Vratnica
Encyclopedia
Vratnica is a small village and community located in the Jegunovce Municipality
of Macedonia
. Vratnica lies in the north-west, and is 22km away from the city of Tetovo
and 5km away from Jazince
--the border crossing point with Serbia
(Kosovo
). Prior to 2003 Vratnica was known as the Vratnica municipality.
It is situated in the upper part of the Polog
plain, at the foothills of northern part of Šar Mountain
, under the Ljuboten
peak. The village lies at 700–760 meters above the sea level
.
books or documents dating back to the 15th century. It is registered that there were about 59 families living in Vratnica. In the defter labeled 4 for the years 1467/68 the number of houses had increased to 66, while in 1545 there is a record of 76 houses, and in 1568 there were 84 houses registered.
The village underwent migrations and settlement until the 18th century, and in the 20th century, there was extensive chain migration to the United States. In 1914/1916, the total population of Vratnica was 1,131 with 131 houses; in 1948, there were 1,299 inhabitants and 197 houses; in 1953, there were 1,387 inhabitants and 214 houses; in 1961, the respective numbers were 1,384 and 227; in 1968, 1,240 and 225; and, in 1971, 1,082 inhabitants and 266 houses.
The village of Moravce is also important for Vratnica history, as it was located on the northwest, 800 meters above present day Vratnica. Due to the oppression of the Ottoman Turks
, Moravce inhabitants were forced to search for better living conditions. They directed their steps to the north, towards Kosovo
and middle Serbia
, but Vratnicans were forced to leave those regions as well. They eventually came back and formed modern Vratnica with the ones that stayed at the native land.
During the 2001 War between Albanian insurgents and the Macedonian state
, Vratnica was besieged by the NLA. In 2005 Albanians opened fire on the local police station.
The people from Vratnica mostly originated from different parts of Serbia or Kosovo. This area soon became known as Uzna Srbija because of all the northern settlers. As the years went on the boarders had changed and many have been brainwashed to believe they are Macedonian. True Vratnicani (people of vratnica) are the only ones that have the brain capacity to understand that Macedonia is a part of Greece, not a Balkan Country, and the reason they are still a republic. Macedonia is just a country of other settlers trying to find new land, so therefore you cannot be Macedonian. You are where you originated from and have only migrated there. So all of the people of Vratnica are Serbs.
/Macedonian, vratiti se in Serbian
), because of the ethnic Serb community that migrated to this part and formed a community in the 15th century. The other theories are about Vratnica being some kind of gateway (vrata - in Macedonian and Serbian) between Kačanik
and Polog
valley, another one tells that the western side of Ljuboten, a mountain peak above Vratnica, looks like a neck (vrat, shija - Shija Ljubotenska, in Macedonian and Serbian), which gave it its name. It is a well known fact, that in the charters during King Milutin of Serbia, many families from Raska in the 13th century migrated to the northern areas of today's Macedonia (Tetovo, Skopska Crno Gora & Kumanovo). The inhabitants of this village has always had a pro Serbian ethnic make up regardless of they're Macedonian dialect. Phyically speaking, the people of these villages tend not to look Macedonian. They are appear more Serbian; they're skin is light, they're thinner, taller and have a Serbian accent ('dan' and not 'den'). The language spoken is a cross between Macedonian and Southern Serbian (aka 'Torlak' dialect). Sadly today there isn't a strong Serbian awareness, as the inhabitants of this village are not warriors in nature; therefore, tend to sway easily in ethnic affiliation and don't hold on firmly to historical facts.
consists of seven populated places: Belovište, Vratnica, Staro Selo
, Rogacevo
, Orašje
(Gorno And Dolno) and Jazince
. There are over 3,500 citizens living in this community.
The community consist of Albanians
, Macedonians
and Serbs
.
The Slavic community is divided between Serbian and Macedonian ethnic identification. All practice Orthodox traditions.
Jegunovce municipality
Jegunovce is a municipality in northwestern Republic of Macedonia. Jegunovce is also the name of the village where the municipal seat is found...
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...
. Vratnica lies in the north-west, and is 22km away from the city of Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
and 5km away from Jazince
Jazince
Jazince is a village of the Kosovo – Republic of Macedonia border....
--the border crossing point with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
). Prior to 2003 Vratnica was known as the Vratnica municipality.
It is situated in the upper part of the Polog
Polog
Polog also known as the Polog Valley , is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia near the border with Serbia.It is divided into Upper and Lower Polog...
plain, at the foothills of northern part of Šar Mountain
Šar Mountain
The Šar Mountains , formerly known as the Shar Dagh , is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from southern Kosovo and the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia to northeastern Albania.-Etymology:...
, under the Ljuboten
Ljuboten
Ljuboten is a peak of the Šar Mountains located at the border between Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia. Its height is .-Information:Ljuboten peak although not being the highest peak of the range, is certainly the most attractive and bewildering peak of the Sar Mountains. It is somewhat...
peak. The village lies at 700–760 meters above the sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
History
Vratnica was mentioned for the first time in TurkishOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
books or documents dating back to the 15th century. It is registered that there were about 59 families living in Vratnica. In the defter labeled 4 for the years 1467/68 the number of houses had increased to 66, while in 1545 there is a record of 76 houses, and in 1568 there were 84 houses registered.
The village underwent migrations and settlement until the 18th century, and in the 20th century, there was extensive chain migration to the United States. In 1914/1916, the total population of Vratnica was 1,131 with 131 houses; in 1948, there were 1,299 inhabitants and 197 houses; in 1953, there were 1,387 inhabitants and 214 houses; in 1961, the respective numbers were 1,384 and 227; in 1968, 1,240 and 225; and, in 1971, 1,082 inhabitants and 266 houses.
The village of Moravce is also important for Vratnica history, as it was located on the northwest, 800 meters above present day Vratnica. Due to the oppression of the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
, Moravce inhabitants were forced to search for better living conditions. They directed their steps to the north, towards Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and middle Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, but Vratnicans were forced to leave those regions as well. They eventually came back and formed modern Vratnica with the ones that stayed at the native land.
During the 2001 War between Albanian insurgents and the Macedonian state
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...
, Vratnica was besieged by the NLA. In 2005 Albanians opened fire on the local police station.
The people from Vratnica mostly originated from different parts of Serbia or Kosovo. This area soon became known as Uzna Srbija because of all the northern settlers. As the years went on the boarders had changed and many have been brainwashed to believe they are Macedonian. True Vratnicani (people of vratnica) are the only ones that have the brain capacity to understand that Macedonia is a part of Greece, not a Balkan Country, and the reason they are still a republic. Macedonia is just a country of other settlers trying to find new land, so therefore you cannot be Macedonian. You are where you originated from and have only migrated there. So all of the people of Vratnica are Serbs.
Origin of the name
It is probable that it is because of those movements that Vratnica got its name (to return/to come back = se vraća/се враќа, in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
/Macedonian, vratiti se in Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
), because of the ethnic Serb community that migrated to this part and formed a community in the 15th century. The other theories are about Vratnica being some kind of gateway (vrata - in Macedonian and Serbian) between Kačanik
Kacanik
Kačanik or Kaçanik is a town and municipality in southern Kosovo, in the Uroševac district. The municipality covers an area of , including the town of Kačanik and 31 villages. It has a population of approximately 33,454...
and Polog
Polog
Polog also known as the Polog Valley , is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia near the border with Serbia.It is divided into Upper and Lower Polog...
valley, another one tells that the western side of Ljuboten, a mountain peak above Vratnica, looks like a neck (vrat, shija - Shija Ljubotenska, in Macedonian and Serbian), which gave it its name. It is a well known fact, that in the charters during King Milutin of Serbia, many families from Raska in the 13th century migrated to the northern areas of today's Macedonia (Tetovo, Skopska Crno Gora & Kumanovo). The inhabitants of this village has always had a pro Serbian ethnic make up regardless of they're Macedonian dialect. Phyically speaking, the people of these villages tend not to look Macedonian. They are appear more Serbian; they're skin is light, they're thinner, taller and have a Serbian accent ('dan' and not 'den'). The language spoken is a cross between Macedonian and Southern Serbian (aka 'Torlak' dialect). Sadly today there isn't a strong Serbian awareness, as the inhabitants of this village are not warriors in nature; therefore, tend to sway easily in ethnic affiliation and don't hold on firmly to historical facts.
Vratnica community
The Vratnica communityCommunity
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
consists of seven populated places: Belovište, Vratnica, Staro Selo
Staro Selo
Staro Selo is a Slavic toponym meaning "old village" and may refer to the following villages:*Staro Selo , in Bosnia and Herzegovina*Staro Selo , in Bosnia and Herzegovina*Staro Selo , in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Rogacevo
Rogacevo
Rogačevo is a small village located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia, 26 km away from the city of Tetovo and 1 km away from the village of Jazince, the border crossing point with Kosovo....
, Orašje
Orašje
Orašje is a town in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the river Sava on the border with Croatia. Orašje is the center of the Posavina Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(Gorno And Dolno) and Jazince
Jazince
Jazince is a village of the Kosovo – Republic of Macedonia border....
. There are over 3,500 citizens living in this community.
The community consist of Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, Macedonians
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
and Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
.
The Slavic community is divided between Serbian and Macedonian ethnic identification. All practice Orthodox traditions.
Notable people
Notable people of Vratnican descent.- Kiro Popovski, lawyer and politician
- Sasho CirovskiSasho CirovskiSasho Cirovski is a Yugoslavian-American soccer coach, raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, who led his University of Maryland team to the NCAA championship in 2005 and 2008.-Early life and career:...
, soccer coach - Slavko MilosavlevskiSlavko MilosavlevskiSlavko Milosavlevski is Macedonian sociologist, dissident from the time of the Communism.-References:...
, sociologist
Regular Events
- Traditional Mayday Tournament "VRATNICA" (May 1). One of the biggest sport events in the PologPologPolog also known as the Polog Valley , is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia near the border with Serbia.It is divided into Upper and Lower Polog...
region. The tournament includes soccer and streetballStreetballStreetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
(basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
) competition. In the past handball was also played.
External links
- Vratnica.net - Official web site (in Macedonian Language)
- Map of Vratnica @ Google Maps
- Vratnica United - Bringing Vratnica People Together - Website dedicated to Vratnica and its people. Info, photos, news, events, lifestyle...
- Vratnica @ Twitter - Latest short news from Vratnica area.
- Vratnica.info - Vratnica Fresh News, Articles, Information and Photos
- Cyber VRATNICA Internet Site - Vratnica.5u.com (first website about Vratnica at Internet).
- VratnicaUSA.com - Website for people from Vratnica that live in the United States.
- Vratnizza - Funny stuff related to Vratnica (In Vratnican/Macedonian language)
- 1225-Vratnica.com - Vratnica site in Macedonian language
- Vratnica @ Makedonija.name
- Info page of Rogacevo, populated place in Vratnica community - Rogacevo.5u.com
- DeeJay's Blog - News, articles and interesting stuff about Vratnica and Macedonia
- Vratnica on MakLink.com, 2008 winner of Macedonian Village of the Year