Traditions of Ohrid
A lakeside town of Orthodox churches, pearls and fishing, with a festival of Saint Clement and the Epiphany cross dive.
Ohrid lies on one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, and its churches and monasteries hold early Slavic Christian art. The town is a World Heritage site. At Epiphany, on 19 January, men dive into the icy water to retrieve a cross thrown by a priest, and the lucky finder is blessed for the year.
Epiphany and pearls
The cross dive happens across North Macedonia and ends with a blessing of the water. Ohrid pearls, made from a secret mix of fish scales and shell by an artisan family, are used in jewellery. The summer festival has concerts in the Roman amphitheatre and the church of St Sophia.
At the table
Ohrid trout, a protected species, is baked or fried, and Ohrid's table has tavče gravče, baked beans in a clay dish, the national dish. Ajvar, a roasted pepper spread, and rakija are autumn preserves. Burek is the breakfast, with yoghurt. Zelnik is a pie of leeks.
Signature traditions of Ohrid
Also part of it, and being written: Tavče gravče (The bean dish.), Ajvar (The spread.).
A trail idea for Ohrid
- Church of St. John at Kaneo See the lake view.
- Samuel's Fortress See the town.
- Ohrid Old Bazaar Buy pearls.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Epiphany: Gentile da Fabriano, Public domain, source