Itar Pejo (Sly Peter)
Trajko Ognenovski dedicated to the study of the character of Sly Peter searching through the world and Macedonian literature reveals that the character of Sly Peter was mentioned yet in 1862 citing the information that the biggest collectors as Shapkarev and Cepenkov time in same time 1862- 1865 collected stories of Sly Peter.
According to the folk stories Sly Peter was born in the village of Gradeshnica -Mariovo. Our efforts to find evidence of documentary material and character, were unsuccessful. In the village of Gradeshnica there are people who believe that they are descendants of Sly Peter, but it is only told them by their fathers and forefathers. Todor Gulevski, current mayor of the municipality of Staravina (1996) claims that he personally is a great grandson of Sly Peter, even showing the burial place of the clever person. His claims go as far as he "knows" the names of the sons of Sly Peter - sons and daughters, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The biggest concern of the great-great-grandson is to make a monument to Sly Peyo precisely in his native village of Gradesnica, as he says, to be known and remembered that this clever person was born and raised in Mariovo areas.
The occurrence of Sly Peter in Mariovo is not accidental. This group is known for its cheerful character, cunning, knowledgeability and skill to express with the language of humor. It is confirmed by Vojislav Radovanovic in the record: "People can be identified by the word" like mother teaches her daughter to recognize people "... and if they tell lies and jokes, if they make jokes and prank, if they curse and think shamelessly, no other people could be, but they are Mariovo people.”
Sly Peter is a typical representative of the peasant cunning and wisdom, contrary to Nasreddin - Hoca - a reflection of the city and the spiritual power. At the time of occurrence of Sly Peter Macedonian people, mainly living in the villages, which, by its spirituality, cunning, knowledge and understanding was typical Macedonian peasant.
Trajko Ognenovski, Folk Humor and Laughter, DNU Bitola, 1999, 319.
Expert report on the natural/historical monuments in the municipality of Novaci
Subject: TRADITION AND LIFE in the MARIOVO PART OF MUNICIPALITY OF NOVACI
Prepared by: Igor Tasevski,
April 2014
