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January 16, 2026

Vevcani carnival

The North Macedonian town celebrated the 1,400-year-old festival over two days. The part-pagan, part-satire carnival is believed to scare away evil spirits, and marks the beginning of the Julian calendar’s New Year.

Vevcani carnival

TL;DR

  • The Vevcani carnival is over 1,400 years old, blending ancient pagan rituals with modern satire.
  • The entire village becomes an open-air theatre, attracting thousands of visitors.
  • Masks worn include devils, demons, and contemporary satirical figures, such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
  • A key ritual is the 'bride and groom' parading around the village and going door-to-door.
  • Traditional costumes are believed to banish evil and summon in a new year.
  • The festival coincides with the 12 days of the Orthodox Church Christmas and New Year.
  • Participants are referred to as 'Vasiličari'.
  • The festival parade finishes with the burning of the masks, symbolizing the destruction of evil spirits.
  • The carnival features political satire where masked villagers act out current events.

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