back to top Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
CLICK HERE FOR FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES, LINK BUTTONS AND MORE! »
English French German Spain Italian Dutch Russian Portuguese Japanese Korean Arabic Chinese Simplified

Follow me on Google +

Like me on Facebook!

Thanks for following!

Follow me at Bloggers.com

The Greek Housewife - Find me on Bloggers.com
GreekBloggers.com

Vote for me!

Photos of Greece

Popular Posts

Greek word of the day

Join Me!

Ponderwonders
Amanda’s Books and More
Tots and Me
Tots and Me
Super Sunday Sync
At Home Take 2
Marine Wife Home and Life

Blogroll

VICKILICIOUS. Powered by Blogger.

February 7, 2012

APOKRIES-CARNIVAL

                  

                         APOKRIES - CARNIVAL

     Last Sunday was the beginning of the festivities for the Treotheo-Apokries. It is a time (3 weeks) when the christian orthodox prepare for the fasting of the 40-day Lent before Easter (40 days recalling the Gospel accounts of the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness). Every Sunday has its own christian and spiritual meaning with stories taken from the Bible.

(Traditional costumes for Apokries/local customs)
    Apokries, which in Greek means "saying goodbye to meat" is, (apart from its spiritual meaning) a time of fun and carefreeness. It is our Carnival!




    Carnival is a festive season that typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. Throughout the Carnival season, people disguise themselves as maskarádes ("masqueraders") and engage in pranks and general revelry. The celebrations culminate with big parades and parties on the last Sunday of Apokries. Then "Clean Monday" follows.


    The Carnival of Rio De Janeiro is the biggest and most famous Carnival in the world, and the biggest popular party on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records 2010. But, we also have our own famous Patras Carnival.


    Patra holds the largest annual Carnival in Greece; the famous Patras Carnival is a 3-day spectacle replete with concerts, balles masques, parading troupes, floats, a treasure hunt and many events for children. The grand parade of masked troupes and floats is held at noon on Terine Sunday, and culminates in the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival at the Patras harbour.



   The custom of the Carnival may have originated way back in ancient times from perhaps pagan rituals and the festivities may have changed many names since, but one thing remained the same. The people's disposition/good mood to masquerade, to laugh, have fun and simply celebrate life!
Blog Widget by LinkWithin

2 comments:

  1. All that looks so neat!! It somewhat in a way (by the pictures) reminds me of what they have here in the US called Mardi Gras. Either way it looks really fun and I know I would love visit the carnival where you live.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Make sure you come in February! You'll love it!

    ReplyDelete