Special Issue: Carnival Season in Greece | |
- Special Issue: Carnival Season in Greece
- Carnival & the Cities
- Traditional Festivities
- "Clean Monday"
- Greek News Agenda Readers
Special Issue: Carnival Season in Greece Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:23 AM PST ![]() Traditionally, it begins ten weeks before Greek Orthodox Easter and culminates on the weekend before "Clean Monday," (Ash Monday) the first day of Lent. This year, the carnival season lasts from February 12 until March 7. Literally "Apokria" means 'saying' goodbye to the period of meat-eating, or abstinence from meat (Apo-kreo = away from meat). The roots of Carnival celebrations and customs can be traced back to ancient Greece and are linked to the worship of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity. The processions, costuming, and feasting all derive from ancient ceremonies honoring him and other Greek gods and goddesses.
![]() Triodion -also Lenten Triodion- is a liturgical book of the Orthodox Church that contains hymns with three odes instead of nine and begins to be chanted on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee through Holy Saturday, marking the launch of the three week pre-Lenten Season. The following week is a fast-free week until Meatfare Sunday which is the last day before Easter for eating meat. ![]() The last Sunday of the Carnival period is known as Cheesefare Sunday or Tyrofagos as only dairy products can be consumed on this day. Cheesefare Sunday is the final day of pre-Lent, as the Monday following -known as Clean or Ash Monday- marks the beginning of Great Lent. During the weekend preceding Clean Monday, carnival celebrations around Greece culminate with vigorous parades, masquerade parties, reviving many traditional customs in different parts of the country, and proving that carnival in Greece is closely related to the cultural heritage of each region. |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 04:19 AM PST The port city of Patras hosts the biggest carnival in Greece, and one of the biggest in Europe. The "king" of Greek carnivals begins in January with an announcement by the town crier, and reaches its peak in the last weekend of carnival. The Patras carnival features a variety of events: balls, parades, a Treasure Hunt (with approximately seventy carnival groups participating), a Children's Carnival (that attracts approximately 12,000 children), street theatre, and much more. But mostly the Patras carnival is the tens of thousands carnival-goers of all ages, participating spontaneously to the formal or informal events taking place in homes, bars or in the street, turning the whole city into a gigantic party.
![]() The Xanthi carnival started in 1966 as an urban event but has incorporated many traditional elements, based on the city's multicultural character, that renders it the most folkish of urban carnivals. ![]() Cheesefare Sunday leads to the custom of Burning the tzaros, a human effigy placed on top of a pile of brushwood. This old Thracian custom takes place atop the Kosynthos River Bridge; tradition has it that burning the tzaros will keep away the fleas during the summer months.
![]() More than 15.000 revelers are expected to participate in the float parade of March 6, which is the culmination of the celebrations that last an entire month. The celebrated Treasure Hunt and Bel Canto serenades give away the carnival's Venetian roots but carnival customs practiced in the villages near Rethymno city, e.g the "moutzouroma" (daubing), the "klepsimo tis nyfis"(stealing of the bride), are undeniable proof that Dionysus is alive and kicking in Crete! |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:24 AM PST
This centuries old custom incorporates folk and historical elements, as it ceremonially re-enacts Ottoman era conflicts. Contrary to the disarray that dominates most Carnivals, Naoussa's customs are characterised by exceptional aesthetic and ritual discipline, with participants adorned in elegant minimalistic masks and silver coin plastrons that are ritually sown on the "janissary" throughout the night.
This largely Dionysian celebration culminates on Ash Monday and involves phallic replicas, indecent language and gestures, ribald carnival songs, as well as lots of the excellent local tsipouro (often drank from phallic shaped vessels). These (unsuitable for the easily offended) festivities stop when the evening bell for church rings, as such behaviour is no longer permitted.
![]() The "old men" run through the streets individually or in groups, singing, dancing and making as much noise as possible, while locals and guests must always toast, drink and dance with the "old man."
![]() Following the island's rich and Venetian-type carnival of Giostra (that features chivalric fights), the last Sunday brings the Funeral of the Mask or Povero Carnival: the carnival marchers lead the Masked King – placed in a colourful coffin – to his resting place in a magnificent funerary procession that reaches the harbour. |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:44 AM PST
Children make Kyra Sarakosti (Lady Lent), a paper doll with seven legs to represent the seven weeks of Lent. Every week, a leg is cut off to show how many weeks remain until Easter. Since it marks the beginning of the fasting period special food is eaten on this day. Eating red meat, poultry, fish or dairy products is not permitted. ![]() A variety of more sophisticated recipes for 'Clean Monday dishes' is available at Kerasma.
![]() The picturesque small town impresses visitors with its tranquil charm and its rich maritime heritage, notably the old captains' mansions ("kapetanospita"). A stroll on the seaside promenade between the harbors of Oianthi and Hirolaka, and through the narrow alleyways is definitely a must. ![]() On Clean Monday, Galaxidi is transformed into a battlefield as hundreds of people pelt mercilessly one another with ample quantities of variously coloured flour and dance around the fires – the most daring even jump over them! You Tube: Flour Fighting in Galaxidi; Athens Plus: Fokida: Come and Join the Carnival (13.02.09, p.42) |
Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:32 AM PST |
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