Macedonian Customs & Habits

[Soldier of Macedon]

Most of the time we don't even realise when we apply them, but they form a part of everyday life for most Macedonians, even those of the Diaspora. I am talking about the little things that naturally occur by instinct and are seldom given attention any more than the moment. I was reminded of this today when I noticed a friend spit three times after walking past a dead bird, it is done when crossing dead animals generally, not even sure if it is Macedonian per se or if it is used by others. Anybody heard of it or similar? If anybody has other examples of customs that may be unique to Macedonians, please share them here.

[Jankovska]

I also do the same when passing a dead animal but I hold my hair when passing a dead bird. No idea why, that's what my gran told me when I was little I should do
I touch wood all the time when we talk about something bad or pretend to spit down my neck (do you not do that). More in this sense: Pu pu tam negovo neka si e
Next I do I always duvam in my hand after I touch my neck (apparently if you don't you will have a long gusha).
I refuse to let my husband sleep on his back with his hands crossed on his chests, freaks me out.
Oh many other SOM. I was kinda raised by my gran, old woman and everything, I know lots of stuff

[Risto the Great]

My Mother and My Grandmother used to make 3 spit sounds and say "Gospo da ti pomozhi" when they would dress me. It has been noted that my wife does not do this for me.

But she did do it for my kids when they were smaller.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Thanks Jankovska, as they come to mind, please post them here, some of those that you mentioned are familiar. I too learned these customs from the oldies.

RtG, you reminded me of another. I remember as a child before going to bed my mum would spit on the back of her hand and touch my forehead, this was repeated 3 times. There was also something said, like a rhyme that was repeated, don't remember exactly. I take it that the purpose was to warn off bad spirits during sleep. Heard of it?

Of course when we say spit, it is more like a feigned or pretend spit rather than the actual thing.

[Jankovska]

If you have a bad dream, the first thing you should look out of the window and you will forget it. If you don't do that and you think the dream will have a bad meaning you must go to the toilet and say it three times. That way it won't come true

[Soldier of Macedon]

Lol....what about lying to someone who has the hiccups so they can cease?

[Jankovska]

Lol....what about lying to someone who has the hiccups so they can cease?

Oh I didn't know that one

When eating bred you should never turn it upside down because you will be poor. You should never leave your last peace of bread/food because that is you luck. If you are eating bread and breaking peaces and if you see that you have broken a new peace while the previous is still on the table (like two peaces that you have forgotten to eat) than you must go and light a candle to the closest dead realtive- it mean they are hungry
If you left hand is itchy than you will be receiving money from somewhere, right hand means you'll be giving money (hate that one).
If you choke on something (ako ti zadrne/zastane) you must slap your self on each cheek and bite your little finger otherwise you will have a fight with someone close or you will worry about something
If your nose is itchy you must slap yourself again/ this means you will fight with someone dear.
If your eye 'ti igra' than you must say:
Ako igras za arno prodozli da igras, ako igras za loso prestani. You'll see that way if you are going to receive good news or bad news.
I'll write as remember

[George S.]

You are right about the spitting i would spit if i see a piece of dog shit or something dead
on the road.How about when people go past a maso church they do the sign of the cross.How about when they are about to drink they pour some on the ground & say it's for the dead.Also when someone is eating & there is a child there you have to give him something in case evil makes his dick small & they can't have children.These are superstitions,traditions,adeti when someone marries there are adeties that are followed
by the zet & nevesta.There's some pretty old customs as what the dever has to do & the numko etc.Also people are told not to walk over someone as they may not grow properly.Also if you play with a stick thats on fire you are going to wet your bed.
It's all mindbogling that in this day & age people still follow heaps of customs & are scared of evil & will pay good money to get someone to bless their home & ward off evil.

[Soldier of Macedon]

people are told not to walk over someone as they may not grow properly.

This is another common one that I also remember.

[Jankovska]

OMG you are right, playing with fire, or not giving food to a little child, haha I have forgotten all those. Pregnant woman must eat everything, you should give her to try everything so the child is not 'strvno' hahaha. Also if a pregnant woman steals fruit or veg and touches her body the mark (shaped like the fruit or veg stolen) will show on the child's body. I have a tomato, my mum loved stealing tomatos I gues, hahaha.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Also if a pregnant woman steals fruit or veg and touches her body the mark (shaped like the fruit or veg stolen) will show on the child's body

Lol, I have heard of that one too.

[Risto the Great]

I also do the same when passing a dead animal but I hold my hair when passing a dead bird. No idea why, that's what my gran told me when I was little I should do

You pull your hair so your mother can live longer.

[Risto the Great]

You never give soap to another person otherwise "ke se stopish".
You throw the soap at them or leave it on the ground next to them.

[Jankovska]

You never give soap to another person otherwise "ke se stopish".
You throw the soap at them or leave it on the ground next to them.

Never heared this one, it's a good one

[George S.]

another one is to kiss the bread & never throw bread away.I remember my grandfather used to wipe his mrsni race on my head.He said like its for health & luck??.
Whenever someone comes past to your home you say burom & partake of whatever you got.Arlia if you are working.The use of incense to ward off evil spirits.
I remember my grandmother gave me an apple she wiped on the dead persons head(yuck)to stop me wetting my bed & have bad dreams.Also people giving darroi for the dead people like stomni with cheresni decorations,with smokvi,lolies.This tradition is still practised in australia.If someone suffers of something they wore an eleice(a trinket of pure silver wrapped in a special material to ward off evil.
Also when i was a child my mother got a piece of woolen material with the urine of a biol
& she put it under the pillow to stop me bedwetting.