Galicnik
Encyclopedia
Galičnik is a mountain village
in the Republic of Macedonia
and along with Lazaropole
is one of the two biggest and oldest Mijak
villages in the region. Galičnik has well preserved traditional architecture
, including an amphitheater in the village square and is famous for its surrounding countryside and nature reserve. People from Galičnik and northwestern Macedonia appreciate the local yellow cheese kaškaval
(Kashkaval) that is produced in the region as well as the local salt brine white cheese "belo sirenje" that is very similar to the feta cheese produced in Greece.
s of the Bistra Mountain, some 10 km in distance from the artificial lake of Mavrovo
and the winter resort of Zare Lazarevski.
tribe whose ancestors settled in mountainous villages in the northwestern region of Macedonia
. This region has plentiful rich pastures for livestock grazing, and this feature attracted numerous nomadic tribes
who created settlements based on cattle-breeding and Shepherding.
In the past, the economy of Galičnik relied on livestock especially the sheep trade
; producing cheese, meat and wool products. Many families with huge flocks made fortunes and became very rich, these people became known locally as "chobans" a word meaning shepherds.
There was a strong tradition of "Pečalba," or seasonal work, where many of the men would leave the village to work in larger towns and cities as skilled laborers such as masons, carpenters and painters. They would be absent from Galičnik for months or even years at a time. By pečalba they earned enough to support a family. They sometimes became wealthy doing pečalba.
, a traditional wedding custom, held annually in summer (in July), on the day of the village feast of the Patron Saint
– Petrovden (St. Peter's day). During the wedding, local men will dance the "Teškoto" (the "hard" or "heavy") - a dance that is meant to symbolize the overcoming of difficulties in life.
Another manifestation that takes place in Galičnik each year is the Galičnik Art Colony.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 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...
and along with Lazaropole
Lazaropole
Lazaropole is a settlement in the Republic of Macedonia. Situated on a plateau at Mount Bistra and surrounded by beech and oak forest; at 1,350 m altitude, it is one of the highest settlements in the country....
is one of the two biggest and oldest Mijak
Mijaks
Mijaks are an ethnographic group of ethnic Macedonians who live in the so-called Mijačija area , along the Radika river, in western Macedonia, numbering 30,000-60,000 people...
villages in the region. Galičnik has well preserved traditional architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, including an amphitheater in the village square and is famous for its surrounding countryside and nature reserve. People from Galičnik and northwestern Macedonia appreciate the local yellow cheese kaškaval
Kaškaval
Kashkaval deriving from the Italian Caciocavallo is a specific type of yellow sheep milk cheese. However, in Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Romania, the term is often used to refer to all yellow cheeses...
(Kashkaval) that is produced in the region as well as the local salt brine white cheese "belo sirenje" that is very similar to the feta cheese produced in Greece.
Location
It is located on the slopeSlope
In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line describes its steepness, incline, or grade. A higher slope value indicates a steeper incline....
s of the Bistra Mountain, some 10 km in distance from the artificial lake of Mavrovo
Mavrovo
Mavrovo is a region in the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia. It is home to Mavrovo National Park and a winter sports center. Some of the villages and smaller hamlets include: Mavrovo, Nikiforovo, Leunovo, and Mavrovi Anovi...
and the winter resort of Zare Lazarevski.
History
The village is part of the Miyak region and the Macedonian people living here are called Miyaks (Mijaci) - the name of the Macedoniantribe whose ancestors settled in mountainous villages in the northwestern region of Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
. This region has plentiful rich pastures for livestock grazing, and this feature attracted numerous nomadic tribes
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
who created settlements based on cattle-breeding and Shepherding.
In the past, the economy of Galičnik relied on livestock especially the sheep trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
; producing cheese, meat and wool products. Many families with huge flocks made fortunes and became very rich, these people became known locally as "chobans" a word meaning shepherds.
There was a strong tradition of "Pečalba," or seasonal work, where many of the men would leave the village to work in larger towns and cities as skilled laborers such as masons, carpenters and painters. They would be absent from Galičnik for months or even years at a time. By pečalba they earned enough to support a family. They sometimes became wealthy doing pečalba.
Events
The most important event in the village is Galička SvadbaGalichnik Wedding Festival
The Galichnik Wedding Festival is an annual festival held in the Macedonian village of Galicnik near the city of Debar in which a selected couple gets married in the traditional "Galichka" style wedding. Traditionally the wedding lasted for 5 days with the main activities on St. Peter's Day every...
, a traditional wedding custom, held annually in summer (in July), on the day of the village feast of the Patron Saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
– Petrovden (St. Peter's day). During the wedding, local men will dance the "Teškoto" (the "hard" or "heavy") - a dance that is meant to symbolize the overcoming of difficulties in life.
Another manifestation that takes place in Galičnik each year is the Galičnik Art Colony.
Notable people from Galičnik
- Makarie Frchkovski-rezbar i freskopisec
- Jakov Frckovski-rezbar i freskopisec
- Kuzman Frchkovski-freskopisec i ikonopisec
- Aleksandar SarievskiAleksandar SarievskiAleksandar Sarievski was a Macedonian iconic singer-songwriter whose career spanned almost six decades. He was one of the most recognizable figures in Macedonian music....
(1922–2002) - George Pulevski (1838–1895)
- Parteniy ZografskiParteniy ZografskiParteniy Zografski was a 19th-century cleric, philologist, folklorist and enlightener from Macedonia, one of the early figures of the Bulgarian National Revival...
(1818–1876) - Dimitrije BužarovskiDimitrije BužarovskiDimitrije Bužarovski Ph.D. is a Macedonian composer, versatile artist and a scientist with interests in different fields: composition, musicology, computers and electronic music, performance, teaching and research ....
(b. 1952)