Every year on Petrovden, or St. Peter's Day, Macedonians in Galicnik host a three-day wedding celebration that includes traditional costumes, rituals, and dances. In past centuries, the feast was the only time when local couples could marry; now, a single couple is chosen to be married during the celebrations, known as the Galicnik Wedding.
Lucky Couple Scores Role In North Macedonia's Traditional Wedding Festival
- By RFE/RL
![The bride, Elena Durakovska](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-b451-08da6957b772_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The bride, Elena Durakovska
![The best man shaves the bridegroom, Ilcho Dimitrov, to symbolize the groom's separation from his family.](https://gdb.rferl.org/08a40000-0a00-0242-e1c9-08da695757ab_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The best man shaves the bridegroom, Ilcho Dimitrov, to symbolize the groom's separation from his family.
![When the groom arrives, someone from the bride's family will hang the flag that the groom brought.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-1893-08da695791cf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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When the groom arrives, someone from the bride's family will hang the flag that the groom brought.
![Musicians follow the bridegroom's relatives in the procession.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-de19-08da6957d4c5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Musicians follow the bridegroom's relatives in the procession.
![Durakovska arrives on horseback accompanied by relatives.](https://gdb.rferl.org/08a40000-0a00-0242-73f0-08da6957b30e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Durakovska arrives on horseback accompanied by relatives.
![One of the bride's traditions involves sifting flour.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-6df8-08da6957afc0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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One of the bride's traditions involves sifting flour.
![Men perform and dance in traditional folk costumes.](https://gdb.rferl.org/08a40000-0a00-0242-500a-08da6957be95_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Men perform and dance in traditional folk costumes.
![A woman dressed in traditional attire watches the festivities.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-d211-08da6957e868_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A woman dressed in traditional attire watches the festivities.
![Women dance in traditional folk costumes.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01160000-0aff-0242-5f4d-08da695757df_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Women dance in traditional folk costumes.
![The bride and groom walk to their wedding ceremony at the village's Orthodox church.](https://gdb.rferl.org/08a40000-0a00-0242-1d3e-08da69579d91_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The bride and groom walk to their wedding ceremony at the village's Orthodox church.
![Relatives celebrate the nuptials with homemade brandy.](https://gdb.rferl.org/08a40000-0a00-0242-f552-08da69576b50_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Relatives celebrate the nuptials with homemade brandy.
![The happy bride looks through her wedding ring. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/80280000-c0a8-0242-4f7e-08da695757b9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The happy bride looks through her wedding ring.