PROJECTS - Ethnology and ethno genesis

I. MACEDONIAN NATIONAL MYTHOLOGY

Project duration: 1992 – 1997

Principal investigator: Dr. Tanas Vražinovski

Co-workers: Mr Ljubčo Risteski, Mr Vladimir Karađoski, Lola Simeska

The main purpose of the scientific project “Macedonian national mythology” was discovering and presenting issues associated with genesis of the national myths, their place and role in religious system, social conditions influence on their development and functioning, and last but not least their meaning in contemporary culture.  Mithology, as one of the most important fields of national culture, was a subject of researches, which focused on mythological characters and images, beliefs, magical-religious practices. Investiagtions provided a way to understand the world outlook, historical development and spiritual culture of Macedonian ethnos.

Publications:

National Demonology in Macedonia, editor:  Tanas Vražinovski, Co-workers: Vladimir Karađoski, Lola Simeska, Ljubčo Risteski. Institute for the old Slavonic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep 1995, p. 157;

Macedonian national mythology, book I, editor: Co-workers: Vladimir Karađoski, Lola Simeska, Liubčo Risteski. Institute for the old Slavonic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep 1998, p. 351;

Macedonian national mythology, book II, editor: Co-workers: Vladimir Karađoski, Lola Simeska, Liubčo Risteski. Institute for the old Slavonic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep 1998, p. 323;

II. DICTIONARY OF MYTHS AND NATIONAL CULTURE OF MACEDONIANS

Project duration: 1998 – 2000

Principal investigator: Dr. Tanas Vražinovski

Co-workers: Dr Sonia Zogovik, Mr Vladimir Karađoski, Mr Sonia Jovanovska

This project represents a complete and comprehensive collection which encompasses all components of mythological, Christian and folk characters and performances created and presented by the Macedonians for centuries. Dictionary covers historical characters and events which have references  in the Macedonian national culture and tradition. In dictionary are presented effects of work of  researchers who studied the problem of mythology and folk culture in general, and other cultural activists, writers, poets, artists, who found its inspiration in mythology and folklore.

Publications:

Dictionary of myths and national culture of Macedonians, editor:  Tanas Vražinovski, Preparation: Vladimir Karađoski, Sonja Jovanovska, Sonja Zogovik, Biljana Ristovska-Josifoska. Institute for the old Slavonic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep,2000, p. 471;

III. JOSEPH OBREMBSKI - ONE OF THE PROMINENT FOREIGN RESEARCHES OF MACEDONIANS

Project duration: 2001 - 2003

Principal investigator: Dr. Tanas Vražinovski

Co-workers: Mr Vladimir Karađoski, Mr Sonja Jovanovska

Joseph Obrembski was a famous polish and amercican ethnologist and sociologist, lecturer and professor of many universities in Poland and USA.  With support of  the most important ethnologist, professor of the London University – Branislaw Malinowski, Obrembski gained a scholarship from Rocheffeler foundation in period 1932-1933, scholarship let him to conduct the field researches in Macedonia. 

This project had a great significance for Macedonian ethnology and folklore science. He collected materials of ethnograpfhic and folkloristic value in order to percieve the better problem of Macedonian ethnogenesis, they helped him as well to see the process in birth of national consciousness. He reckoned,  that the Macedonians are separate nation between Serbian, Bulgarian and Greek influences. He was also interested in the religion and magic, which in his view had a huge influence in creating traditional, rural society.

He has also investigate the connections between rituals and social position of group members, he also showed the differences between the women and man’s role in social and traditional activities. Furthermore, he was examining specific function of local fairy tales, songs and magic generally. Project included: Preparation and publication effects of field researches, ethno-sociological studies, photo-album consisted of pictures taken by Obrembski in Macedonia, from 1932 to 1933.

Publications:

 Joseph Obrembski, folkloric and ethnographical materials from Poreče, book I, editor:  Tanas Vražinovski, Preparation: Tanas Vražinovski, Vladimir Karađoski, Sonja Jovanovska. Institute for the old Slavonic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep, 2001, 471, p. 232.

Joseph Obrembski, ethnologic studies, book II, Edition and translation from Polish: Tanas Vražinovski, Macedonian House, Skopje 2001, p. 278,

Joseph Obrembski, ethnologic studies, book III, Edition and translation from Polish: Tanas Vražinovski, Co-operation and translation from English: Ilijana Guševska, Macedonian House, Skopje 2002, p. 148, ‘

Joseph Obrembski, Poreče 1932-1933, editor in chief: Tanas Vražinovski, co-operators: Ana Engelking, Joel M. Halpern, Institute for old Slovenic Culture – Macedonian House, Skopje – Prilep 2001, p. 210.

Miscellany, 70 years from Joseph’s Obrembski researches in Poreče, Republic of Macedonia, international science gathering, Samokov, 14-16 Sepptember 2001, Prilep.

Joseph Obrembski – important investigator of Macedonian culture, Done: Vrazinovski Tanas, Vladimir Karadzoski and Sonja Jovanovska-Rizoska, Matica Makedonska, Skopje 2006, p.266 

IV. HEAVEN AND HELL IN MACEDONIAN AND ALBANIAN NATIONAL CULTURE

Траење на проектот: 2004-2006 година

Project duration: 2004 - 2006

Principal investigator: Dr. Tanas Vražinovski, till april 2006,

Principal investigator: from may 2006 till the end of the project, Vladimir Karađoski

Co-workers: DR. Sonja Rizoska-Jovanovska

Eternal collaborator: DR. Hamid Jaferi

The main aim of the project  Heaven and Hell in Macedonian and Albanian folk culture was to examine credible and authentic materials related to folk beliefs and popular views of the Macedonians and Albanians about hell and heaven, who are members of two different religions, investigation was conducted in order to show differences and similarities in perceiving the temporary life of man on earth, the meaning of life, which according to popular belief, is the attainment of immortality. Therefore, the analysis of was not only presentation of popular worldview in terms of human life but also the impact of religious belief system generally, opinion and behavior of people in our cultural milieu. Immortality ensures error-free, honest and noble life of the country, which leads to paradise, and in contrast dishonesty and sinfulness.

Publications:

V. ROLE OF A MAN AND A WOMAN IN CRISTIAN AND MUSLIM TRADITION IN MACEDONIA

Project duration: 2004 - 2006

Principal investigator: Dr. Sonia Roznoska-Josifoska

Co-workers: Dr . Tanas Vražinovski, Dr. Vladimir Karađoski

Sex was remained as a central problem in human existence in all known religions. It constitute the point of intersection between the two worlds in the human organism. Male and female figure in the folk religion as a pair of contrasting terms,  but in studies they need to be perceived as to be common and indivisible. The initial researches on this issue should move towards the detection specific moments through which we can see the role and the status which are ascribed men and women, in the traditional model of behavior and the process of modernization.

Accordingly, the subject of this project is an exploration of folk beliefs and notions, social relations and ritual activities of the Macedonian Orthodox and Islamic worshippers, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, meaning the members of two different religions, Christian and Islamic, all the similarities, differences and points of overlap.

VI. ETNOCULTURE IDENTITY: MACEDONIANS IN CROATIA AND CROATS IN MACEDONIA: CONDITION AND PERSPECTIVE