Prilep, 23 February 2026 (MIA) — Prilep held Sunday its traditional Forgiveness Day carnival, with around 500 masked people, both locals and visitors, parading in the central streets of the city, MIA's Prilep correspondent reports.

Now in its 25th year, the carnival brought together participants from Bulgaria and Serbia as well.

The parade was led by the Prilep Bear Leaders, a group of men in bear costumes performing an ancient local ritual of chasing away evil spirits.

Lars Algel, president of the Federation of European Carnival Cities, said he was happy to be back in Prilep after 10 years.

"I have special feelings about being here and enjoying the carnival," Algel said.

According to Prilep Mayor Dejan Prodanoski, the carnival brought back the "splendor of celebrating Forgiveness Day in Prilep."

"The masks reflect all that happened during the year," Prodanoski said. "To wipe out the bad, to make room for the good. And to forgive."

A panel of judges chose to award the carnival's Grand Prix for the best group costume to the Dobre Jovanovski Elementary School students for their "Happy Farm." 

Carnivalgoers were also invited to a Clean Monday dinner of beans at St. George Monastery near Prilep, to celebrate the first day of Eastern Orthodox Christianity's Great Lent. mr/