35 Things Macedonians Would Miss Most During the Apocalypse:
- Cheap Wine
Because where else can you get a bottle of good quality wine for only $5.55 [284 Denar]?
- Chocolate and Strawberry Popcorn
Two flavors that you wouldn’t think would taste so good together!
- Vacationing on Lake Ohrid
Despite our lack of Mediterranean coastline, we’ve got some of the best waterside real-estate in the Balkans.
- Constantly drinking Rakija
Our strong fruit brandy can cure any and all ailments you may have!
- Fearing the Promaja
That deadly draft everyone made you live in fear of getting sick from.
- Independence Day
Nothing beats our pride in our nation!! Not even during the apocalypse could we top this unity!!
- Never being [allowed to be] full!
No matter how much you protest, Baba will always give you more.
- The best cheese and veggies, all home–grown
Because Macedonia has does healthy living right since the beginning.
- Trmka
Since we still use the old-style of beekeeping, other types of honey just don’t cut it.
- Mountains on mountains on mountains
We could’ve made a “35 mountains Macedonians would miss…” and not even name them all! Which leads us to…
- Mountain Biking!
We’ve got so many mountains, and with mountains come tough terrain and gorgeous views for the adventurous biker.
- Katarina Ivanovska
We all know there’s nothing better than a Makedonsko Devojce!
- Pesna Cave
Is Macedonia actually in Tolkein’s universe? Some might say, “Yessss myyyyy Precioussss…”
- World Cartoon Gallery
Because who has better humor about the plight of the world than Macedonia’s cartoonists?
- K-15 spoofs
And again, because who has a better humor about Macedonia’s plight than Macedonia’s finest satirical screenwriters?
- Kukurec
“What’s for Easter dinner?” / “Stuffed lamb intestines!” … sound not-so-good to you? Cool, more for me!
- Ajvar
Because nothing can ever come close to this wonderful sensation in your mouth-
- Turkish… ahem– Macedonian… coffee
Some of the strongest coffee in the world. But, don’t finish your drink! Keep your grinds for the…
- Fortune tellers!!!
They can be scary accurate… or you can DIY fortune tell… little trickier.
- Pogacha
Thank goodness there are a bunch of different ways to make this, since it’s literally always on the table!
- Christmas!!! … on January 7th
Macedonians love confusing all non-Orthodox Christians with our “week-late” celebrations… despite the fact that we do them better than anyone!
- Macedonian Idol
It is always enjoyable to watch people make a fool of themselves… and being surprised when someone isn’t half bad.
- Calling everyone either “Chichko/Striko” or “Tetko/Strino”
Because everyone is related… but not by blood!
- Skopje International Jazz Festival
While jazz might get annoying after a while, we appreciate the opportunity to hear these tunes for a few days a year!
- Burek
Our comfort food… after a long day, all you want is some homemade burek.
- Celebrating everyone’s Name Day
We get the equivalent of two birthdays!
- Praying to Mother Theresa for everything: including soccer scores!
Of course we know she’s from Skopje…
- Asking the neighbors for a cup of oil, rice, coffee, etc.
No, this is not just in the Three Little Pigs story. We ask one another for favors, and you’d be surprised how many of us will help out a neighbor!
- Goran Pandev
The Left-footed forward. Captain of the national team. Top scorer. 5-time Macedonian Footballer of the Year Award Winner. Must I say more?
- Strumica Carnival
Some Macedonians may even say our celebration is more extravagant and much more fun than Mardi Gras…
- Growing up with folklore that’s still not animated and does not feature catchy tunes (Disney…)
We grew up with the real deal—picture books and oral performances.
- Tulumba
Yum. Yum. Yum. Sugar, syrup, and dough. Must I say why we would miss this?
- Scuba Diving
Lake Ohrid is a pretty cool place to scuba dive, the water is super clear and the fish are abundant.
- Old Bazaar, Skopje
Bartering, bustling, and much too busy. Cool stuff though, for pretty cheap!
- Never being allowed to sit on the floor…
… for fear of getting a sore throat, or killing your ovaries. It’s all the fault of that darned promaja.
By Siobhan Finnerty, UMD International Policy and Diplomacy Fellow.
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