Macedonians (ethnic group) 432709 226176385 2008-07-17T04:32:28Z Cukiger 6242126 very important fact. historical to the macedonian and the hunza people. {{sprotected2}} {{dablink|This article is about the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] ethnic group; for the unrelated ancient people, see [[Ancient Macedonians]] and [[Macedon]]; for the modern Greek regional group, see [[Macedonians (Greek)]]. For other meanings, see [[Macedonian]].}} {{Infobox Ethnic group |group = Macedonians<br/>Македонци<br/>''Makedonci'' |image = |population = '''2,000,000 - 2,500,000'''<ref>{{cite book |title= Македонски Иселенички Алманах '95 |last= Nasevski |first= Boško |authorlink= |coauthors= Angelova, Dora. Gerovska, Dragica |year= 1995 |publisher= Матица на Иселениците на Македонија |location= Skopje |pages= 52 & 53 }}</ref> |region1 = {{flagicon|Republic of Macedonia}} [[Republic of Macedonia]] |pop1 = 1,297,981 |ref1 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.gov.mk/english/glavna_eng.asp?br=18 2002 census]</ref>}} |region2 = {{flagcountry|Australia}} |pop2 = 83,978 - 200,000 |ref2 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/PopularAreas?ReadForm&prenavtabname=Popular%20Locations&type=popular&&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&textversion=false&collection=Census&period=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&productlabel=Ancestry%20by%20Country%20of%20Birth%20of%20Parents&breadcrumb=POTL&topic=Ancestry& 2006 Census]</ref><ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region3 = {{flagcountry|Italy}} |pop3 = 74,162 |ref3 = {{lower|<ref>[http://demo.istat.it/str2006/query.php?lingua=eng&Rip=S0&paese=A12&submit=Tavola Foreign Citizens in Italy]</ref>}} |region4 = {{flagcountry|Germany}} |pop4 = 62,295 - 85,000 |ref4 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Content/Statistiken/Bevoelkerung/AuslaendischeBevoelkerung/Tabellen/Content100/AlterAufenthaltsdauer,property=file.xls 2006 figures]</ref><ref> [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region5 = {{flagcountry|Switzerland}} |pop5 = 61,304 - 63,000 |ref5 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/22/publ.Document.88215.pdf 2005 Figures]</ref><ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region6 = {{flagcountry|United States}} |pop6 = 51,733 - 200,000 |ref6 = {{lower|<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-state=dt&-context=dt&-reg=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT001:001|547;&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-TABLE_NAMEX=&-ci_type=A&-mt_name=ACS_2006_EST_G2000_B04003&-CONTEXT=dt&-tree_id=4001&-all_geo_types=N&-redoLog=true&-geo_id=01000US&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en 2006 Community Survey]</ref><ref> [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region7 = {{flagcountry|Brazil}} |pop7 = 45,000 |ref7 = {{lower|<ref>{{cite book |title= Македонски Иселенички Алманах '95 |last= Nasevski |first= Boško |authorlink= |coauthors= Angelova, Dora. Gerovska, Dragica |year= 1995 |publisher= Матица на Иселениците на Македонија |location= Skopje |pages= 52 & 53 }}</ref> }} |region8 = {{flagcountry|Canada}} |pop8 = 37,055 - 150,000 |ref8 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=801&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= 2006 census]</ref><ref> [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region9 = {{flagcountry|Turkey}} |pop9 = 31,518 |ref9 = {{lower|<ref> [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/extraction/retrieve/en/theme3/cens/cens_nscbirth?OutputDir=EJOutputDir_107&user=unknown&clientsessionid=977006CF24C55C1E56E251C52D2EDAE8.extraction-worker-1&OutputFile=cens_nscbirth.htm&OutputMode=U&NumberOfCells=4&Language=en&OutputMime=text%2Fhtml& 2001 census]</ref>}} |region10 = {{flagcountry|Argentina}} |pop10 = 30,000 |ref10 = {{lower|<ref>{{cite book |title= Македонски Иселенички Алманах '95 |last= Nasevski |first= Boško |authorlink= |coauthors= Angelova, Dora. Gerovska, Dragica |year= 1995 |publisher= Матица на Иселениците на Македонија |location= Skopje |pages= 52 & 53 }}</ref>}} |region11 = {{flagcountry|Serbia}} |pop11 = 25,847 |ref11 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.statserb.sr.gov.yu/zip/esn31.pdf 2002 census]</ref>}} |region12 = {{flagcountry|Austria}} |pop12 = 13,696 - 15,000 |ref12 = {{lower|<ref>[ftp://www.statistik.at/pub/neuerscheinungen/vzaustriaweb.pdf 2001 census ] - Tabelle 13: Ausländer nach Staatsangehörigkeit (ausgewählte Staaten), Altersgruppen und Geschlecht - page 74</ref><ref> [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region13 = {{flagcountry|The Netherlands}} |pop13 = 10,000 - 15,000 |ref13 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region14 = {{flagcountry|Czech Republic}} |pop14 = 11,623 |ref14 = {{lower|<ref>[http://faq.macedonia.org/history/12.1.3.html 1996 Estimate]</ref>}} |region15 = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} |pop15 = 9,000 |ref15 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region16 = {{flagcountry|Hungary}} |pop16 = 7,253 |ref16 = {{lower|<ref>[http://faq.macedonia.org/history/12.1.3.html 1996 Estimate]</ref>}} |region17 = {{flagcountry|Bulgaria}} |pop17 = 5,071 - 25,000 (est.) |ref17 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm 2001 census], [http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF CEDIME-SE report] and Kanev, Krassimir (1998b). “Konventsiyata za maltsinstvata i zdraviyat smisul” [The Minorities’ Convention and Common Sense], Ethno Reporter, No.1, 1998, (Sofia: International Initiative for Minority Rights).</ref><ref>Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE) - ''Macedonians of Bulgaria''</ref>}} |region18 = {{flagcountry|Albania}} |pop18 = 4,697 - 35,000 (est.) |ref18 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.fes.hr/E-books/pdf/Local%20Self%20Government/09.pdf Artan Hoxha and Alma Gurraj "LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND DECENTRALIZATION: CASE OF ALBANIA. HISTORY, REFORMES AND CHALLENGES" "...According to latest Albanian census conducted in April 1989, 98 % of Albanian population are Albanian ethnic. The remaining 2% (or 64816 people) belong to ethnic minorities: the vast majority is composed by ethnic Greeks (58758 ); ethnic Macedonians (4697)...",[http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/albania.php?aid=422], [http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php Joshua Project]</ref>}} |region19 = {{flagcountry|Slovakia}} |pop19 = 4,600 |ref19 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/42/39332415.xls OECD Statistics]</ref>}} |region20 = {{flagcountry|Croatia}} |pop20 = 4,270 |ref20 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.dzs.hr/ 2002 census]</ref>}} |region21 = {{flagcountry|Slovenia}} |pop21 = 3,972 |ref21 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.si/popis2002/si/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 2002 census]</ref>}} |region22 = {{flagcountry|Sweden}} |pop22 = 3,669 - 15,000 |ref22 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BE0101_2006A01_BR_03_BE0107TAB.pdf 2006 census]</ref><ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region23 = {{flagcountry|Belgium}} |pop23 = 3,419 |ref23 = {{lower| <ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.dofi.fgov.be/fr/statistieken/statistiques_etrangers/Stat_ETRANGERS.htm |title=Belgium population statistics |publisher=www.dofi.fgov.be |accessdate=2008-06-09 |last= |first= }} </ref>}} |region24 = {{flagcountry|Denmark}} |pop24 = 3,349 - 12,000 |ref24 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.statbank.dk/statbank5a/default.asp?w=1024 2008 census]</ref><ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region25 = {{flagcountry|Norway}} |pop25 = 3,045 |ref25 = {{lower|<ref> [http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/innvbef_en/arkiv/tab-2007-05-24-05-en.html 2008 figures]</ref>}} |region26 = {{flagcountry|France}} |pop26 = 2,300 - 15,000 |ref26 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/pays-zones-geo_833/macedoine-arym_442/presentation-macedoine-arym_991/donnees-generales_12144.html 2003 census],[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA]</ref>}} |region27 = {{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} |pop27 = 2,278 |ref27 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.uni-koeln.de/jur-fak/ostrecht/minderheitenschutz/Vortraege/BiH/BiH_Marko_Railic.pdf 2005 census]</ref>}} |region28 = {{flagcountry|Poland}} |pop28 = 2,000 |ref28 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Makedonci vo Svetot]</ref>}} |region29 = {{flagcountry|Greece}} |pop29 = 1,406 - 30,000 (est.) |ref29 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.usefoundation.org/foundation/research/olp/viewResearch.asp?CID=56&TID=6</ref><ref>Other Sources: [http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=42&menu=004 UCLA], [http://www.britannica.com/new-multimedia/pdf/wordat077.pdf Britanicca], [Hill, P. (1999) "Macedonians in Greece and Albania: A Comparative study of recent developments". Nationalities Papers Volume 27, 1 March 1999, page 44(14) Dr Peter Hill], [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=GR Ethnologue], [http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/el3_fr.html Euromosaic], [http://www.statistics.gr/eng_tables/S201_SPO_2_TB_AN_06_7_Y_EN.pdf], [http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=326 Minority Rights],[http://dev.eurac.edu:8085/mugs2/do/blob.html?type=html&serial=1044526702223 Greek Helsinki Monitor],[http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/AXL/europe/grece.htm], [http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php Joshua Project]</ref>}} |region30 = {{flagcountry|Russia}} |pop30 = 1,000 |ref30 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Makedonci vo Svetot]</ref>}} |region31 = {{flagcountry|Montenegro}} |pop31 = 819 |ref31 = {{lower|<ref>Montenegrin 2003 census - [http://www.monstat.cg.yu/Popis/Popis01a.zip]</ref>}} |region32 = {{flagcountry|Romania}} |pop32 = 731 |ref32 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.recensamant.ro 2002 census]</ref>}} |region33 = Elsewhere |pop33 = ''unknown'' |ref33 = |languages = [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] |religions = predominantly [[Macedonian Orthodox Church|Macedonian Orthodox]], [[Macedonian Muslims|Muslim]] and [[Protestants in Macedonia|Protestant]] }} The '''Macedonians''' ({{lang-mk|Македонци, ''Makedonci''}}){{ndash}} also referred to as '''Macedonian Slavs'''<!-- --><ref name="Slavs">"Macedonian Slavs" can be translated into Macedonian as ''Македонски Словени'' (''Makedonski Sloveni''). "Slavs" is the primary qualifier used by scholars in order to disambiguate the ethnic Macedonians from [[Macedonia (terminology)#In demographics|all other Macedonians in the region]] (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Macedonian+Slavs%22+OR+%22Slav+Macedonians%22&sourceid=navclient&hl=en Google scholar] for instance). [[Krste Misirkov]] himself used the same qualifier numerous times in one of the first ethnic Macedonian patriotic texts "On Macedonian Matters" (most of the text in English [http://www.misirkov.org/kpm_zmr_eng.htm here]). The Slav Macedonians in Greece were happy to be acknowledged as "Slavomacedonians". A native of Greek Macedonia, a pioneer of Slav Macedonian schools in the region and a local historian, Pavlos Koufis, wrote in ''Laografika Florinas kai Kastorias'' (Folklore of Florina and Kastoria), Athens 1996, that (translation by User:Politis), <blockquote> "[During its Panhellenic Meeting in September 1942, the KKE mentioned that it recognises the equality of the ethnic minorities in Greece] the KKE recognised that the Slavophone population was ethnic minority of Slavomacedonians]. This was a term, which the inhabitants of the region accepted with relief. [Because] Slavomacedonians = Slavs+Macedonians. The first section of the term determined their origin and classified them in the great family of the Slav peoples." </blockquote> However, the current use of "Slavomacedonian" in reference to both the ethnic group and the language, although acceptable in the past, can be considered [[pejorative]] and offensive by some ethnic Macedonians living in Greece. The [[Greek Helsinki Monitor]] reports:<br>: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness. Unfortunately, according to members of the community, this term was later used by the Greek authorities in a pejorative, discriminatory way; hence the reluctance if not hostility of modern-day Macedonians of Greece (''i.e.'' people with a Macedonian national identity) to accept it."</ref><!-- -->{{ndash}} are a [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] [[people]] who are primarily associated with the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. They speak the [[Macedonian language]], a [[South Slavic language]]. About two thirds of all ethnic Macedonians live in the [[Republic of Macedonia]], although there are also communities in a number of other countries. ==Origins== [[Image:Makedonka.jpg|thumb|230px|left|Ethnic Macedonian girl in traditional folk dress.]] ===Anthropology=== The ancestry of present-day Macedonians is mixed. Their linguistic and cultural origins stem from the 6th century when various [[Slavic tribes]] migrated to, and settled in, the region of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. The official position of the [[Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] is that as a whole the modern Macedonian genotype developed as a result of the absorption by the advancing [[Slavs]] of the local peoples living in the [[Region of Macedonia]] prior to their coming (Illyrians, Thracians, Greeks, Romans, etc.). This position is backed by the findings of most ethnographers such as [[Vasil Kanchov]],<ref>Пътуване по долините на Струма, Места и Брегалница. Битолско, Преспа и Охридско. Васил Кънчов (Избрани произведения. Том I. Издателство "Наука и изкуство", София 1970) [http://www.promacedonia.org/vk_1/]</ref> [[Gustav Weigand]],<ref>(ETHNOGRAPHIE VON MAKEDONIEN, Geschichtlich-nationaler, spraechlich-statistischer Teil von Prof. Dr. Gustav Weigand, Leipzig, Friedrich Brandstetter, 1924, Превод Елена Пипилева)[http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/gw/gw_index.html]</ref> and the [[anthropologist]] [[Carleton S. Coon]], which state that the Slavs in 6th century actively assimilated other tribal peoples by absorbing part of the indigenous populations of the area, including [[Greeks]], [[Thracians]] and [[Illyrians]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-4411/Macedonia |title=Macedonia :: History. -- Encyclopaedia Britannica |accessdate=2007-08-27 |format= |work=}}</ref><ref name="isbn0-8371-6328-5">{{cite book |author=Coon, Carleton Stevens |title=[[The Races of Europe]] |publisher=Greenwood Press Reprint |location= |year= |pages= |isbn=0-8371-6328-5 |oclc= |doi=}}, Chapter XII, section 15[http://www.snpa.nordish.net/chapter-XII15.htm]</ref> By absorbing parts of the peoples living there the Slavs also absorbed their culture, and in that amalgamation a people was gradually formed with predominantly Slavic ethnic elements, speaking a Slavonic language and with a Slavic-Byzantine culture. [[Image:Makedonci 2.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Ethnic Macedonians dancing the "Teškoto" folk dance.]] [[Image:Makedonski Nosii 2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Macedonians girls in traditional costumes.]] Some early 20th century researchers as [[William Z. Ripley]], Coon<ref>in his book [[The Races Of Europe]]</ref> and [[Bertil Lundman]]<ref>Lundman, Bertil J. - The Races and Peoples of Europe (New York: IAAEE. 1977)[http://www.snpa.nordish.net/lundman-races.htm]</ref>, mainly considering the language as an indicator, described the Slavic speakers in Macedonia as [[Bulgarians]], and often placed the both populations in a common [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial]] subgroup. Other authors, like [[H. N. Brailsford]], described Slavic speakers from Macedonia as related both with [[Serbs]] and Bulgarians, but still having attributes of a separate people.<ref>http://www.promacedonia.org/en/hb/hb_4_10.html MACEDONIA: Its races and their future. H. N. Brailsford, London, 1906. p. 101]</ref> Certain scholars like [[Russia]]n Alexander F. Rittih have stated that Macedonians did not intermix with any of the [[Turkic tribes]] that raided eastern Balkan regions such as [[Moesia Inferior]], [[Wallachia]] and [[Dobrudja]] (modern Bulgaria and Romania) from the tenth century onwards. Because of the nature of their [[geographic]] location, Macedonians only mixed with the indegenous Balkaners that lived in the [[Region of Macedonia]], and not later invaders. This view, held prominently in Macedonia, makes the ancestry of Macedonians unique compared to their eastern neighbours.<ref>''Кто такие Македонцы?'' - Александр Ф. Риттих, Санкт-Петербург, 1914. ([http://bp0.blogger.com/_NzpNBfJxkY8/Rzn4jYp4-QI/AAAAAAAAA7A/zD8b-TinU9Q/s1600-h/scan0002.jpg стр. 1], [http://bp2.blogger.com/_NzpNBfJxkY8/Rzn4j4p4-RI/AAAAAAAAA7I/I9RKlc_BSOg/s1600-h/scan0003.jpg стр. 2])</ref> ===Genes=== The Macedonian population is also of special interest for {{dn|HLA}} [[anthropological]] study in the light of unanswered questions regarding its origin and relationship with other populations, especially the neighbouring Balkan peoples.<ref name="pmid15361127">{{cite journal |author=Petlichkovski A, Efinska-Mladenovska O, Trajkov D, Arsov T, Strezova A, Spiroski M |title=High-resolution typing of HLA-DRB1 locus in the Macedonian population |journal=Tissue Antigens |volume=64 |issue=4 |pages=486–91 |year=2004 |pmid=15361127 |doi=10.1111/j.1399-0039.2004.00273.x}}</ref> Macedonians are most closely related to Serbs<ref>http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/Science_2000_v290_p1155.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1287948</ref>., Greeks, Bulgarians and Romanians<ref name="pmid12542743">{{cite journal |author=Ivanova M, Rozemuller E, Tyufekchiev N, Michailova A, Tilanus M, Naumova E |title=HLA polymorphism in Bulgarians defined by high-resolution typing methods in comparison with other populations |journal=Tissue Antigens |volume=60 |issue=6 |pages=496–504 |year=2002 |pmid=12542743|doi=10.1034/j.1399-0039.2002.600605.x}}</ref><ref>Bulgarian Bone Marrow Donors Registry—past and future directions - Asen Zlatev, Milena Ivanova, Snejina Michailova, Anastasia Mihaylova and Elissaveta Naumova, Central Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria, Published online: 2 June 2007 [http://www.springerlink.com/content/8300nn2q37527183/]</ref>, but according to others, Macedonians are closest to [[Croats]] and [[Czechs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v11/n7/full/5200992a.html |title=''European Journal of Human Genetics'' - Y chromosomal heritage of Croatian population and its island isolates.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Semino |first = Ornella | url = http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/Science_2000_v290_p1155.pdf | title = The Genetic Legacy of Paleolithic ''Homo sapiens sapiens'' in Extant Europeans: A Y Chromosome Perspective | journal = Science | volume = 290 | pages = 1155–59 | date = 2000 | pmid = 11073453 | doi = 10.1126/science.290.5494.1155}}</ref>. Macedonians are genetically closely related to the other [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] people (the frequency of the proposed ''Slavic'' [[Haplogroup R1a (Y-DNA)|Haplogroup R1a1]], formerly Eu19 ranges to 35% in Macedonians.<ref>{{Citation | author=Semino et al. | year=2000 | title=The Genetic Legacy of Paleolithic ''Homo sapiens sapiens'' in Extant Europeans: A Y Chromosome Perspective | periodical=Science | volume=290 | pages=1155–59 | pmid=11073453 | url=http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/Science_2000_v290_p1155.pdf}}</ref> They are sharply differentiated from their southern neighbours, the Greeks: <blockquote> Similar cases of even more '''significant frequency change over a short geographic distance''' occur between the southern Slavic-speaking populations and their adjacent neighbors:...and Macedonians versus Greeks (30.0%; 95% CI 19.1%–43.8% vs.13.8%; 95% CI 10.1%–18.5%).<ref>[http://evolutsioon.ut.ee/publications/Rootsi2004.pdf Phylogeography of Y-Chromosome Haplogroup I Reveals Distinct Domains of Prehistoric Gene Flow in Europe] Siiri Rootsi et.al., ''American Journal of Human Genetics'', 75, p.p. 128–137, 2004</ref> </blockquote> They also share"the genetic contribution of the people who lived in the region before the [[Slavic peoples]] expansion" <ref>[http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2007/03/anthropological-evidence-and.html Anthropological Evidence and the Fallmerayer Thesis]</ref>. It is also corroborated that there is some non-[[European ethnic groups|European]], inflow in the modern Macedonians.<ref>[http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1034/j.1399-0039.2000.550109.x/abs/ Tissue Antigens. Volume 55 Issue 1 Page 53-56, January 2000.HLA-DRB and DQB1 polymorphism in the Macedonian population.]</ref>Furthermore, these genetic studies support the theories that Macedonians genetic heritage is derived from a mixture of ancient Balkan peoples, as well as the relatively newly arrived Slavs with deep European roots. ==Population== [[Image:MacedoniansintheWorld.svg|400px|right|thumb|The Spread of Ethnic Macedonians throughout the world]] The vast majority of Macedonians live along the valley of the river [[Vardar]], the central region of the Republic of Macedonia and form about 64.18% of the population of the Republic of Macedonia (1,297,981 people according to the [http://www.stat.gov.mk/english/glavna_eng.asp?br=18 2002 census]). Smaller numbers live in eastern [[Albania]], south-western [[Bulgaria]], northern [[Greece]], and southern [[Serbia]], mostly abutting the border areas of the Republic of Macedonia. A large number of Macedonians have immigrated overseas to [[Australia]], [[USA]], [[Canada]] and in many European countries: [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Italy]], and [[Austria]], among others. ===Macedonians in the Balkans=== {{Ethnic Macedonians}} <!-- Please order the following by the number of people --> ====Serbia==== {{Main|Macedonians in Serbia}} [[Serbia]] recognizes the Macedonian minority on its territory as a distinct ethnic group and counts them in its annual census. 25,847 people declared themselves Macedonians in the [http://www.statserb.sr.gov.yu/zip/esn31.pdf 2002 census]. ====Bulgaria==== {{Main|Ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria}} [[Image:Macedonia ethnic2002 03.png|thumb|left|200px|Ethnic Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia, according to the 2002 census.]] In the 2001 census in [[Bulgaria]], 5,071 people declared themselves ethnic Macedonians (see the official data in Bulgarian [http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm here]). Krassimir Kanev, chairman of the [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] ''Bulgarian Helsinki Committee'', claimed 15,000 - 25,000 in 1998 (see [http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF here]). In the same report Macedonian nationalists <!-- see section 3.2.1 --> (Popov et al, 1989) claimed that 200,000 ethnic Macedonians live in Bulgaria. However, ''Bulgarian Helsinki Committee'' stated that the vast majority of the Slavic population in [[Pirin Macedonia]] has a Bulgarian national self-consciousness and a regional Macedonian identity similar to the Macedonian regional identity in Greek Macedonia. Finally, according to personal evaluation of a leading local ethnic Macedonian political activist, Stoyko Stoykov, the present number of Bulgarian citizens with ethnic Macedonian self-consciousness is between 5,000 and 10,000 ([http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=f1218 source]). (The [[Encarta Encyclopaedia]] states that Macedonians make up 2.5% of the total population, ''i.e.'' approximately 190,000, with no mention of how this figure is obtained, as it is evidently refuted by the latest census figures, see [http://encarta.msn.com/fact_631504733/Bulgaria_Facts_and_Figures.html here].) Macedonian groups in the country have reported official harassment (see [[Human rights in Bulgaria]]), with the Bulgarian Constitutional Court banning a small Macedonian political party in 2000 as separatist and Bulgarian local authorities banning political rallies. A [[political organization]] of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria – [[UMO Ilinden-Pirin]] – claims that the minority has experienced a period of intensive assimilation and repression<!--check their website-->. It should be noted though that the Republic of Macedonia banned a similar pro-Bulgarian organization - [http://www.radkomk.com/ Radko] - as separatist[http://www.minelres.lv/minelres/archive/11032000-14:42:54-3629.html]. ====Albania==== {{Main|Macedonians in Albania}} [[Albania]] recognizes ethnic Macedonians as an ethnic minority and delivers primary education in the [[Macedonian language]] in the border regions where most ethnic Macedonians live. In the 1989 census, 4,697 people declared themselves ethnic Macedonians.<ref>Artan Hoxha and Alma Gurraj, Local Self-Government and Decentralization: Case of Albania. History, Reforms and Challenges. In: Local Self Government and Decentralization in South - East Europe. Proceedings of the workshop held in Zagreb, Croatia [[6 April]] [[2001]]. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Zagreb Office, Zagreb 2001, pp 194-224 [http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/kroatien/50257.pdf].</ref> Ethnic Macedonian organizations allege that the government undercounts their number and that they are politically under-represented - there are no ethnic Macedonians in the Albanian parliament. Some say that there has been disagreement among the Slav-speaking Albanian citizens about their being members of a Macedonian nation as a significant percentage of their number are [[Torbeš]] and self-identify as [[Albanians]]. External estimates on the population of ethnic Macedonians in Albania include 10,000 [http://www.albanien.ch/albinfo/pmwiki.php/Main/AlbGeoInfo], whereas ethnic Macedonian sources have claimed that there are 120,000 - 350,000 ethnic Macedonians in Albania [http://www.florina.org/html/2003/2003_osce_albania.html]. ====Greece==== :''See also: [[Aegean Macedonians]], [[Minorities in Greece#Slavic-speaking]], [[Slavic language (Greece)]]'' [[Image:Makeodnki 2.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Ethnic Macedonian girls in folk dresses.]] According to the latest Greek figures of 2006, there are 1,406 holders of citizenship of the Republic of Macedonia in Greece [http://www.migrantsingreece.org/transpartner/Tables.pdf], although it should be noted that Greek census, like the censuses of some other EU member states (Italy, Spain, Denmark, France etc.), do not take into account the ethnicity of the inhabitants of the country and that immigration has significantly increased since then. Claims regarding the existence of an ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece are rejected by the Greek government. These claims are directed at the Slavic-speaking community of northern Greece, which dominantly self-identifies as Greek (not as ethnic Macedonian) [http://dev.eurac.edu:8085/mugs2/do/blob.html?type=html&serial=1044526702223] and defines its language as ''[[Slavic language (Greece)|Slavic]]'' or ''Dopia'' (a Greek word for 'local'). This community numbered by 41,017 people according to the latest Greek census to include a question on mother tongue held in 1951, and local authorities in Greece continue to acknowledge its existence. Depending on dialect, this language is classified by linguists as either [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] or [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]. The size of this community identifying as 'ethnic Macedonians' today is estimated by the [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights|Greek Helsinki Monitor]], at around 10,000-30,000, any others resenting having their Hellenism questioned. GHM is basing this figure on the electoral performance of the ethnic Macedonian political party the region of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonia]]: the [[Rainbow (political party)|Rainbow]], which was founded around 1995 and received only 2,955 votes in Greek Macedonia in the 2004 elections [http://dev.eurac.edu:8085/mugs2/do/blob.html?type=html&serial=1044526702223]. In 2007, it did not stand for elections. The overwhelming majority of Greece's Slavic-speaking community is composed of people with Greek consciousness, which are [[pejorative]]ly referred to with the term [[Grkomani]] by people in the Republic of Macedonia and trans-national ethnic Macedonian communities.<ref name="Loring M. Danforth">The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World, (a) pg. 221 (b) pg. 51, by Loring M. Danforth, ISBN 0-691-04356-6</ref> In 1993, at the height of the name controversy and just before joining the UN, the government in Skopje claimed that there were between 230,000 and 270,000 Macedonians living in northern Greece, while the Athens government claimed there were around 100,000 Greeks in the Republic of Macedonia.[http://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/g/greece/greece945.pdf]. ====The Macedonian Diaspora==== {{see|Macedonian Diaspora}} [[Image:Ethnic Macedonian Dance 1.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Ethnic Macedonian dance "Rusalii".]] Significant Macedonian communities can also be found in the traditional immigrant-receiving nations, as well as in Western European countries. It should be noted that census data in many European countries (such as [[Italy]] and [[Germany]]) does not take into account the ethnicity of émigrés from the [[Republic of Macedonia]]: *'''Australia''': The official number of Macedonians in [[Australia]] by birthplace or birthplace of parents is 83,893 ([http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/statistics/Sect1/Table1p08Aust.pdf 2001]). The main Macedonian communities are found in [[Melbourne]], [[Geelong]], [[Sydney]], [[Wollongong]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[Canberra]] and [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]. (The 2006 Australian Census included a question of 'ancestry' which, according to Members of the Australian-Macedonian Community, this will result in a 'significant' increase of 'ethnic Macedonians' in Australia. However, the 2006 census recorded 83,983 people of Macedonian (ethnic) ancestry.) ''See also [[Macedonian Australians]]''; *'''Canada''': The Canadian census in 2001 records 37,705 individuals claimed wholly- or partly-Macedonian heritage in [[Canada]] [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-state=dt&-context=dt&-reg=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT001:001|547;&-ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_&-TABLE_NAMEX=&-ci_type=A&-mt_name=ACS_2004_EST_G2000_B04003&-CONTEXT=dt&-tree_id=4001&-all_geo_types=N&-redoLog=true&-geo_id=01000US&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en] , although community spokesmen have claimed that there are actually 100,000-150,000 Macedonians in Canada [http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC823709] ''(see also [[Macedonian Canadians]])''; *'''USA''': A significant Macedonian community can be found in the [[United States of America]]. The official number of Macedonians in the USA is 49,455 ([http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-state=dt&-context=dt&-reg=DEC_2000_SF4_U_PCT001:001|547;&-ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_&-TABLE_NAMEX=&-ci_type=A&-mt_name=ACS_2004_EST_G2000_B04003&-CONTEXT=dt&-tree_id=4001&-all_geo_types=N&-redoLog=true&-geo_id=01000US&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en 2004]). The Macedonian community is located mainly in [[Michigan]], [[New York]], [[Ohio]], [[Indiana]] and [[New Jersey]] [http://www.euroamericans.net/euroamericans.net/macedonian.htm] (''See also [[Macedonian Americans]]''); *'''Germany''': There are an estimated 61,000 citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in [[Germany]] ([http://wohnbevoelkerung_in_deutschland.know-library.net/ 2001]) (''See also [[Ethnic Macedonians in Germany]]''); *'''Italy''': There are 74, 162 citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in [[Italy]] ([http://demo.istat.it/str2006/query.php?lingua=eng&Rip=S0&paese=A12&submit=Tavola Foreign Citizens in Italy]). *'''Switzerland''': In 2006 the Swiss Government recorded 60,362 Macedonian Citizens living in [[Switzerland]]. (''See also [[Macedonians in Switzerland]]'') <ref>http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/01/01.Document.20578.xls</ref> *'''Romania''':Ethnic Macedonians are an officially recognised minority group in Romania. They have a special reserved seat in the nations parliament. In 2002 the numbered 731. ''(see also [[Macedonians in Romania]])'' *'''Slovenia''': Ethnic Macedonians have been immigrating to Slovenia since the 1950s ''(see also [[Macedonians in Slovenia]])'' Other significant ethnic Macedonian communities can also be found in the other Western European countries such as [[Austria]], [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Netherlands]], [[United Kingdom]], etc. ==Culture== {{Main|Macedonian culture (Slavic)}} [[Image:Robevihouse.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Architecture in [[Ohrid]].]] [[Image:Makedonski rezbi.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Hand carving works in [[Ohrid]].]] The culture of the Macedonian people is characterized with both traditionalist and modernist attributes. It is strongly bound with their native land and the surrounding in which they live. The rich cultural heritage of the Macedonians is accented in the folklore, the picturesque traditional folk costumes, decorations and ornaments in city and village homes, the architecture, the monasteries and churches, iconostasis, wood-carving and so on. The culture of Macedonians can roughly be explained as a Balkanic, closely related to that of [[Serbs]] and [[Bulgarians]]. ===Architecture=== The typical Macedonian village house is presented as a construction with two floors, with a hard facade composed of large stones and a wide balcony on the second floor. In villages with predominantly agricultural economy, the first floor was often used as a storage for the harvest, while in some villages the first floor was used as a cattle-pen. The stereotype for a traditional Macedonian city house is a two-floor building with white façade, with a forward extended second floor, and black wooden elements around the windows and on the edges. ===Economy=== In the past, the Macedonian population was predominantly involved with agriculture, with a very small portion of the people who were engaged in trade (mainly in the cities). But after the creation of the People’s Republic of Macedonia which started a social transformation based on Socialist principles, a middle and hard industry was being created. ==Identities== :''See also: [[Macedonian Question]]'' Macedonians are people with a unique identity derived from an influence of different cultures. The large majority identify themselves as [[Orthodox Christians]], who speak a [[Slavic language]], and share similarities in culture with their [[Balkan]] neighbours. ===Prior to the beginning of the Macedonian awakening=== [[Image:Hellenism in the Near East 1918.jpg|thumb|Right|200px|Greek ethnographic map of south-eastern Balkans, showing the Macedonian Slavs as a separate people, by Professor George Soteriadis, Edward Stanford, London, 1918.]] [[Image:Volker und Sprachenkarte der Balkan.jpg|thumb|Right|200px|German linguistic map of the Balkans, showing the Macedonian Slavs as a separate people, Volker und Sprachenkarte der Balkan - Halbinsel vor den Krigen 1912-18, Leipzig]] However, the concept of a distinct "Macedonian" ethnicity is seen as a relatively new arrival to the milieu of peoples that is the Balkans. The first records of people who called themselves Macedonians in ethnic connotation occurred in the late 19th century. Previously, any reference to "Macedonians" in medieval and early modern times tended to be used as a regional description rather than a distinct ethnic designation. Such examples include the Greek [[Macedonian dynasty]] which at one stage ruled the [[Byzantine Empire]]. References have also been made to ''Macedonian Slav'' rebellions against Byzantine rule,<ref> The Balkans: From Constantinople to Communism. D P Hupchik</ref> but these have been interpreted by most scholars as non-specific, regional designations. The first ethnographic data pertaining to the Macedonian region as a whole emerged during [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule. These censuses lack any reference to a specific "Macedonian" ethnicity, but only records the population as either Greek or Bulgarian, as well as other minorities - Turks, Aromanians, Jews and Albanians. Most of the ethnographers and travellers during [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule classified Slavic speaking people in Macedonia as Bulgarians. Examples include the 17th Century traveller [[Evliya Celebi]] in his [[Seyahatname]] - ''Book of Travels''- and the Ottoman census of [[Hilmi Pasha]] in 1904 and later. However, they also remarked that the language spoken in Macedonia had somewhat of a distinctive character - often described as a "Western Bulgarian dialect". [http://cc.ece.ntua.gr/~conster/English/PageData/1904_hilmi_pasha.htm] Evidence also exists that certain Macedonian Slavs, particularly those in the northern regions, considered themselves as [[Serbs]][http://www.pogledi.co.yu/makedonija/english/index.php] and the [[Megali Idea|Greek Idea]] predominated in southern Macedonia where it was supported by substantial part of the Slavic population. However, there were ethnographers like Jovan Cvijić and Alexander F. Rittih that qualified the Slavic-speaking population of Macedonia as a separate ethnicity. ====The Macedonian Question==== [[Image:Misirkov-ZaMakedonskiteRaboti.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The front cover of the book "On Macedonian Matters" by [[Krste Misirkov]] published in 1903.]] During Ottoman rule, most of the Christian population of Macedonia didn’t have a formed national identity. They identified themselves through religion. This was due to the [[millet system]], which separated the population according to its religion, rather than ethnographic principles, and due to the strong Byzantine traditions of the Macedonian population until the mid 19th century, the Macedonians were a compact archaic Slavic mass, without a formed national identity.<ref>[http://www.promacedonia.org/serb/cvijc/cvijic_balkansko_poluostrvo_2.pdf Балканско полуострво и јужнословенске земље. Јован Цвијић, Београд.] (page 92-95)</ref> With the beginning of the Greek national renaissance, and after the creation of the modern Greek state, the Slavic-speaking people of Macedonia were considered as Greeks, because the Greek Patriarchy was given the exclusive right to manage the religious and political life of the Christians within the Ottoman Empire. <ref>Histoire de la Grèce moderne. Nikolaos Svoronos</ref>. After the beginning of the Bulgarian awakening, a lot of Macedonians saw it as a chance to struggle against the Greek religious dominance, and joined the process. Besides the existing Greek schools, new Bulgarian ones were being opened. Afterwards Serbia also started opening propagandist schools, and soon in the beginning of the 20th century, Macedonia became an arena in which Bulgarian, Greek and Serbian educational and church institutions were struggling for the assimilation of the local population. <ref>За македонската нација. Драган Ташковски</ref><ref>[http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/retrieve/2353/etd1944.pdf "Shoot the Teacher!" Education and the Roots of the. Macedonian Struggle. Julian Allan Brooks.]</ref> [[Image:Trijazicnik.png|150px|thumb|right|From [[Gjorgi Pulevski]]'s "Dictionary of Three languages: Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish" published in 1875.]] Knowing that the Ottoman Empire rather grouped people together along [[religious]] orientation,<ref> The Balkans</ref> those Macedonians that were under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Greek Patriarchate]] were considered Greeks, those under the [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] were considered Bulgarians, and those under Serbian Patriarchate as Serbs. After 1871 the majority of the Slav-speakers were under the influence of the [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] and its education system, thus in the early 20th century and beyond, were regarded as ''Bulgarians'', whatever that meant.<ref>(Brubaker 1996: 153; Ruhl 1916: 6; Perry in Lorrabee 1994: 61)</ref>.<ref>The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. [http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/LUP_MAL/MACEDONIA.html]</ref><ref>The Races and Religions of Macedonia, "National Geographic", Nov 1912. [http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/en/ng_1912/text.html]</ref><ref>Carnegie Endowment for International peace.REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION. To Inquire into the causes and Conduct OF THE BALKAN WARS, PUBLISHED BY THE ENDOWMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 1914 [http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/en/carnegie/chapter2_3.html]</ref> The term ''[[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]]'', within the context of Macedonian inhabitants, could have referring to any Slavic speaking Christian, regardless of specific ethnic orientation<ref>The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World - Loring M. Danforth, ISBN13: 978-0-691-04356-2</ref>. In general, national awakening in the Balkans developed later compared to Western Europe, developing last of all in Macedonia. By this time Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia had already declared themselves as autonomous sovereign Kingdoms. Continued Turkish oppression in Macedonia was coupled by polarising influences from Macedonia's neighbours. As each country vied to expand further, i.e. into Macedonia, they attempted to persuade the Macedonian population into allegiance. The forum of this persuasion was via provision of education and church services. During Ottoman rule, the Greeks became dominant within the Orthodox millet, however with the majority of Macedonians being illiterate, they were effectively insulated from [[Hellenization]]. Later, most Macedonians turned to the growing [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] and its education system due to the affinity of the languages compared to Greek. ====Historical claims on Macedonia==== Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia also claimed a historic right to Macedonia: Greece promoted the view that the modern Greeks were the closest living people to the ancient Macedonians, the original inhabitants of the southern (Greek) part of Macedonia- thus as their modern "successors", the Greeks believed Macedonia was rightfully Greek. The Bulgarians claimed Macedonia because it had been a vital part of the [[Bulgarian Empire]] and because according to the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] in 1878 Macedonia was granted to the new [[Principality of Bulgaria]]. However, the [[Great Powers]] revised this treaty a few months later on the [[Congress of Berlin]]. Objectively, Bulgaria was closest linguistically and culturally to Macedonia. Likewise, Serbia evoked medieval legacy, whereby the Macedonian city of [[Skopje]] served as the capital of [[Stefan Dušan]]'s 14th century Empire. The propaganda continued until the period between 1878 and 1912 when the rival propagandas succeeded in engaging the Slavic speaking population of Macedonia into three distinct parties, the pro-Serbian, the pro-Greek or the pro-Bulgarian one, at the expense of development of a unique Macedonian identity<ref> Paul Fouracre. Cambridge Encyclopedia of Medieval History</ref>. ===Macedonian awakening=== [[Image:Krste-Misirkov-portrait.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Krste Misirkov]] :''See also: [[National awakening of the ethnic Macedonians]]'' The national awakening of the ethnic Macedonians gathered pace in the late 19th century and early 20th century - this is the time of the first expressions of [[ethnic nationalism]] by limited groups of intellectuals in [[Belgrade]], [[Sofia]], [[Istanbul]], [[Thessaloniki]] and [[St. Petersburg]]. These individuals propagated the unique character of the Slavic speaking population of [[Macedonia (region)]], that is, that the Slavic-speakers of Macedonia compose a separate ethnicity which is different from Serbian and Bulgarian. The activities of these people was registered by [[Petko Slaveykov]]<ref>"The Macedonian question" published 18 January 1871</ref> and [[Stojan Novaković]]<ref>Балканска питања и мање историјско-политичке белешке о Балканском полуострву 1886-1905. Стојан Новаковић, Београд, 1906.</ref> The first author that propagated the separate ethnicity of the Macedonians was [[Georgi Pulevski]], who in 1875 published "Dictionary of Three languages: Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish", in which he wrote: {{cquote|"What do we call a nation"? "People who are of the same origin and who speak the same words and who live and make friends of each other, who have the same customs and songs and entertainment are what we call a nation, and the place where that people lives is called the people's country. Thus the Macedonians also are a nation and the place which is theirs is called Macedonia."}} In 1903 [[Krste Misirkov]] he published his book ''On Macedonian Matters'' in which he laid down the principles of the modern Macedonian nationhood and language. This book is considered by ethnic Macedonians as a milestone of the ethnic Macedonian identity and the apogee of the process of Macedonian awakening. In his article "Macedonian Nationalism" he wrote: {{cquote|"I hope it will not be held against me that I, as a Macedonian, place the interests of my country before all... I am a Macedonian, I have a Macedonian's consciousness, and so I have my own Macedonian view of the past, present, and future of my country and of all the South Slavs; and so I should like them to consult us, the Macedonians, about all the questions concerning us and our neighbours, and not have everything end merely with agreements between Bulgaria and Serbia about us – but without us."}} The next great figure of the Macedonian awakening was [[Dimitrija Čupovski]], one of the founders of the of the [[Macedonian Literary Society]], established in [[Saint Petersburg]] in 1902. In the period 1913-1918, Čupovski published the newspaper ''Македонскi Голосъ (Macedonian Voice)'' in which he and fellow members of the Petersburg Macedonian Colony propagated the existence of a [[ethnic Macedonians|Macedonian people]] separate from the [[Greeks]], [[Bulgarians]] and [[Serbs]], and sought to popularize the idea for an independent Macedonian state. [[Image:Partizani Bitola.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Macedonian partisans liberating the city of [[Bitola]].]] After the [[Balkan Wars]], following division of the [[region of Macedonia]] amongst the [[Kingdom of Greece]], the [[Kingdom of Bulgaria]] and the [[Kingdom of Serbia]], and after [[World War I]], the idea of belonging to a separate Macedonian nation was further spread among the Slavic-speaking population. The suffering during the wars, the endless struggle of the Balkan monarchies for dominance over the population increased the Macedonians' sentiment that the institutionalization of an independent Macedonian nation would put an end to their suffering. On the question of whether they were Serbs or Bulgarians, the people more often started answering: "Neither Bulgar, nor Serb... I am Macedonian only, and I'm sick of war."<ref>Историја на македонската нација. Блаже Ристовски, 1999, Скопје.</ref><ref>"On the Monastir Road". Herbert Corey, ''National Geographic'', May 1917 ([http://www.promacedonia.org/gall/ng1917/217E0388.JPG page.388])</ref> The first revolutionary organization that promoted the existence of a separate ethnic Macedonian nation was [[IMRO (United)]],<ref>The Situation in Macedonia and the Tasks of IMRO (United) - published in the official newspaper of IMRO (United), "Македонско дело", N.185, April 1934</ref> composed of former left-wing [[IMRO]] members. This idea was internationalized and backed by the [[Comintern]] which issued in 1934 a declaration supporting the development of the entity.<ref>Резолюция о македонской нации (принятой Балканском секретариате Коминтерна - Февраль 1934 г, Москва</ref> This action was attacked by the [[IMRO]], but was supported by the [[Balkan]] communists. The Balkan communist parties supported the national consolidation of the ethnic Macedonian people and created Macedonian sections within the parties, headed by prominent IMRO (United) members. The sense of belonging to a separate Macedonian nation gained credence during [[World War II]] when ethnic Macedonian partisan detachments were formed, and especially after World War II when ethnic Macedonian institutions were created in the three parts of [[Macedonia (region)]],<ref name=" Barbara Jelavich "> History of the Balkans, Vol. 2: Twentieth Century. Barbara Jelavich, 1983.</ref> including the establishment of the [[People's Republic of Macedonia]] within [[SFRJ|Socialist Yugoslavia]]. ===Hunza visit=== In [[July]] [[2008]], the Prince and the Princess of the Hunza people visited the [[Republic of Macedonia]] for several days. The Prince Gazanfar Ali Khan arrived at [[Skopje Alexander the Great Airport]] where he was welcomed by [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]] dressed as soldiers of ancient [[Macedon]] and a delegation of the [[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]. He stated that he "is proud to be in the country of his ancestors and has been welcomed by the army of [[Alexander the Great]].<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11762/ BalkanInsight]</ref> . ==History== {{main|History of the Macedonian people}} The history of the ethnic Macedonians is closely associated with the [[Macedonia (region)|historical and geographical region of Macedonia]], and is manifested with their constant struggle for an independent state. After many decades of insurrections and living through several wars, the Macedonians in [[WWII]] managed to create their own country. ==Symbols== :''See also: [[Flags of the Republic of Macedonia]]'' {| align=right |<gallery> Image:Coat of arms of the Republic of Macedonia.svg|The official Coat of Arms Image:Flag of Macedonia.svg|The Flag of the Republic of Macedonia </gallery> |- |<gallery> Image:Mac coat arms unoff.gif|Unofficial Coat of Arms Image:Flag of Macedonia 1991-95.svg|The Vergina Sun (1992 to 1995)</gallery> |} *'''''Sun:''''' The official [[flag of the Republic of Macedonia]], adopted in 1995, is a yellow [[sun]] with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field. *'''''Coat of Arms:''''' After independence in 1992, the Republic of Macedonia retained the [[Coat of arms of the Republic of Macedonia|coat of arms]] adopted in 1946 by the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Macedonia on its second extraordinary session held on [[July 27]], [[1946]], later on altered by article 8 of the Constitution of the [[Yugoslavia|Socialist Federal Republic of Macedonia]]. The coat-of-arms is composed by a double bent garland of ears of wheat, tobacco and poppy, tied by a ribbon with the embroidery of a traditional folk costume. In the center of such a circular room there are mountains, rivers, lakes and the sun; where the ears join there is a red five-pointed star, a traditional symbol of [[Communism]]. All this is said to represent "the richness of our country, our struggle, and our freedom". '''Unofficial symbols''' *'''''Lion:''''' The lion first appears in 1595 in the Korenich-Neorich coat of arms, where the coat of arms of Macedonia is included among with those of eleven other countries. On the coat of arms is a crown, inside a yellow crowned [[lion]] is depicted standing rampant, on a red background. On the bottom enclosed in a red and yellow border is written "Macedonia". Later versions of these coat of arms include a more detailed crown and lion with the word "Macedonia" written in a scroll like style. These coat of arms have also been adopted as the official emblem of [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity|VMRO-DPMNE]], a Macedonian political party. Initially, it was adopted as a state symbol by Bulgaria.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}} *'''''Vergina Sun:''''' (official flag, 1992-1995) The [[Vergina Sun]] is occasionally used to represent the Macedonian people by the diaspora through associations and cultural groups. The Vergina Sun is believed to have been associated with [[ancient Macedonians|ancient Macedonian]] kings such as [[Alexander the Great]] and [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]], although it was used as an ornamental design in Greek art long before the Macedonian period. The symbol was discovered in the Greek region of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and Greeks regard it as an exclusively Greek symbol, unrelated to Slavic cultures and it is copyrighted under [[WIPO]] as a State Emblem of Greece [http://www.wipo.int/cgi-6te/guest/ifetch5?ENG+6TER+15+1151315-REVERSE+0+0+1055+F+125+431+101+25+SEP-0/HITNUM,B+KIND%2fEmblem+]. The Vergina sun on a red field was the first flag of the independent [[Republic of Macedonia]], until it was removed from the state flag under an agreement reached between the Republic of Macedonia and [[Greece]] in September 1995.<ref>Floudas, Demetrius Andreas; {{cite web |publisher= 24 (1996) Journal of Political and Military Sociology, 285|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3719/is_199601/ai_n8752910 | title= "A Name for a Conflict or a Conflict for a Name? An Analysis of Greece's Dispute with FYROM", |accessdate=2007-01-24}}</ref> Nevertheless, the Vergina sun is still used [http://heraldry.mol.com.mk/macedonian_symbols.htm] unofficially as a national symbol by some groups in the country along with the new state flag. == Macedonians through History == <gallery> Image:Tane Nikolov Apostol Petkov.jpg.jpg|[[Apostol Petkov]] (right)<ref name="disputed">Considered to be Bulgarians in [[Bulgaria]] and [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]] in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]</ref> and fellow [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] revolutionary Tane Nikolov . Image:Dimitrija Cupovski.jpg|[[Dimitrija Cupovski]], Macedonian textbook writer and lexicographer Image:Racin.jpg|[[Kočo Racin]], Poet and Writer Image:Hristijan Todorovski Karposh.JPG|[[Hristijan Todorovski Karposh]], member of the People's Liberation Army of Macedonia Image:Metodija Andonov Cento.jpg|[[Metodija Andonov-Čento]], Statesman and president of [[ASNOM]] Image:Risto krle.jpg|[[Risto Krle]], playwright Image:Lazar Kolishevski.JPG|[[Lazar Koliševski]], Political leader and Communist Image:Milco Mancevski at the University of Chicago.jpg|[[Milčo Mančevski]], film director and screen writer <!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Simon Trpceski.jpg|[[Simon Trpceski]], pianist --> Image:Pandev Lazio allenamento.JPG|[[Goran Pandev]], football striker Image:Darko in 2004.jpg|[[Darko Dimitrov]], songwriter, composer and music producer Image:Goceva-ESC2007-portrait.jpg|[[Karolina Gočeva]], singer and songwriter Image:Gruevski.jpg|[[Nikola Gruevski]], current prime minister of the [[Republic of Macedonia]] Image:BrankoCrvenkovskiMacedonFlag.JPG|[[Branko Crvenkovski]], current president of the [[Republic of Macedonia]] </gallery> ==See also== *[[Demographic history of Macedonia]] *[[List of Macedonians (ethnic group)|A list of prominent ethnic Macedonians]] *[[Macedonian Canadians]] *[[Macedonian Australians]] *[[Macedonian Americans]] *[[Macedonians in Germany]] *[[Macedonians in Sweden]] *[[Macedonians in Switzerland]] *[[Aegean Macedonians|Macedonians in Greece]] *[[Ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria|Macedonians in Bulgaria]] *[[Ethnic Macedonians of Romania|Macedonians in Romania]] *[[Macedonians in Serbia]] *[[Macedonians in Albania]] *[[Macedonians in Croatia]] *[[Macedonians in Slovenia]] *[[Ethnogenesis]] *[[Macedonism]] *[[Bulgarians]] *[[Serbs]] ==References== {{Reflist-2}} ==Further reading== * Brown, Keith, ''The Past in Question: Modern Macedonia and the Uncertainties of Nation'', [[Princeton University Press]], 2003. ISBN 0-691-09995-2. * {{cite journal | last = Brunnbauer | first = Ulf | year = 2004 | month = September | title = Fertility, families and ethnic conflict: Macedonians and Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia, 1944-2002 | journal = [[Nationalities Papers]] | volume = 32 | issue = 3 | pages = 565–598 | doi = 10.1080/0090599042000246406 }} * Cowan, Jane K. (ed.), ''Macedonia: The Politics of Identity and Difference'', Pluto Press, 2000. A collection of articles. * Danforth, Loring M., ''The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World'', Princeton University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-691-04356-6. * Karakasidou, Anastasia N., ''Fields of Wheat, Hills of Blood: Passages to Nationhood in Greek Macedonia, 1870-1990'', [[University Of Chicago Press]], 1997, ISBN 0-226-42494-4. Reviewed in ''[[Journal of Modern Greek Studies]]'' '''18''':2 (2000), p465. * Mackridge, Peter, Eleni Yannakakis (eds.), ''Ourselves and Others: The Development of a Greek Macedonian Cultural Identity since 1912'', Berg Publishers, 1997, ISBN 1-85973-138-4. * Poulton, Hugh, ''Who Are the Macedonians?'', [[Indiana University Press]], 2nd ed., 2000. ISBN 0-253-21359-2. * Roudometof, Victor, ''Collective Memory, National Identity, and Ethnic Conflict: Greece, Bulgaria, and the Macedonian Question'', Praeger Publishers, 2002. ISBN 0-275-97648-3. * Κωστόπουλος, Τάσος, ''Η απαγορευμένη γλώσσα: Η κρατική καταστολή των σλαβικών διαλέκτων στην ελληνική Μακεδονία σε όλη τη διάρκεια του 20ού αιώνα'' (εκδ. Μαύρη Λίστα, Αθήνα 2000). [Tasos Kostopoulos, ''The forbidden language: state suppression of the Slavic dialects in Greek Macedonia through the 20th century'', Athens: Black List, 2000] ==External links== *[http://www.newbalkanpolitics.org.mk/OldSite/Issue_2/ismail.eng.asp New Balkan Politics - Journal of Politics] *[http://www.macedonians.co.uk/ Macedonians in the UK] *[http://www.umdiaspora.org/ United Macedonian Diaspora] *[http://www.smk.org.mk/ World Macedonian Congress] *[http://www.maticanaiselenici.com/ House Of Imigrants] {{Ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia}} [[Category:Ethnic Macedonians| ]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Albania]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Bulgaria]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Greece]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Macedonia]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Serbia]] [[Category:Slavic nations]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia]] {{Link FA|mk}} [[bs:Makedonci]] [[bg:Македонци#.D0.9F.D1.80.D0.B5.D0.BE.D0.B1.D0.BB.D0.B0.D0.B4.D0.B0.D0.B2.D0.B0.D1.89 .D0.B2.D1.8A.D0.B7.D0.B3.D0.BB.D0.B5.D0.B4 .D0.B2 .D0.A0.D0.B5.D0.BF.D1.83.D0.B1.D0.BB.D0.B8.D0.BA.D0.B0 .D0.9C.D0.B0.D0.BA.D0.B5.D0.B4.D0.BE.D0.BD.D0.B8.D1.8F]] [[cs:Makedonci]] [[de:Slawische Mazedonier]] [[el:Σλαβομακεδόνες]] [[hr:Makedonci]] [[lt:Makedonai (slavai)]] [[mk:Македонци]] [[nl:Macedoniërs (Slaven)]] [[ja:マケドニア人]] [[pl:Macedończycy]] [[pt:Eslavo-macedônios]] [[ru:Македонцы]] [[sq:Sllavo-maqedonët]] [[sk:Macedónci]] [[cu:Македоньци]] [[sl:Makedonci]] [[sr:Македонци]] [[tr:Makedon (Slav)]] [[uk:Македонці]]