The festival “Ilindenski denovi” has opened a new path, a new beginning, a new page in the motivation for the existence and presentation of the spiritual culture. In its four decades of growth, upgrade and continual beating, with its knowledge, professionalism, effort and limitless love there have been implemented thousands of folk dancers, interpreters, as well as professional people from the area of ethnology, ethnomusicology, choreology, music, journalism, and literature.
Every one of them carries impressions from the festival.
“Since 1971 in the Macedonian cultural space there has been a significant state cultural- artistic manifestation which puts great enthusiasm and strives for the numerous amateurs of the area of folklore to get to know and present the most significant contents of one’s own rich popular culture.”
Kiril Tancevski, MA
Festival “Ilindenski denovi”
Bitola (monography) – Mikena 2004
“Come with tame wings of a bird in a country which gives birth to wellness.
Come in the open country full of sunlight and songs.
Come with sweet sounds to celebrate all Our Ilindens.
Come let’s be a song, folk dance and love, love in exchange for love,
To give hearts as gift…
We will host you with bread and salt.”
Dimitar Dimitrovski Takec
(“With bread and salt” – Bulletin of the festival 1972)
“We had to have the second national festival for folk songs and dances “Ilindenski denovi” in Bitola, so as to see all the diversity and brilliance of the folk dances and the music in Macedonia today.”
D-r Tome Sazdov
Bulletin of the Festival 1972
“At the second national festival we had been honored
with unforgettable experiences. In a competitive spirit, joined with exhibitions, counseling and lectures from the area of the folk culture, this festival found the most appropriate way for a scene presentation of the Macedonian folklore and has become an irreplaceable route for our folklore groups and cultural artistic associations.
D-r Giorgi Gorgiev
“Genuine and fresh as a wind from Pelister”
Bulletin of the festival 1973
“The third national festival with its functionality has approved its existence and trust from all of us who feel the need for vital creation of a festival which will be the route for all the performers who will present and affirm Macedonian folklore in the future.”
D-r Giorgi Giorgiev
Macedonian folklore, no. 13 (1974)
Magazine of the folklore institute “Marko Cepenkov”
“In the course of the festival we followed different vocal styles and performances from the original nasal and throat separate singing and chords of the ritualistic vocal sound to the small vocal groups who conveyed Macedonian urban song to us full of rhythm, melody and harmony.”
Borivoe Jimrevski
“Ilindenski denovi 1974”
Macedonian folklore, no.14 1974
Magazine of the folklore institute “Marko Cepenkov”
“As a whole this festival has been a true aesthetic experience especially I was impressed by the versatility and the treasure of the performances of the folklore groups with their presentations of genuine folklore without chorographical, musical and other interventions which mostly destroy the beauty which our people built for centuries.”
D-r Kiril Penusliski
25 years National festival “Ilindenski denovi”
Bitola 1971-1995,
Monography, UNK “Ilindenski denovi” Bitola
“The 10th jubilee festival not only gave the expected results but as well with its quality different contents of the programme and the massive response of the groups of participants, has been a true crown of the basic ideas and strives for creative presentations of the original folklore marks of the Macedonian people and the ethnicities who live in our country.”
Kiril Todevski, Vera Klickova
M-r Kiril Tancevski, Ilija Alusevski
Report and estimation of the evaluation commission
Bulletin of the festival, 1980
“The national festival for folk songs and dances “Ilindenskii denovi” that took place in Bitola for the past fifteen days, by its character represents a unique event in our country. In all these years it showed a great deal of the creation which has been created in Macedonia for centuries it spreads folklore amateurism and significant mission in affirmation of folk culture not only here but in different parts of the world as well.”
Kiril Todevski
“Folklore festivals immediate informers
and affirmators of folklore works”
Macedonian folklore no. 36 – 1985
Magazine of the institute for folklore “Marko Cepenkov”
“Whistle of the brilliant folk costumes have made the whole city stood up. To almost every person great feelings have been caused by the great colorful river made of folk dancers, singers and instrumentalists in beautiful national costumes.
Ilija Alusevski
The 20th jubilee edition of the festival
of folk dances and songs
“Ilindenski denovi” – Bitola ’90,
Symbol of the two Ilindens,
Macedonian folklore, no.46 -1990
Magazine of the institute for folklore “Marko Cepenkov”
“The festival is a celebration for the eyes, ears and our soul because we are still people who understand the cry of the bagpipe, the growling of the pipes. Because we see time through the festival as a whole, from yesterday to today, yet we work for tomorrow.”
Done Petlickovski
Former president of the Council of the Festival
25 years National Festival “Ilindenski denovi”
Bitola 1971-1995, Monography,
“Ilindenski denovi” Bitola
“As every year before the festival meets its goals and tasks through the realization of the programme and concept…I think that the greatest benefit of the 30th festival is the significant appearance of the chalgija authentic music expression…”
D-r Dragan Dautovski
Bulletin of the festival 2000
“Those were days of a true national celebration, for all who the love beautiful folk creation because the good for years and the beautiful for the eyes is being presented– Macedonian folk ring dance and Macedonian folk songs.”
Tofe Drakulevski
Bulletin of the Festival 2000
“The festival “ Ilindenski denovi” with the chosen programme has established itself as a pillar to defend and save and prolong the life of the genuine folklore, of the influence of alien elements which damage our folklore, of influences which are not characteristic of the authenticity if the dances, songs, customs, of the national costumes and rituals.”
Blaze Palcevski, ethnologist
Bulletin of the Festival 2001
“Is there anything more beautiful for the player, the singer or the folk dancer? Definitely, NO! It’s all left as a memory in their soul, as a memory of something beautiful, organized, experienced and spontaneous for sure, realized in continuity, something to remember and to meet again.”
Nikola Firev, a journalist
Macedonian radio, Radio Skopje
Bulettin of the festival 2001
“Celebration, excitement and ecstasy, awe and a number of hidden things which can’t be expressed or described.“
Richard Ivanjisevic
“Praznik I Spektakl”
Bulletin of the festival 1999
“The authentic presentation of the choir, vocal and instrumental tradition, defines its further development of a more traditional approach in the process of saving and scene presentation of a part of a tradition, with a presentation of the spirit in the contemporary moment.”
Blagica Ilic
SBMSC “Ilija Nikolovski Luj” Skopje
