Aromanians in the Republic of Macedonia
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (9,695 (2002 census)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kruševo, Štip, Bitola, Sveti Nikole | |
| Languages | |
| Aromanian, Macedonian | |
| Religion | |
| Macedonian Orthodoxy | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Aromanians |
The Vlachs in the Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian: Власи / Vlasi), also known as Aromanians (Аромани/Aromani), are an officially recognised minority group numbering some 9,695 people according to the 2002 census. They are concentrated in Kruševo, Štip, Bitola and Skopje. They are referred to as Vlachs by the Macedonian authorities and society.
The Aromanian population in the Republic of Macedonia are commonly known as Vlachs (Власи/Vlasi) or Tsintsars (Цинцари/Cincari), and have historically been called "Macedo-Romanians".
The Aromanians are a unique ethno-linguistic group, having their own culture and language, who have existed for over two thousand years in the Balkan peninsula. They were for centuries considered a traditional mountain people and soon the word Vlach became synonymous with animal-husbandry and herdsmanship throughout the Balkans. Although traditionally live-stock herders many began to emigrate to larger cities in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many Aromanians who fled from Moscopole and the nearby mountainous Gramos region also helped develop Krusevo(Crushuva) and Bitola (Bitolia) into large prosperous cities. Shepherds of the Pelister region near Bitola used to herd huge flocks of sheep from the summer pastures on Pelister (Pilister) to the winter lowlands near Ghevgelia, Giannitsa and Salonica (Saruna). Typical Aromanian goods were cheese, meat, wool and wool garments, leather, rugs and carpets. Many Aromanians also entered the rug and carpet trade by selling kilimi and flocati. Wealthier Aromanians established themselves in Bitola and Štip as inn-keepers, artisans, caravan traders and merchants. An Aromanian market (Macedonian: Vlaška čaršija) was established in Bitola's Aromanian quarter. The Aromanian presence is still present in Bitola to this day.
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