remarkable tradition. The
number of carnival participants and visitors increases every year.

Ilija Suvariev, ethnologist

source: carnivalstrum.org.mk
TASK – Answer the questions

1. When does the Strumica Carnival take place?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. When is the traditional Carnival night?
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What did Evlija Celebija see at the Carnival?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What do the people in masks want to demonstrate?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Who chooses and make the masks for the participants?
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. How much time do people need to prepare their masks for the carnival?
______________________________________________________________________________________