GALICHNIK WEDDING 2023: SIX DECADES OF TESTIMONY FOR AUTHENTIC TRADITION, CULTURE AND VALUES

This year, from the 14th to the 16th of July, Galichnik, located on the picturesque landscape of Mount Bistra, will host the traditional cultural and scenic event “Galichnik Wedding”. Pivara Skopje, SKOPSKO and the rest of its brands remain part of the “Galichnik Wedding”, thus continuing the partnership that has been ongoing since the very beginning of the event.

11 July 2023

The thousands of visitors from the country and abroad who are expected to attend the Galichnik Wedding this year will once again have the opportunity to enjoy authentic wedding customs and rituals, enriched with the unique color of folk costumes and original songs and dances, characteristic of these regions of our country. In the center of attention of the most famous Macedonian wedding this year will be the bride Elisaveta Buloska and the groom Oliver Andreevski, who is originally from Galichnik.

“Thanks for the support we receive from our long-term partners, this year we managed to make all the necessary preparations for holding the Galichnik Wedding, as a widely known and recognized event that contributes to the promotion of our country in the world, its culture and tradition, as well as all her beauties. We are encouraged by the interest shown by young people to be part of the Galichnik wedding, which is a necessary prerequisite for the continuation of this age-old Macedonian tradition. All that, as well as the large number of visitors who will come to Galichnik this year, are an additional motive for all of us to continue making every effort to maintain the continuity of this authentic event, which began to be organized in this format exactly 60 years ago.” said Aleksandar Kostic, president of the Galichnik Local Community Council.

This year same as the others, the institutional patron of the Galichnik Wedding is President Stevo Pendarovski, and the Ministry of Culture provided financial support for its holding.

“The Ministry of Culture is a strong supporter of the Galichnik Wedding, but also a promoter of the Galichnik wedding as a cultural heritage that speaks of the history and culture of the Macedonian people. Recognizing the significance of the event and the Galichnik wedding customs of the Mijak region, and of the Macedonian people in general, the Institute of Folklore is working on a report with which, for the first time, this unique living tradition will receive the deserved institutional protection. In this way, the unique customs that represent the essence of the Macedonian people and are a reminder of another time, way of life, level of culture and consciousness that must not be forgotten will be protected from oblivion”, said the Minister of Culture, Bisera Kostadinovska- Stojchevska.

Pivara Skopje, which has been a partner of the event since its inception, in addition to financial support for the organization of the Galichnik Wedding 2023, also provided an adequate amount of SKOPSKO and other drinks from its portfolio for the participants in the wedding ceremony.

“All of us at Pivara Skopje are proud that for several decades we have been partners in the noble mission of nurturing, maintaining and enriching the tradition of the unique Galichnik wedding ceremony, which is a significant part of our rich national cultural heritage. In this multi-decade partnership of ours, we are connected by the positive energy and excitement that we are part of a centuries-old tradition, which reflects our company values and which is engraved in the essence of our brands”, said Marija Minincic, Community Partnerships Manager of Pivara Skopje, sending congratulations to this year’s Galician newlyweds Elisaveta and Oliver, wishing them a lot of health, happiness and prosperity. “I believe that these few weeks are the most exciting period of their lives. We – Pivarci, are happy to be a part of it and to have the opportunity to contribute and influence it to be as beautiful, rich and impressive as possible”, said Minincic.

She repeated the constant appeal to all visitors – to consume alcohol responsibly, not to drive if they drink and to take care as much as possible to maintain the clean nature in Galicnik and its surroundings.

By the way, traditionally, the start of this year’s Galichnik Wedding will be marked on Saturday, July 15, with the setting up of the wedding flag and the symbolic act of “throwing three guns” from the groom’s house. Then the well-known wedding rituals will be performed – “welcoming the drums” and “mother-in-law’s dance”, and performing of “Teshkoto”, which symbolizes the sending and welcoming of migrant workers, which was a common occurrence in these parts. Then, on the plateau in front of the famous Upia fountain, the bridal dance and other traditional wedding dances will be performed. In the evening, the in-laws, will take the girl to fill water at three taps, and the party will continue until the early hours of the morning. The morning of Sunday, July 16, will mark the traditional wedding customs, including the famous looking through the ring, the reception of the in-laws, the taking of the bride and her reception on the plateau of Upia, and also the return to the singing of ritual songs performed by a singer group. The wedding of the newlyweds will take place on the same day, in the “St. Apostles Peter and Paul” in Galichnik, and the wedding ceremony will end with the act of sending off the drummers and trumpeters.

In order for all visitors to be able to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of this year’s Galichnik wedding, a special traffic regime will be established on the days of the event, which the organizers appeal to be consistently respected.
Those who will not be able to attend the event, will be able to follow all the contents and events of this year’s program through a “live stream”, i.e. through a “live” transmission on social networks.