EFE/GEORGI

(Un)Happy Nationalists

Relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia have taken a turn for the worse over the last few months. At the heart of the worsening bilateral relations is a dispute over the Macedonian language, as well as interpretation of key figures and events from the joint recent past of the two countries.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday said there would be no relaxation of curfew rules in Serbia over Orthodox Easter this weekend - after the Church asked for the weekend curfew to be lifted on Sunday from 5am to 10am to let believers leave home and attend churches for the liturgy.

In 2013, Vetevendosje protested against the "soft partition" of Kosovo under which the UN awarded municipalities with a Serb majority considerable autonomy from the government in Pristina.

The Vevcani carnival began on Monday in the village of Vevcani in the west of North Macedonia, with more traditional participants wearing masks depicting ghouls, goblins and devils, in accordance with the ancient belief that the noise and chaos they create will scare away evil spirits.

In North Macedonia, the Christmas celebrations began on January 5, the night before Christmas Eve, with bonfire nights organised across the country. This one took place in the capital, Skopje. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGI LICOVSKI

A March of Red Umbrellas gathered about hundred people who walked through Skopje's main pedestrian areas on Tuesday, calling for the decriminalisation of prostitution in North Macedonia and better social treatment of sex workers in general.

The event this year focused in particular on the fight against gender-based violence.