Delchevo, 28 November 2025 (MIA) — Delchevo celebrated Thursday evening the 11th anniversary of the inscription of Kopachkata, a Macedonian social dance from the village of Dramche, Pijanec, onto UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, MIA's Delchevo correspondent reports.

During the event, organizers screened archival materials featuring performances of Kopachkata. The event also included a music performance by young tambura players from the local tambura school supported by the Municipality of Delchevo.

The celebration was attended by Delchevo Mayor Ivan Gocevski, local government officials, Makedonska Kamenica's Jakov from Kamena Reka literature and calligraphy festival organizers as well as Croatia's Macedonian community member and Zagreb's Ohrid Pearl cultural association representative Ivana Brezovac.

In her address to attendees, Kopachkata folklore group president Persa Stojanovska said the folklore group, formed 77 years ago, was the oldest folklore group in the country and the only official practitioner of the Kopachkata dance, which has become a symbol of identity of the Pijanec region.

"Let's celebrate people from Pijanec, who left behind a legacy of identity, culture and tradition reflecting our roots. Kopachkata is what unites us and gives us a sense of belonging. Whomever and whatever we are — without Kopachkata, we are nothing," Stojanovska said.

Organizers also paid tribute to the former leader of Kopachkata group, folk artist Dimitar Uzunski, who died in 2021. Stojanovska said his contribution to Macedonian folklore was of immeasurable value. mr/