This year’s United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) Macedonian Old New Year’s Masquerade – Vasilica Celebration held at the Embassy of Macedonia in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 17, 2015 was an overwhelming success. Over 270 Macedonians and friends of Macedonia attended this 10th annual gathering, always held during Martin Luther King weekend, linking two Macedonian traditions, the Orthodox New Year’s and the Vevchani Carnival, which has been taking place for 1,500 years. Guests were dressed up in fancy costumes and Venetian masks.
Attending the Masquerade for a second year in a row, Kerri Norris of Italians in DC described the evening as the “most eccentric fashion event of the year in Washington, D.C.”
Washingtonians enjoyed a unique opportunity to meet Macedonia’s new Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Vasko Naumovski, experience Macedonian dancing provided by DJ Nikifor and taste delicious Macedonian traditional cuisine and Macedonian wine donated by Stobi and the Balkan Wine Project.
Following welcoming remarks by Ambassador Naumovski, UMD President Metodija A. Koloski, and D.C. representative Zhikica Pagovski, the gentlemen, together with Macedonian Consul General Goce Karajanov to New York, broke the traditional homemade Orthodox New Year’s bread, made by Koni Mandic, and the coin was found by one of the lucky participants of the Masquerade. Best female and male costumes were voted on and the winners received a bottle of Macedonian wine.
The Hot Spots Network was the official media sponsor of the 10th Annual Macedonian Old New Year’s Masquerade – Vasilica Celebration. Click here for the video and here for pictures. Scene Bisnow also covered the evening, and the article/pictures can be found here.
UMD would like to thank the International Professionals Group of D.C. and Sajith Kumar Menon for their partnership again this year, and bringing close to 100 guests to the event. IPG photos can be found here. UMD thanks its planning committee and volunteers for their exceptional hard work to organize the Masquerade.
Save the Date for the 11th Annual event on Saturday, January 16, 2016.