When a child is born in Macedonia, the good news is celebrated with close family and friends one or two days after the birth. This is traditionally called “mekici.” Mekici are fried dough, crispy outside but soft inside. “Meko” is Macedonian for soft.
The celebration is either held in the house of the newborn child or at a restaurant nearby. Using a restaurant is perhaps becoming more popular out of convenience, since it spares the family from stress related to cooking and serving guests as well as solves the problem of finding enough room to accommodate a large group of people.
Guests are served mekici, the obligatory treat, which symbolize the desire for the child to grow big just the same way the dough rises. The guests, who commonly bring sweets and other presents for the newborn, express these sentiments to the parents. Either the new father or the grandparents return hope to the guests that they might also experience the same joy. It is a moment of shared happiness accompanied by music and sometimes dancing.
Have you ever been invited to “mekici?” If so, what was your experience? What similar customs can you share? Please join the community and leave a comment.
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