Clean Monday: These are the most special customs in Northern Greece

Or has its own separate, lost in the depths of the centuries. The images every year on this day, they cause conversations… Genitsaros and Boules in Naoussa, Bellbearers in Soho and chariot parades steal the performance on the Net Monday in Northern Greece as they accompany the traditional events for koulouma and throw the curtain of carnival events. At the same time, as part of the day’s events at Thermi Dam, the largest wheeled pot with a diameter of 700 litres will be presented and used for the first time. The tone of the day will of course be given by the harannies, kites, sarcostian dishes and folk traditional and rebetika outdoor feasts at the Municipalities’ events while carnival parades will take place in Assiro Thessaloniki and the Seamantra of Halkidiki. Genitsaros and Boules take out the “face” in Naoussa Without the “face”, this special mask that characterizes the unique event “Genissars and Bulles”, will be released today in the streets and neighborhoods of Naoussa, the short hairs of the masked men with the fustanelles and women’s uniforms. The event, in a relaxed and lighter version of it, will again take place with dance and music from zournades and doodles, food and drink outside the houses, small feasts on the streets and the city’s straits. In this way the curtain of carnival events that in the area have a strong traditional color as the custom dates back to the 18th century and its roots are detected in dionysian principles of ancient Greece. The great parade of the Koudounifers in Sohos Special importance is the event “Koudunphores”, in Sochos of the prefecture of Thessaloniki, which is the intangible cultural heritage of the area. Dressed in costumes made from animal skins and alive with bells, bellbearers dance and sing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. supporting residents and visitors of the area. It will be followed by a distribution of beans and sarcostian dishes and from 2:30 noon starts “Prostavani”, as locals call the custom of forgiveness by sharing oranges and handing out to older people. Also, at 12:30 in the Assir of the municipality of Lagada, the carnival parade organized by the Cultural Association of Assiros will begin at noon on the Net Monday, while a Halloween celebration will follow. Carnival parade in Chalkidiki For Pure Monday is planned and the great Carnival parade, with themes taken from the current day, in the municipality of New Propontida in Halkidiki. The parade that will begin at 2 noon in the main square of Simandra will involve groups, syllables, institutions and schools in the area, while a number of visitors are expected. Wheeled pot “giga” will boil the bean in D.Thermis In the Dam of Thermi the flying of the kite will be accompanied with plenty of traditional dishes and music, however the impressions are expected to “steal” the largest wheeled pot with a diameter of 700 litres. As part of the events on the Dam will be presented and used for the needs of the Clean Monday event for the first time the “giga” pot that will boil the traditional beanade which will then be offered to the world. At the same time, in the Royals of the municipality of Thermi will culminate in Pure Monday with the traditional wedding and the great carnival parade, with dozens of chariots and the burning of the carnival. Hartets, hares and beans “stars” in Koluma By sharing free kites, hares, beans, sarcostian dishes, with music and dancing the municipalities in Northern Greece are preparing to celebrate Koluma. In particular, four outdoor celebrations will be held in the municipality of Thessaloniki. Focus for another year will be the Sheikh Soo forest, where hundreds of visitors are traditionally gathered each year. The traditional custom of the kite will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. accompanied by dance bands and traditional dishes. Similar events are organized at the Theatre of the Toumba Culture Centre, New Switzerland Forest and Triandria, in the courtyard of the former 1st Primary School. Source Photo: RES – ICM