Skopje, 6 January 2024 (MIA) — Orthodox Christians in the country are celebrating Orthodox Christmas Eve, Badnik, on Jan. 6 – the day preceding Christmas, the great holiday of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

The traditional Badnik celebration will be held at Skopje's St. Clement of Ohrid Cathedral Church.

This year's Badnik godfather is Bozhidar Jankovski, the owner of Diners, and the toast-giver is actor Atanas Tanovski, who will give a Badnik toast in front of the church.

After priests consecrate the wafer, the tea, and the oak tree branches that the godfather and toast-giver had collected earlier on the slopes of Vodno, they will give them away to the congregation.

Orthodox believers decorate their homes on Christmas Eve with oak tree branches, which are considered symbols of happiness, love and light.

Badnik processions will be held in cities across the country under the slogan "Rejoice."

In Skopje, the celebration begins at Macedonia square at 11 am with a carolling concert featuring child singers and Macedonian pop music stars.

Following the performance, the participants will form a Badnik procession. They will walk to the St. Clement of Ohrid Cathedral Church, where they will be welcomed by the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia HB Stefan.

On Orthodox Christmas Eve, believers gather their closest family around the dinner table for a Lenten supper. The highlight is the breaking of the bread that contains a coin.

The bread is divided between family members, the home, and Christ. It is believed that whoever finds the coin on Badnik will have great luck follow them throughout the entire year. mr/