Independence Day of the Republic of Macedonia

THE Republic of Macedonia, a country in the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe, celebrated its Independence Day on September 8. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991.

Macedonia has been described as “a landlocked Balkan nation of mountains, lakes, and ancient towns with Ottoman and European architecture.” It is bordered by Kosovo in the northwest, Serbia in the north, Bulgaria in the east, Greece in the south, and Albania in the west. It is said that the country got its name from the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. The name is said to mean either “highlanders” or “the tall ones” which probably referred to the mountainous nature of its topography or the physical attributes of ancient Macedonians.

The country’s capital and largest city, Skopje, is Macedonia’s political, cultural, economic, and academic center. Its sprawling Old Bazaar quarter and historic buildings have been transformed into museums, including the National Gallery of Macedonia that is housed in a 15th century Turkish bath complex. It is in the Old Bazaar quarter that goldsmiths, shoemakers, copper-smiths, and other skilled craftsmen have kept alive the country’s beautiful and age-old traditions. At the far end of the bazaar is an enclosed market called Bit Pazar whose origin dates back to the Turkish period. It is where everything from vegetables to textile to bric-a-brac are bought and sold. Along adjacent alleys are tea rooms, pastry shops, and exchange offices.

Independence Day in Macedonia is usually marked with a speech by the country’s president; parades; performances by the Macedonian philharmonics, national ballet, and national folk dancing company; free music concerts; festivals, other cultural and historic displays; and food fairs.

We greet the People and Government of the Republic of Macedonia, led by President Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of its 25th Independence Day anniversary.