Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve (Badnik) on Wednesday – the day prior to the great holiday of the Birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas.
The traditional event at the Skopje-based Cathedral church “St.Clement of Ohrid” and the children’s Badnik processions in light of Christmas will not take place this year due to the pandemic.
However, Badnik (Christmas Eve) celebrations will be held despite the coronavirus situation while observing all protective measures and protocols, according to the event board.
Professor Nikola Panovski is this year’s Badnik godfather, while professor Miodrag Vrchakovski is the toast-giver.
Details on the celebration and health protocols in place will be available ahead of the event.
“On January 6, at noon, wherever you are on planet Earth, stop for a moment and pray for a better year for all. This year’s Christmas will be different, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be a merry one,” says the Association “Badnikovi Povorki.”
In the evening on Badnik, the closest family is gathering around the Badnik dinner.
The main event at this dinner is the cutting of the Christmas bread on pieces for each member of the family, one for the home and one for Jesus Christ. Inside the Christmas Bread there is a coin. There is a belief that whoever finds the coin in his/her piece of the bread will have luck the whole year. The coin is put in a glass of wine and the lucky person should drink from the wine.
The house is decorated with oak branches with their leaves on, representing the wish of the family for long and healthy life.
