Macedonian Orthodox Christians assemble on 19 January to celebrate the religious holiday called Epiphany (MK: Богојавление), commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word for appearance. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, God “appeared” as a holy trinity for the very first time. Jesus was present in the flesh, the voice of God the Father spoke from the heavens, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove.
To mark the celebration, Orthodox believers around Macedonia gather by rivers and lakes,usually as part of a church procession, to witness the throwing of a wooden cross into the waters and a contest for its retrieval. After the Priest tosses the cross into the water, swimmers who have prepared for the event jump in after it. The one who retrieves the cross becomes a local hero and is thought to be blessed with good health and prosperity throughout the year. In addition, he receives various prizes for his success.
As part of the event, an Orthodox priest addresses the assembled spectators, explaining the meaning of the holiday and the importance of repentance in the life of every person, which John the Baptist emphasized throughout his ministry.
Many Macedonian families prepare a Macedonian delicacy for the holiday called aspic (MK: пача). It is prepared from the cartilaginous pork parts such as knuckles, ears, and nose. These are boiled for several hours until they become soft and mushy, releasing the gelatin naturally occurring in cartilage. The bones are then removed and the jelly is mixed with crushed garlic.
Aspic makes for a filling meal on cold winter days!
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