Tsiknopempti (meaning “smokey
Thursday”), in the middle of the meat-eating week, is considered the crescendo
of the carnival season. Traditionally, the aromas of sizzling meat would fill
the neighborhoods as people gathered at private gardens, neighborhood squares
and church courtyards to enjoy each other’s company over good food and wine.
This day, I celebrated it as a family, where meat and food was all over the
table.
The Apokriés celebrations last
for three weeks and commence sixty days before Easter, as the faithful bid a
fond farewell to rich foods and prepare for the long meatless fast of Lent.
- Triodion -
February 17th
- Tsiknopempti or ‘Burnt Thursday’ - February 28th
- Tsiknopempti Weekend -
Friday, March 1st – Sunday, March 3rd
- Cheesefare Thursday -
March 7th
- Main Carnival Weekend - Friday
March 8th-Sunday March 10th
- Clean Monday -
March 11th
Thousands of people
are in the streets on Sunday at noon to see the impressive floats that are in
the parade, which ends in the Central Plaza, where the party continues. At night,
the Tsars "To kápsimo tou Tzárou", which is located in the Kossynthos
river, is burned. A local tradition in eastern Thrace, the "Tzáros"
or "Tzárous" is a human effigy placed on a pile of underbrush. He
took the name "Tzáros" from the noise produced by the burnt wood
"tz, tz, tz ...". It is a custom to burn the "Tzáros" in
the middle of a neighborhood, in a square or on a hill on the last Sunday of
Carnival ("Sunday of Tyrine") so that people do not have to put up
with fleas during the summer months. The end of the event is marked by an
exhibition of extravagant fireworks.
You can find more
than fifty cultural and folklore clubs that are inside and outside the official
route. But you can also find that dozens of events are organized every year for
young and old. The Xanthi Carnival has a series of events related to music,
dance and theater, exhibitions, presentations and film screenings. During the
carnival, great artists give great concerts. People roam the city streets
disguised, playing pranks on each other and having a good time. Over forty
cultural associations participate in the Carnival program, offering wine and
local delicacies to guests.
The history of this
carnival has a direct cultural connection with the ancient cult of Dionysus,
the god of wine, celebration and ecstasy according to Greek mythology. The
pagan rituals celebrating nature’s rebirth during the famed ancient festival of
Dionysia taking place in Athens were passed on to the Romans, who honored
Dionysus’ transformation into Bacchus with the Bacchanalia. The latter was an
equally important event as the Saturnalia, held around the end of the calendar
year. Especially during the Lanaea, one of the parts of the Dionysian festival,
followers of Dionysus would dress up as satyrs, the goat-like companions of
Dionysus, or hide their faces behind masks. The masked revelers would then run
wildly through the streets of the city acting obscene or silly. Theatrical
performances were also held at this festive time. The Dionysia was meant as a
celebration of spring’s return and the earth’s regeneration. As such, the
festival included rituals dedicated to the souls of the dead, who the ancient
Greeks believed rejoined the living world again around March 1st. As
Christianity spread, and its belief system began to dominate over pagan cults,
the Orthodox Church tried to subdue the importance of pagan rituals and
substitute them with the new Christian practices and ways. However, it still
incorporated many ancient pagan ceremonies which it deemed harmless, and which
are still performed to this day.
For this occasion I disguised myself, and it was really fun, because I felt
part of the party. Without a doubt I recommend coming to this party, because
the atmosphere of the streets is incredible.To visit the city of Xanthi, from Kavala you can go using the bus. Here is the link to see the hours:
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