Parkin (cake) in November had many Christian festivals, and like Celtic festivals that preceded them they were celebrated with a fire and ritual cakes. November starts with All Hallows Eve, that runs into All Saints Day (1 November), which is followed by All Souls Day (2 November). Little Lent and the forty-day fast until Christmas, started at Martinmas. (11 November). On All Souls Day soul cakes were baked. The Martinmas fair was important being the traditional day when cattle were bought and sold, and servants were hired for the following year. It was also the date that cattle were slaughtered and salted
Republic Day (Republic of Macedonia) Republic Day (Republic of Macedonia) Republic Day or the Day of the Republic or Ilinden (Macedonian: Ден на Републиката, "Den na Republikata", Илинден) is a major national holiday of the Republic of Macedonia. It is celebrated on 2 August, which is also a major religious holiday – Ilinden (Macedonian: Илинден; St. Elijah day; the day is reckoned as 20 July according to the Julian Calendar). It commemorates two major events in the establishment of the statehood of the Republic of Macedonia which took place on this date: Macedonians have traditionally celebrated this day, also called "Ilinden", because of its religious