Skopje, 5 January 2024 (MIA) – Orthodox Christians in the country are celebrating Christmas Eve (Badnik) on Saturday – the day prior to the great holiday of the Birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas.

A traditional event will take place at the Skopje-based Cathedral church “St.Clement of Ohrid”, as well as  children’s Badnik processions in light of Christmas.

Bozhidar Jankovski, CEO at Diners Club Macedonia, is this year’s Badnik godfather, while actor Atanas Tanovski is the toast-giver.

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