Karpathos: The folk court of immoral acts in Othos and the custom “Piperi”

Or has one of her own special ones lost in the depths of the centuries. The “popular court” hears, judges and punishes… A special custom “the pepper” revives again this year in the community of Othos Karpathos with a large participation of the inhabitants of the island as part of the carnival events. The custom among others includes the establishment of a “People’s court of immoral acts” which imposes on offenders financial fines. “This is a custom that has been observed for centuries and is one of the oldest customs” the president of the city council Karpathos Dimitris Constantinidis points out that “it is an event with a Dionysian character with, with ancient Greek backgrounds and with elements from Turkish rule” “The pepper” is a custom that takes place on the Sunday of Tyrini and on the day of Pure Monday focusing on the village of Othos, Karpathos and is to be revived this year. On Sunday, residents of the village, dressed as “camuzelles” and accompanied by traditional instruments visit the other villages of the island and invite residents to participate in the custom. The invitation is also made with adventurous mantinades and generally a euphoria climate prevails. The next day (Clean Monday) in the village square, the custom takes place with great participation as the president of the city council Dimitris Constantinidis, who is also president of the cultural group “Work and Joy” of the community of Otto, which organizes the event. Early in the village square there is a traditional Carpathian feast which begins with a kind of memorial for the inhabitants of the village who have died and also for those who have migrated to other countries. The feast follows with plenty of wine and traditional mezes while the participants are mainly men in disguise. The people’s court of immoral acts is then held where offenders are led to various sexual offences and harassments before the cadis (justice). The process is extremely embarrassing with mandinades but also profane and ultimately offenders in a similar climate are sentenced by the court to a fine withheld for the needs of the cultural club. The traditional dance “piperi” in which only disguised and large feasts characterized by “unsavory” mantinades and similar teasings among hundreds of participants begin.