A North Macedonian community group pulled out of Melbourne’s Moomba Festival Parade after city officials banned the display of the Vergina Sun, a symbol protected as a Greek national emblem.
The Federation of Macedonian Cultural and Artistic Associations had planned to carry the flag, also known as the Star of Kutlesh, during Monday’s procession, which is part of Victoria’s largest annual multicultural festival.
In an email to the federation, the City of Melbourne said only official national flags and organisational banners would be allowed, citing “a high level of sensitivity around flags” and noting that cultural or regional symbols would not be permitted this year.
“The Star of Kutlesh is the people’s flag,” said George Lambeski, president of the federation. “It symbolises the whole region of Macedonia. We’re not here for any political protest.” He added that the federation hoped the council would reverse its decision, but chose to withdraw from the parade rather than march without the flag.
The Vergina Sun has long been at the center of a dispute between Greece and North Macedonia. Greece claims the symbol, linked to Philip II of Macedon and the ancient Macedonian royal dynasty, as part of its cultural heritage. North Macedonia adopted a version of the emblem as its national flag upon declaring independence in 1991, but agreed to change the design in 1995 following negotiations with Greece.
Peter Stefanidis, president of the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, said his organisation supports multicultural participation but opposes the display of the Vergina Sun. “It’s a registered Greek trademark. It’s as simple as that,” he said, noting concern over social media calls to defy the ban.
Melbourne City Council said it looks forward to celebrating the “diversity and creativity of more than 35 community and cultural groups” at the parade, adding that its approach is consistent for all participants.
The Moomba Festival, running annually since 1955 over the Labour Day weekend, draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and showcases community groups from across Melbourne.