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Plotnikova A., Kazakov I., Chivarzina A. Funeral and Memorial Rites of the Aromanians in North Macedonia (Štip and Veles): An Ethnolinguistic Essay

A. Plotnikova
Institute of Slavic Studies of the RAS
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0001-9154-5046
E-mail: annaplotn@mail.ru

 

I. Kazakov
Institute of Slavic Studies of the RAS
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0001-7601-3287
E-mail: ivan.kazakov.1999@gmail.com  

 

A. Chivarzina
Institute of Slavic Studies of the RAS
Moscow, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0002-0365-3723
E-mail: mss-vah@yandex.ru  

 

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ABSTRACT. This article presents the findings of a 2023 ethnolinguistic expedition to regions of North Macedonia where Macedonians and Aromanians coexist. In the Štip and Veles districts, a significant portion of the population speaks the Aromanian idiom. The sustained and intensive contact between these ethnic groups has resulted in notable linguistic and cultural exchanges. The primary objective of this fieldwork was to document vocabulary and cultural contexts related to funeral and memorial rituals among both Macedonian and Aromanian communities. The ethnolinguistic data collected reveal a strong preservation of archaic elements within this domain of traditional folk spiritual culture. The ethnocultural texts analyzed in this study focus on funeral rites and mythological beliefs concerning ancestors’ souls, particularly within the framework of the Pentecost ritual complex. The article examines all stages of funeral and memorial practices in detail, including the immediate post-mortem period and subsequent commemorative traditions. Special attention is given to the deep-rooted interaction between the Štip and Veles Aromanians and the enduring Slavic archaic traditions. Additionally, evidence of cultural borrowing among the Slavic populations of these regions indicates the influence of the neighboring Aromanian-speaking communities. The analysis of the field data identifies common Balkan and Carpatho-Balkan mythological motifs, as well as Romanian elements of traditional folk culture. These findings align with patterns observed in close Eastern Romanian enclave zones, further highlighting the region’s interconnectedness of cultural and linguistic traditions.

 

KEYWORDS: traditional folk culture, funeral rituals, folk calendar, Aromanians, Macedonians, archaic, ethnolinguistics

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-8600-2025-1(27)-196-217
UDC 393.9 (497.17)

 

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