To Catch a Floating Cross!

Thousands look on as dozens of grown men race into freezing cold water to capture a cross and good luck and health for the year. This is Epiphany day in Macedonia, aka. the commemoration of the day Jesus was baptised.

The service begins with the arrival of the preistly leaders of the Orthodox church with the banner carriers leading the procession. The Prime Minister also arrived soon after (side note: this is the first time I saw him in person... looks just the same as he does on TV!). Passages from the Gospel of Mark were read which told the story of Jesus going to John the Baptist at the Jordan River to be baptised and how the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. My language is still a bit weak, but it seems the priest went on then to talk about the meaning and tradition of baptism. He then brought everyone to the present by saying that today, the Vardar was their Macedonian Jordan. He then dipped the ceremonial cross into special holy water, splashing it towards the river and onto the spectators, three times. Then he hurled the cross into the river! (If you look above the bridge to the right of the red sign you'll see the cross mid-flight.)

This is what the dozens of swim-trunk-clad men were waiting for. They jumped in an excited frenzy and dashed to be the one to catch the cross. It's believed that the person who catches the cross will have good luck and health in the coming year. The winner also gets a TV, refrigerator and washing machine! A young man named Alexander caught it this year. The other contestants crowded around him, hugging and congratulating him as the applause and cheers of thousands rang out.

Immediately following, people then make their way down towards the waters edge to touch the water, splash it on their face, drink it or gather it into containers to take home. You may wonder why? Well this is because it's believed the water is now holy and will be a blessing to all those who touch it or bring it into their home. There was a sense of joy among the people at the conclusion of this event. And as the preistly procession made thier way off of the bridge toward the church people crowded around to touch or kiss the icons on the banners in reverence.

This was a very interesting event and I'm glad that I finally was able to go.