Прочка

In New Orleans, it is known as Mardi Gras.  In Rio, Carnival.  In Chicago, many of us call if Paczki Day.  Celebrated all over the world is the end of “Ordinary Time” and the beginning of Lent, according to the Church Calendar.  In Macedonia, the beginning of Lent is preceded by Прочка (pronounced Prochka), and the point of the festival is to ask for forgiveness for one’s sins before Lent begins.  As most holidays in Macedonia, the holiday has lost most of its religious significance, but younger people continue to ask for forgiveness from all of those who are older than them (and they are presented with a little bit of money). 

Within Macedonia, there are two major festivals that celebrate the festival.  One is located in Prilep, the other is located in Strumica.  Many people visit these cities from around the world to dress up in costumes and parade around the towns.  While Prilep’s parade is popular among the locals, Strumica’s parade is recognized internationally as an official Carnival site.  People flock from around Europe to see different groups dressed in costume and perform in a parade in Strumica’s center.

Vistiing the Strumica Carnival was a perfect excuse to visit the city.  Strumica is located in the Southeast of Macedonia, very close to the border of Bulgaria.  Any time I would tell people about my travels through Macedonia, locals would insist that I visit Strumica.  Many claimed that it was the most beautiful city, and on top of that there are supposedly two women for every man living there (great chances for anybody interested in being matched with a добра македонка).  Overall, the city did not disappoint, as the charshija was very similar to that of Bitola’s, and the town sported a large, beautiful park.

Otherwise, visiting Strumica was a great opportunity to visit Grace, a fellow volunteer with which I rarely have the time to hang.  It was great to have a whole weekend to talk with a volunteer who is otherwise very busy and that I rarely see.  Our group was a small one, which made our adventures for the weekend more manageable and fun.  Once we all arrived into town, we enjoyed a humble dinner and put on masks to dance in the bars around the city.  All of the residents were decked out in their costumes for both nights, which made it seem like we were celebrating Halloween.

Saturday was the day of the parade, and the whole town was geared up through the afternoon.  House music was blasting from the speakers on the street, which made it seem that the whole town was a trendy coffee bar.  It was difficult not to groove our shoulders a bit as we strolled through the city.  We had a table reserved at one of the bars, so we did not have a great chance to stand and watch most of the parade.  However, Grace’s apartment faced the main street, so we had the luxury to watch the procession from the convenience of her balcony.

This was my first time that I ever attended a Carnival celebration, and I would not be sad if it were my last.  It was interesting to think that cultures spread across the New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro to Macedonia, could share a similar holiday like Прочка.  This holiday is proof that Macedonians sometimes agree, “Нека се стркалаат добрите времиња.”