Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle (Holiday)
The Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle is a national holiday which is celebrated on October 23 in North Macedonia. In 2007 the holiday was voted into law as a new national holiday. It is a non-working day.
Historical background
Narrative in North Macedonia
The holiday is celebrated on the occasion of the formation of the
modern independent Macedonian state
. This date, October 23, is connected with the organized struggle of the peoples living in Macedonia to create an independent state.
Historical controversy
Because this day is considered the beginning of
Bulgarian Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committees".[2] IMRO was active not only in Macedonia but also in Thrace and initially the membership in the organization was allowed only for Bulgarians.[3] Contrary to the impression of Macedonian researchers who believe that the Internal organization espoused "Macedonian national consciousness," the local revolutionaries during Ottoman times declared their belief, that the majority of the Slavic Christian population of Macedonia was "Bulgarian."[4] The modern Macedonian historiographic claim of close relationship between the IMRO demands for autonomy with the creation of a separate ethnic Macedonian state, does not correspond with historical records.[5][6]
In this relation, the Bulgarian side has made several proposals that some shared historical events (e.g. the foundation of IMRO) could be celebrated jointly, but this idea was rejected as unacceptable.
Celebration
In many different parts of North Macedonia the holiday is celebrated with various festivities, concerts, and sports competitions. The official festival is held in the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, where major national figures and historians from the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts give speeches.
See also
References
- ^ Празник во служба на големобугарската идеја, Група првоборци и преродбеници, Утрински весник, Број 2228 среда, 08 ноември 2006.
- ISBN 1-85065-534-0, p. 53.
- ISBN 382587365X.382587365X.
- ISBN 9639776289, pp. 107-137.
- ISBN 900425076X, p. 303.
- ISBN 0801469791, pp. 15-16.