Greek Carnival
The Greek Carnival has its roots in ancient Greece. It is connected with the worship of Dionysus, God of wine and celebration. The word "carnival" actually comes from the Latin "carnem levare", or "carnis levamen", which means, "the discontinuation of eating meat". In Greek the word used is "apokria" and it means the same.
This popular tradition stems from the pagan rites of the ancient Greeks and the festivals of Dionysus, god of wine and merrymaking. People would disguise themselves as satyrs or wear masks and pour into the streets and neighborhoods behaving "inappropriately" with risque phrases and actions. This served the purpose of allowing the free expression of erotic thoughts while hiding their true identity behind masks. This tradition eventually spread to other parts of the world through the Roman Empire and the discovery of the New World. However, the pagan practices were so deeply rooted that they were not completely abolished. Later, when Christianism appeared, even though people stopped worshipping the Gods of Olympus the Greek's' habit of getting dressed up and of celebrating in the streets remained. Once a year, at around this time, carnivals take place in various cities and towns of our country.
In fact, it's a three-week Carnival period, which begins 60 days before Easter. It's called The Triodion. The word comes from "tris odes" that means the three hymns that we use to say at Churches. It starts the first Sunday, which is referred to the Gospel of "Telonis and Farisaios". The second Sunday, to the Gospel of "The Rebel Son". The third is the "Meat Eating Sunday" (Apokria) and the last Sunday of Carnival, during which, celebrations and festivities reach a climax, is the "Cheese Eating Sunday" (Tirofagou). The end of Carnival is on next day's dawn: the first day of Lent, which is Clean Monday (Ash Monday).
During all this time, parties and festivities are organized everywhere and people have a great time, especially children. Both adults and children are dressed up with funny costumes, they dance, sing and watch Carnival Parades and other activities, organized by municipalities of almost every town in Greece.
During this time we have some very special traditions:

"Saturdays of the Souls"
Going back to the ancient Greeks, this was also a time of celebration of the anticipation of spring. Ironically, this celebration involved rituals dedicated both to a "new life" (the budding of trees, vineyards, flowers, etc.) as well as to the souls of the dead which were believed to ascend to the "upper world" around the 1st of March. With the beginning of Christianity the Church tried to subdue the pagan practices and replace them with Christian practices. Hence, during this period we find the practice of having special liturgies and memorial services on three Saturdays of the Souls where people take boiled wheat (koliva) to church and divide it among the congregation afterwards in memory of their loved ones. These Saturdays are the two Saturdays before "Meat Eating Sunday" and "Cheese Eating Sunday" and the first Saturday after Ash Monday (Saints Theodoroi's day, don't forget this day, there is an old tradition about guessing who you are going to married too. Put some wheat under your pillow and prey to Saints Theodoroi to revile you your future husband in a dream…).

"Tsiknopempti"
Tsiknopempti is an annual rite whose origin is lost through the centuries. It is a day of meat eating. The word Tsiknopempti comes from two other words 'tsikna' (the smell of burnt and grilled meat) and 'Pempti' (Thursday in Greek) and is celebrated on the Thursday, which is 11 days before Clean Monday. It is a day of joy and also preparation for Greek Orthodox Christians, as the 40-day period of Lent prior to Easter approaches. In some places in Greece, especially in countryside of Peloponissos, the week of Tsiknopempti, people butcher their pigs and prepare delicious mezedes: "pixti", "omatia", "tsigarides", sausages, etc.

"Gaitanaki"
The old custom of Gaitanaki is taking place in the central square of many towns. Is a dance where dancers, dressed up with traditional costumes, dance in a circle holding multicolor ribbons secured on the top of a long stick which is in the middle of the circle. As they dance, the ribbons are wrapped round the stick and then unwrapped. Believe us, it is very difficult to do it right!

"Vlaxikos Gamos"
It's the revival of the Vlacha's Wedding. Vlacha is the woman who lives in the village and her main occupation is being a shepherdess. Nowadays, it is two men who pretend to be the happy couple. The wedding procession starts with the couple, accompanied by "relatives", going to the central square of the town. All people participating are dressed in traditional costumes. After the arrival of the couple, accompanied by traditional music played on traditional instruments, the wedding ceremony is held, with a "priest" and a "best man". The celebration continues with live traditional music, singing, local food and wine.

"The Bourboulia"
The Bourboulia, is one of the oldest (1872 aprox.) and most popular events of the Carnival at the city of Patras, where the biggest Carnival Parade in Greece, takes place. All residents of the area, together with other revelers from all over Greece or from abroad, participate in the fun. In the old times, women couldn't go out at night and have fun during carnival celebrations. The Bourboulia gave women the opportunity to participate in this Carnival Ball. They had to wear black dominoes (a kind of black dress with a hood) as well as a mask, while men were uncovered and normally dressed. In this way, women couldn't be recognized, and thus had the opportunity to flirt. Of course, nowadays things have changed, but the Bourboulia Ball still retains its magic.

"Boules and Janissary"
Every town in Greece has it's own special tradition. Most of the times it's the same scenario, only the names change. For example, disguised people, so that they would not to be recognized, are going around the city teasing and provoking everyone. This tradition takes place at Patras with "Boules": that were disguised people who instead of a mask smeared their face with ash. Another example comes from the town of Naoussa. During the days of carnival, townspeople relive the traditional custom called "BOULAS" and that of the "JANISSARY" - GENITSAROS. There is a parade with traditional and satirical costumes. The history of the dance group goes back to 1705. In that year the people of Naoussa honoured the memory of their young fellow-citizens, who fell in the struggle against the Turks. They appear during carnival dressed in the uniforms of the freedom-fighters with wax masks and breastplates made out of thousands of silver coins. The costumes, the music and the dances are all authentic and have been handed down from generation to generation without any modern influences. The dance troupes, accompanied by the town band, dance in the streets and in many of the taverns, where they are treated to the local wine, apples and other food. These events begin in the morning and continue until late into the night.

"armirokouloura"
Are you single? What a fine opportunity to find out who you are going to get married too. The night before "Cheese Eating Sunday", mix flour, salt (a lot of salt) and water and bake it. This is "armirokouloura" that means very salty bread. Then eat it. Yes, is very salty but in your dreams your future husband is going to brink you water… If you don't see any dreams, don't worry; Greek traditions will give you many opportunities to find out who the lucky one will be (see Saints Theodoroi's day) …

"Cheese Eating Sunday"
People in fancy dresses go out in the streets, accompanied by the music of municipal bands. It's the day of the Carnival Parade! The parade is made up of groups of people in disguise, floats, and dancers. The themes of each of the floats in the procession are different and most all make fun in rhyming verse of situations and events depicting the politics and life of Greek society in general as well as other international events. These satirical verses and the performers' costume amuse a lot the spectators. In the later afternoon hours you will find the last event-taking place. The people will gather in a central square for food, drink and dance. This is the end of the Parade. The final event will be the burning of the Carnival King in a big bonfire as everyone dances around it. Some times there are just fires called "fani", and people sing satirical songs and dance traditional dances. The songs usually have many sexual implies and among the dances are some with theatrical character, where some male dancers, pretend to be women. Carnival Parades take place in many cities, towns and villages in Greece, and are very spectacular. Some of the biggest parades take place in Athens (Rendi carnival), Xanthi, Patras. In fact, Patras Carnival is the most well known in Greece.

"Patras Carnival"
The Patras Carnival is a continuous meeting of myth with reality, imagination and creation over the years. It is one of the most important events, not only in the city's own area, but in the country as a whole. Carnival period in Patras, independently of the date of beginning of the Triodium, starts the day after the celebration of St. Antonios (January the 18th). The most important elements (records) concerning the course of the Patras Carnival are drawn from recent investigations, which sent us back to the 19th century. But the turning point for the Carnival in taking the form that it has today was in 1966, with the introduction of the "Treasure Hunt Game". The Treasure Hunt Game, ever since 1966 when it first appeared, until today, has turned the anonymous participant into the leading person of the Carnival. The talent of the thousands of young people, who participate with their groups every year, is opened out in all its glory through Patras Carnival. The "Treasure Hunt Game" is a series of questions, riddles and activities, which turn out to be a head spinner for the "contestants". The members of the groups take part in pantomime, mixed spectacle, theatre, dance, creations and quizzes. Fantasy, talent, multiformity, laughter, variety and liveliness come together to add something special to the Patras Carnival each year. And then, Grand Parade comes. This is the greatest moment of the Patras Carnival. The whole town, plus more than 300.000 visitors move to the rhythms the participants (more than 30.000) impose, and floats (hundreds of them) with the Carnival King lead you to the paths of high spirit, merry making and freedom from care. What happens in Patras, on the last Sunday of Carnival, is the pinnacle of the pyramid, which the Patras Carnival has been built on every year. The parade starts some time after noon with high spirit, dancing and participants, while those taking part in the 'Treasure Hunt Game' write their own history in their own way in the streets of Patras. Right after the completion of the Grand Parade, in a unique night of its own, the King of Carnival will bid farewell to the lovers of the kind, while making a rendezvous for next year. It is the moment when the King of Carnival will be given to the pyre and the sky of Patras will be filled with light and color. Meanwhile, dancing liveliness won't stop, as the thousands of participants will goon living in frenzied rhythms till dawn. Assistants of the Patras Carnival are groups, associations and services giving a certain product. The Carnival Committee, the Chocolate throwers Club, the Treasure hunt crews and many other participants with genuine carnival spirit, play theatrical performances, street theatre and quizzes.

"Clean Monday" (Ash Monday)
Finally, "Triodion" ends. It's the first day of Lent, it is Clean Monday. People are gathering for the last festivities. Live traditional music, singing, dancing, seafood, Ouzo, wine, and everyone is invited to the celebration. The traditional bread "lagana" is available this day in the bakeries. We are not supposed to eat meat or even olive oil, but this doesn't stop us from having a lot of fan. People usually go to countryside this day. And the most spectacular tradition is the fly of the kites. The sky is full of colorful kites, flying high like birds, welcoming spring… In Athens, people gather to the top of the hills of the city (Filopappou, Strefi, Lykabetus) where they fly the kites, and there is always live music with popular singers, traditional and modern, and everybody dances!

"Diet traditions"
"Meat Eating Sunday" is supposed to be the last day we can eat red meat. The week between "Meat Eating Sunday" and "Cheese Eating Sunday" is the time to eat fish, cheese, milk and eggs. Even some traditional satirical songs carry out the theme of bidding goodbye to "Cheese" (Tyros) and welcoming in the "Onion" and the "Leek". (All this, of course, in reference to the coming fast where the "lowly" vegetable will now take over as the main course.) In central Peloponnesian Greece, in the region of Arcadia, there is the tradition of eating what is called "tyrozoumi", a soupy stew of wild greens heavily garnished with chunks of mizithra cheese. This serves as a first course and everyone at the table is expected to partake of it after first raising the table with their hands three times. Following this is the main course of macaroni sprinkled with lots of cheese. During the course of the evening the unmarried young people are supposed to "steal" a piece of macaroni and place it under their pillow that night in order to see through their dreams, who they will marry. The Vlach communities of the mountainous regions of central Greece make traditional "galatopites" (milk pies), cheese pies, or pies with "trahana", a homemade meal of wheat flour or cracked wheat-all of course, made with homemade phyllo. On the island of Karpathos tradition has it that everyone is invited to the home of the mayor where a large buffet is laid out with fish and dairy products. Special sweets made with mizithra are also served as well as rice pudding and a special drink called "sitaka" spiced with butter and honey. An interesting tradition comes from the islands of Kea and Milos where the food remnants from the feast of Cheese Fare Sunday are left on the table until the following morning just in case "the ghost of the house" gets hungry during the night. Another tradition of Cheese Fare Sunday worth mentioning is the practice of ending the evening meal with eggs. The eggs can either be boiled or even baked in the hearth. In some areas of Greece, members of the family put their eggs close to the embers in the hearth to bake and wait to see whose egg will "sweat" first. This is a sign that he or she will have a good year. But the symbolism behind this tradition is that one "seals" his mouth with an egg just as he will open his mouth with an egg on Easter. This refers to the tradition of cracking red dyed eggs with one another after the Service of Resurrection and repeating the phrase "Christ is risen" until everyone's egg gets cracked. The egg is then consumed and is usually the first thing eaten after the Easter midnight liturgy. There is another old custom in Kastoria called "haskaris": an egg is tied to the end of a rolling-pin "klosti" and this is passed swiftly from mouth to mouth. The person who succeeds in grabbing it is the winner.
Clean Monday has it's own diet traditions. Greeks usually eat particular types of seafood, such as octopus, squid, mussels and shrimp; an array of pickled vegetables, especially pickled small green peppers, carrots and cauliflower, olives, and dips that seem especially made for the day's unique flatbread, lagana. The dips are Lenten, such as taramosalata (made with fish roe).

So… Carnival ends…
… and Lent starts and we have 40 days to Easter…

Don't forget! You are not supposed to wash your hear the week between "Meat Eating Sunday" and "Cheese Eating Sunday"! It's cheese week and your hear will turn as white as cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!