Blonde, Carnival traditions
HISTORY
The story of "Carnival of Xanthi"Began long ago. In the urban Xanthi 1926 founded the "Komitat Carnival", with carnival costumes getting ready to modistradika era. The 1927 there are references to Xanthiotikes Halloween made in the form of evening parties with the dominant Apaches, cantades, the paitonia and crinoline.
The 1928 the tobacco trade and cosmopolitan Xanthi, Anargyros Sigalas, inspired and create the big "Carnival of Xanthi», allocating a substantial amount of money. Anargyros Sigalas associated with the tobacco industry "Sigalas", where cigarette brands 'Rita', "Macedonian", "Oxilar" etc. were a milestone in the history of Greek cigarettes.
Place of celebration and concentration of carnival Old Xanthi, the current Orpheus Street, then called "the lone cafe ", (Orpheus 17). Because during the Turkish there were no street names, areas and positions in the city referred to the various services provided (Folklore Museum of Xanthi).
Carnivals wandering around Balouk-Bazaar, the old fish market, in Kiourktsi baths until today tavern, «wrestling Blonde». All the days of Carnival circulated dressed carnivals.
Clean Monday, others disguised and others only smeared on face, on carts, They danced and sang throwing confetti. Along with confetti emptied streets that produces the earth, sacks filled with grains and legumes. From carts flying in wheat road, lentils, beans etc.. to show the abundance and fertility of nature. At the end of the feast, the city's main street was full, from side to side, with seed.
The 1966 a group Xanthioton, named Local Tourism Commission launches an organized institution under the name "Carnival Celebrations». This group, with reference to the urban past of the city, tried to revive the old traditions of the region, of "traditional" culture of Thrace. According to legend, He born in Thrace Orpheus and small showed his love for music and his skill on the lyre. Orpheus symbolizes the sun god, the life-giving God of all beings and is connected with the Orphic Mysteries. These ancient remains, combined with Thrace color and temperament of residents, They gave rise to new festivals.
Since the mid 80s the celebrations renamed "Thracian Folklore Celebrations"And they formed the framework of a more organized operation of the institution.
The 1991 formally added the term "Carnival of Xanthi», Determining which is maintained until today. The carnival of Xanthi is longer and institutional, one of the top cultural events throughout Northern Greece.
THE EVENTS OF CARNIVAL
The name February comes from the Latin verb meaning februare scour, sublimate. The February is the month of lustral, fruitful death signals the end of Winter and regeneration of human and nature, with the coming of spring.
Halloween is none other than the mockery of the "death", for the purpose of clearance.
Customs that prevail in the days of Carnival is :
- cleansings, lighting and extinguishing fire ritual, the "Tzara». The "Tzara" or "Tzara" by the inhabitants of Eastern Thrace, was an engineered human Dummy, placed on a pile of holly that had lit. On the last Sunday of Carnival, she started a big fire, in the middle of a vacant lot, the square or on a hill and jumped over to avoid having "Flea", ie fleas summer. This custom was brought by refugees from Eastern Thrace Samakov and revived every year by the residents of the homonymous settlement, which is located near the river bridge Kosynthos Xanthi.
- Enthronement and burning of King Carnival (symbol of old time, winter's).
- Ritual of disguise, the mask, body transformation and deformation (such as humpback – jesters), events and mimodramata (rag, koudounoforon that invade and disrupt the deafening noise and their teasing the civilized world). Made representations and parodies wedding and funeral, death and resurrection. Through disguises seeks to reverse the order and social hierarchy eg. men become women, the beggars are kings, the fools wise, the poor rich, etc.
- Lavish celebrations with drunkenness, debauchery, frenetic dances, satyrical dialogues, exchange teasing. The drink drunkenness achieve the release of man e.g.. indiscretion, lampoon.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
Municipality Xanthi, Cultural Center, Department of Cultural Events, tel. : 2541073640
