
Mavrovo

The Republic of Macedonia is a Southeast European country, north of Greece and west of Bulgaria. Macedonians make up 66% of Macedonia's population of 2 million, Albanians 23%, and Turks, Vlach, and Serbs, the rest (1994 census). Skopje is the capital of Macedonia with over 600,000 inhabitants. Macedonian is the official language of the country and it is also spoken by the Macedonian minorities in Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania, and by the Macedonian Diaspora around the world. Most of the residents are of Eastern Orthodox Christian and Muslim faith, while some are Roman Catholic or Protestant. The State symbol is a golden sun symbolizing the freedom of the country and its people. The Independence day, September 8th, is Macedonia's national holiday. Macedonia is known for hospitality, rich culture and history, and love for good wine and great traditional food. It is also the legendary land of Alexander the Great and the birthplace of Slavonic literacy and literature.