GREECE - National anniversary 25th March

 

GREECE (8/01/2023) - Representation of the Dionysian wedding in the Kali Vrysi of Drama

Spontaneity and excitement reign supreme at this masquerade party. The custom has pagan roots but was later incorporated into Christian celebrations to provide an occasion for feasting and fun.It is an outburst of society to escape from everyday life and its problems. 

The virtual wedding follows the formality of the traditional wedding to the sounds of local traditional instruments, bagpipes and daharre. The bride is always played by a man, because of the position that women had in ancient times, but also to enhance the comedy of the action. The "Bambugeras" after the ceremony, steal the bride from the groom and after supposedly impregnating her, return her back.

GREECE (8/01/2023) - The custom of "Babougeras" in the Kali Vrysi of Drama

In the village Kali Vrysi of Drama the ancient spirit is alive. The god Dionysus was the god of fruitfulness, pleasure, the vine and the theater. Son of a chthonian goddess, Semele, and the heavenly god Zeus, the fruit of an illicit relationship, because of which he fled to Thrace where he grew up. 

He was worshiped in this region with a special passion because he gave man hope and the divine fury to exceed his limits. Proof of this cult that existed in the area is the temple of the god Dionysos that was discovered 2 km outside of Kali Vrysi. 

The Babugeras in their impressive and imposing form pour out into the streets after the Consecration of the waters and strike the people with the bag of ashes they hold in their hand to exorcise evil.  

The mask made from animal skins is in the form of a goat which symbolizes the animal that has the power of life.Also bells belted around the waist make a sound to wake up nature. Finally, the hump placed back on the back symbolizes the old Babbo who has yielded the fruits of life (the offspring). 

The Babugera during the time of Dionysus, were satyrs followers of the god Dionysus where they reveled in a carefree life of wine and feasting. Bell bearers make their presence felt in all historical periods throughout the centuries. It is also said that these were used by Alexander the Great in his campaigns in order to scare away the elephants of the king of Persia by the sound of the bells. Also, during Turkish rule, no Turkish tax collector set foot in Kali Vrysi to collect the so-called tax-tax of the Greeks to the Turks because the wild Babougeras appeared and terrorized them, causing them to flee.

GREECE (6/2/2023) - Theofania in Drama

Theofania is a major annual Christian celebration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. It is celebrated on January 6 and is the third and last celebration of the Twelve Days (Christmas holidays). The name derives from the manifestation of the three persons of the Holy Trinity that occurred according to three relevant Gospel passages. 

GREECE (26/12/2022) - The custom of Μomogeri in Drama

In the villages of Platania, Kallifitos and Sitagroi of Drama we find the custom of the Momogeras, which comes from the Pontian refugees. Their name comes from mimos or momos and old man and is connected to their imitative movements. They wear the skins of wolves or goats or are dressed in the uniforms of people armed with swords in the form of old men. The Momogeri, expecting luck for the new year, go around in groups throughout the twelve days, singing carols or other auspicious verses. When the groups meet, they fake war with each other until one group wins and the other submits. The popular imagination rages with the antics of goblins who find the opportunity to thresh in the upper world, when the waters are "unbaptized". Their appearance is terrifying and their tantrums indescribable, but so is their fear of fire.

GREECE Happy Easter Friends

Teacher Evgenia Karoki

Teacher: Katse Apostolia

Τeacher: Sofia Matsouliadou  /  Art Teacher: Evangelia Kralli

Teacher Sofia Matsouliadou

Teacher Aikaterini Serafeim

Traditional Sweet Bobota

Folklore museum - Greece

 

The tradition of Lady Lent - Greece

The custom of Lent is one of the oldest customs associated with the celebration of Easter, but today it is more or less forgotten. It has always served as a calendar to count the weeks from Clean Monday to Holy Week, as Lent's has 7 feet, one for each week of the Lent period. It is a custom that tends to disappear nowadays, while in the past we met it all over Greece with various variations and it was used as a calendar that counted the weeks of Lent.
Lady Lent, in most areas, was a paper painting depicting a woman, who looked like a nun, with 7 legs, crossed arms because she prays, a cross because she went to church and without a mouth because she fasted. At the end of each week, starting on Saturday after Shrove Monday, one of her legs was cut off. The last one was cut on Holy Saturday. This piece of paper was folded well and hidden in a dried fig or walnut (Chios area), which they placed together with others. Whoever found it was considered lucky and lucky. In some areas, the seventh leg was placed in the bread of the Resurrection and whoever found it brought good luck. 

Every Clean Monday we have the tradition of the Kites! The kite symbolizes the flight of the human soul to Sky and God!

Clean Monday - Greece

15/3/2021

Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, where it is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food, a special kind of azyme bread, baked only on that day, named "lagana" and the widespread custom of flying kites.

Good sesame halva (also known as grocer halva or tahini halva) has the first and last word on the festive table of Clean Monday.

Halloween in Greece

These days the custom of feasting, entertainment and "masquerading" takes place, of disguise, which has its roots in the Crowns "Lupercalia" and "Saturnalia" and in the ancient "Dionysian feasts" of the Greeks, where people disguised themselves, danced, sang while drinking wine and the fun peaked in honor of Dionysus.

Τhe carnival take place everywhere in Greece with group masquerades, dances, parties, satire and various special customs in each place. It was an opportunity for spree, wine and a thousand and two jokes.

Greek Traditions for Spring

 

The paths of Greek Tradition

Greek Traditional game

 

Greek Traditional Food made by Elina