Republic Day (Republic of Macedonia)
Encyclopedia
Republic Day or the Day of the Republic (Macedonian
: Ден на Републиката, Den na Republikata) is a major national holiday of the Republic of Macedonia
. It is celebrated on the 2nd of August, which is also a major religious holiday – Ilinden (Macedonian: Илинден; St. Elijah day), according to the Julian Calendar
. It commemorates two major events in the establishment of the statehood of the Republic of Macedonia, and which took place on this date:
Macedonians have traditionally celebrated this day, also called Ilinden, because of its religious significance which has its roots in the Christian St. Elijah (Macedonian: Св. Илиja, Sv. Iliya), and also in the earlier pagan traditions. It has been proclaimed a national holiday since 1944. Major gatherings are held in the monasteries, and there is a march of horsemen from Skopje
, the capital, to Kruševo
, where the core of the Ilinden Uprising leaders established the Kruševo Republic. The main celebration takes place in Kruševo, in the area called Mechkin Kamen
(Bear's Rock), where a major battle with the Ottoman army took place in August 1903.
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
: Ден на Републиката, Den na Republikata) is a major national holiday of the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. It is celebrated on the 2nd of August, which is also a major religious holiday – Ilinden (Macedonian: Илинден; St. Elijah day), according to the Julian Calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
. It commemorates two major events in the establishment of the statehood of the Republic of Macedonia, and which took place on this date:
- The Ilinden Uprising of 1903 which was organized by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization against the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and during which a short-lived republic was proclaimed, and - The First Assembly of ASNOM of 1944, during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which laid the foundation of the modern Macedonian Republic.
Macedonians have traditionally celebrated this day, also called Ilinden, because of its religious significance which has its roots in the Christian St. Elijah (Macedonian: Св. Илиja, Sv. Iliya), and also in the earlier pagan traditions. It has been proclaimed a national holiday since 1944. Major gatherings are held in the monasteries, and there is a march of horsemen from Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, the capital, to Kruševo
Kruševo
Kruševo also spelled Krushevo, is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. It is the highest town in Macedonia, situated at an altitude of over 4,000 feet above sea level. The town of Kruševo is the seat of Kruševo Municipality.-History:...
, where the core of the Ilinden Uprising leaders established the Kruševo Republic. The main celebration takes place in Kruševo, in the area called Mechkin Kamen
Mechkin Kamen
Mečkin Kamen is a hill near the city of Kruševo. A war memorial by Dimo Todorovski at the site bears the same name.-The Legend of Mečkin Kamen:...
(Bear's Rock), where a major battle with the Ottoman army took place in August 1903.