Babari 2026 | Vasilica in the Bair, Bitola | 13 January | PART 3

This project is supported by UNESCO, through the “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” (CC4WBs), a project funded by the European Union that aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact. @UNESCOVeniceOffice #CC4WBs #CCI #culture #EU ⸻ This video follows Vasilica celebration in full house-to-house movement in Bair, Bitola, North Macedonia on 13 January. The Bride remains central — a man dressed as a woman, dancing without pause, channeling ritual force and embodying the New Year. Her continuous movement allows the ritual to manifest physically. The Babari maintain energy, guarding the Bride and ritual space. At stops, especially at the crossroads, the procession expands into large circular dances (kolo), often counterclockwise, symbolically reversing time to leave the old year behind. Music — zurna and drums — drives rhythm, repetition, and trance. Everyone in the community participates naturally, contributing to a shared, embodied experience of renewal. Historical context: Vasilica is a winter ritual with millennia-old roots, originally a pagan celebration of renewal, protection, and the turning of the seasons, now integrated with the Christian feast of Saint Basil (Old New Year). It is part of a wider Balkan and European tradition of masked winter rituals, where masked and costumed figures, often in animal skins, create noise, movement, and chaos to protect the community, drive away evil, and channel seasonal energy. These rituals are living, embodied traditions, performed through dance, noise, and physical presence rather than words, and they have been passed down orally for generations. ⸻ #Babari #Bitola #Bair #Macedonia #NorthMacedonia #Mask #Masks #Tradition #Masquerade #GoatSkin #AnimalSkin #Zurna #Drum #Ethnography #Anthropology #CulturalAnthropology #Culturalheritage Ritual #Rite #Music #EthnoMusicology #Festival #newyear ⸻ If you liked this video, please 👇 👍 LIKE, 🔔 SUBSCRIBE and 💬 COMMENT for more content! ⸻ 🌟 Follow us on our other profiles: Instagram: / tijanatimebomb TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dromenaworld?... Telegram: https://t.me/dromenaworld ⸻ ✨ Stay connected for more updates and cultural content!