Skopje, 6 January 2026 (MIA) – Orthodox Christians in the country are celebrating Christmas Eve - Badnik on Tuesday – the day prior to the great holiday of the Birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas.

The traditional Badnik celebration will be held at Skopje's St. Clement of Ohrid Cathedral Church.

"Energo System" co-owner Zoran Kondratenko is this year's Badnik godfather, while musician Jakov Drenkovski is the toast-giver.

Badnik processions will also be held in cities and towns across the country beginning at noon, as well as in the diaspora.

The longest procession is expected in Skopje. Participants will walk from the Museum of the City of Skopje to Macedonia Square, where a nativity scene portraying the birth of Christ has already been put. 

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. 

Photo: MIA archive