The Carnival in Greece usually takes place in February or March. It lasts three weeks and precedes the period of 40 days before Easter. The first week of Carnival is preparatory, the second is called "kreatini" because people fast and the third week is called "tirini" since cheese (tiri) accompanies all the meals.
During the period of the Carnival a lot of different celebrations take place. The celebrations begin on a Thursday (the date is not fixed) when people gather in their friends' houses or eat out and eat grilled meat and other delicious dishes.
In Arta a week later, on a Wednesday, we have the women's carnival parade ( there is a separate section later on).
The last Sunday before the 40-day fasting period is called "Carnival Sunday" (Kiriaki tis apokrias). On this Sunday the Holly Fathers of the Orthodox Church remind us the Second Coming of Christ and try to emphasize on the fact that God is not only a philanthropist but also a fair judge for everyone, depending on our acts. It is the last day that we eat meat whereas the whole following week we eat only dairy products until "tirini" Sunday when the Carnival ends and the 40-day fast before Christ's Resurrection begins. One of the typical customs that take place on this Sunday are the fires that are lit in squares and crossroads at night (these fires have different names like "fani", "klatharies", "kapsakies", kalologos" etc). People dance around these fires and try to jump over them wishing themselves health and good fortune. This custom takes place on other dates as well.
The next morning is Monday and it is called "Shrove Monday". It is the beginning of fasting and people go to the countryside with their families and have picnics with olives, tarama and onions.
They eat a loaf of bread called "lagana" and they try to fly kites as high as they can.
At the end of the day a traditional dancing act takes place. It is called "Gaitanaki". In the centre of a square a big pillar is put. On top of the pillar several long colourful laces are tied. Around the pillar there are 6 pairs of dancers. Each dancer holds one lace and they start dancing and singing in such a way that the laces get knitted together.
During the Carnival period a lot of people walk around in disguise wearing masks and funny costumes.
In the past, there were groups of disguised people who were walking around the streets of the town or village singing.
However, during the years this custom was forgotten and nowadays in most places there are organized parades with costumes and floats.
The basic characteristic of people in disguise is the mask which is considered a descendant of the ancient comic and satirical masks worn by actors when they were acting in comedies and satirical dramas.
They were made of clay and they were all the same.
The Carnival Parade in Arta
The Carnival Parade of Arta started in the 70s. At first both men and women took part in it. Nowadays it is organized solely by women. The costumes and floats are connected with issues of the moment and issues that are about our area. The Women's Carnival is a day of celebration that attracts a lot of people in the city centre to watch the parade.
The Custom of the Egg
In many parts of Greece people hang an egg from the ceiling and as they sit around the table they make it go around and they try to catch it with their mouth. "With an egg we close our mouth for Fasting and with an egg we open it again at Easter".
The Representation of a Shepherd's Wedding
(Vlahikos Gamos)
It is a custom that dates back to 1830. There are a lot of similarities to the spring Dionysiac celebrations of fertility and revival. The bride is a man disguised as a woman and he even has a moustache.
The basic musical instrument is the pipiza ( a kind of flute). A colourful wedding parade starts from the city or village square and foes past the neighbourhood of the "parents in law" (simpetheria) were they shave the groom and try to arrange the dowry.
Kouthounati ( men with bells)
It is a custom during which people disguised with a hood and cape walk around the village making a lot of noise and provoke people by indecent/naughty expressions.
Traditional Food
Aubergine Salad
Grill the aubergines at 200° C for one hour. Peal them and put their pith in a strainer to strain. After the liquid has gone blend them with garlic, salt and pepper, olive oil and rusk.
Pickles
Different row vegetables like cucumber, carrot, cauliflower, pepper, tomato that are preserved in vinegar or salted water accompany the table of Shrove Monday along with fish roe salad (taramosalata), halvah and flatbread.
Halvah
Something like a cake made of tahini, sugar and various aromatic spices and is eaten mainly during the days of fast. There are various flavors : vanilla, cocoa, honey, almond.
Flatbread
Melt yeast in warm water. Add some flour and make it a gruel. Cover it with a membrane and put it in a warm place for 12 hours. Sieve the flour with the salt and make a hole in the centre. Add the sugar, the oil, the yeast and two cups of tepid water. Knead until it becomes spingy. Cut it in 6 balls. Cover them and let them double in size. Then make them flat and bake them in 200° C for 15-20 minutes.
Kite
It is a light construction that is made from a lightweight frame of sticks that cross and is covered by thin paper or plastic that is glued on them and it also has a long tail. It flies high in the air with the proper handling and it is controlled from the ground with a long rope.
Masks
They cover the whole face or part of it with different designs or colours and people wear them to hide their identity. They resemble people of the politics (prime minister, minister etc) of the star system and others.
1 comentario:
Your carnival is very interesting.
Publicar un comentario