Strumica Carnival

From 13-17 February, Strumica will host the famous “Strumicki Carnival.”  It is one of the oldest carnivals in the Balkans. No one can recall exactly when it started, but it is known to have been celebrated as early as 1670. This carnival takes place every year on the “trimeri days,” or 3 days before the beginning of Lent, the 40 day period leading up to the Christian Easter holiday. The word carnival comes from the medieval Italian phrase carne levare, meaning to remove meat, because meat is traditionally restricted or forbidden during the lent.
The carnival in Strumica is a lot of fun. The streets swell with a river of masked people in all manner of costumes, often playing instruments and engaged in merrymaking. For more information visit the official website.