Ovcarani

[Momce Makedonce]

Latest videos from Illinden in Ovcharani, enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vaUlFA1dU Овчарани 19/07/2014 Ovcarani 19/07/2014 Μελίτη 19/07/2014 - Александар е цар македонски



ILLINDEN VO OFTSARANI 2014 - YouTube

[Liberator of Makedonija]

The mayor of Ovčarani joining in this time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5igK...el=Egejskiglas

[Momce Makedonce]

Originally Posted by Liberator of Makedonija

The mayor of Ovčarani joining in this time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5igK...el=Egejskiglas

Pande is the best! Always gets involved in the Oro and fighting for Macedonian rights on the other side of the modern day border.

It seems like in recent years Ilinden in Ovcarani has even become an event that some Macedonians from the Republic attend too, it's great to see.

I was watching over some videos from Ilinden there in 2014 and remembered this one with the 5 year old boy from Negush region dancing, such a nice video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOSsblXhGg

Some other great vids from over the years:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2xhN6FQo4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upX1nCPotJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPbqv-1WGzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXKyFnN6mZY

[Liberator of Makedonija]

What organisation sets up the Ilinden? Has become one of the most popular ora in all of Macedonia

[Risto the Great]

The village reps organise their event. They are staunchly Macedonian and I have great memories attending their panagirs.

[Voshtarets]

Both my living 95 year old father and my late mother (Bog da proste) were born in Voshtarani (Ovchareni). The old timers always called it Voshtarani...the name Ovchareni is more recent. I went to visit in 1977 and 1980 and I witnessed a profound awareness amongst the villagers of who they were. Back in the day, the Greek authorities tried numerous times to get the villagers to swear on the Bible to cease conversing in Macedonian but they failed miserably every time.

I'd love to go back for another visit. Ilinden is the time to go. Vaska Ilieva performed at the festival once and had the Voshtartsi in tears when performing her patriotic songs.

My father is fond of saying "Nie Makedontsi imame zlaboki koreni". How true that is.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Voshtarets, how did the public name of the selo shift from Voštarani to Ovčarani?

[Voshtarets]

Originally Posted by Liberator of Makedonija

Voshtarets, how did the public name of the selo shift from Voštarani to Ovčarani?

I asked my dad that question this morning. At the ripe age of 95 his mind is still sharp as a whip, so whatever he tells me on historical matters I accept as the voice of authority.

According to him, the name "Ovcharani" appeared only after the Greek Civil war. He can't explain exactly how that name came about. The original name "Voshtarani" is the correct village name, used by the older generation of villagers as well as the inhabitants of the neighboring villages up to the civil war period. The original name derives from the Macedonian word for wax (vosok) as the village used to export significant quantities of wax and honey to the other sela. In 1926 the Greek government renamed it to "Meliti" which derives from the Greek word for honey, which is "meli".

Anyways, hope this helps. If I find out anything else I'll let you know.

[Risto the Great]

The Macedonians learned to hate themselves in that part of Macedonia. The subtle (and often not so subtle) techniques employed over there meant speaking Macedonian was an indicator of being a peasant farmer rather than an "enlightened Greek". I suspect the newer name came from a degree of self-loathing among some of the enlightened "shpioni".

[Soldier of Macedon]

According to village elders, the original settlement was called Voshtarani. At some point, a few shepherds moved a little further away and established a new village called Ovčarani. When more people arrived, they eventually settled near a river, at the current location of the village. This story was mentioned by Ǵorče Petrov in his “Materials on the study of Macedonia” back in 1896, so both names have been around for quite a while.