Strumica Carnival has a centuries-old tradition and first written sources are from the Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi.
The Carnival in Strumica is becoming more and more popular and the number of participants each year is increasing. This event has many side events, exhibitions of children’s masks, drawings and cartoons, selection of the best masks, stage performances, etc.
The present-day carnival has assumed a modern dimension, with influences from similar carnivals worldwide, although its traditional custom of going to engaged girls' houses remains.
Through its multicoloured appearance, figures, and masks with different motives and topics, it aims to demonstrate the infinite struggle, dualism, and antagonism between good and evil, realism and sarcasm, irony, satire, and tradition.
The masks are chosen by the participants themselves. Each participant chooses his/her own idea for disguise, while a group disguise represents the idea of the whole group. The masks are made by the participants themselves and are very rarely ready-made. Preparations begin very early, usually two, three, or more months before the carnival.
In 1994 Strumica became a member of the International Association of Carnival Cities FECC, and in 1998 hosted the 18th International Congress of Carnival Cities.
The whole town lives with and for the carnival. It is a great event in which hundreds of masked people participate, in addition to several thousands visitors from Strumica and lately from other towns in Macedonia and abroad, watching this very attractive and remarkable tradition. The number of carnival participants and visitors increases every year.
