1 PATRAS
The Patras Carnival is the biggest in Greece and one of the best in Europe. The town crier announces the start of the carnival in mid January to last until Clean Monday (2 March, this year). This launches a series of events including dances, parades, treasure hunts and a chlidren’s carnival reaching its climax in the final weekend with the torch-lit Night Parade on Saturday evening. The Great Sunday Parade marks the end of festivities with the ritual burning of an effigy of the Carnival King at the St Nikolaos Street pier in Patras harbour.
2 ATHENS
In Athens, the capital’s municipalities play a role in the festivities. This year there were 32 locations around the city which offered 60 carnival activities including music concerts, street performances, parades, masquerades and dances. Focal points included the Zappeion where the Great Children’s Carnival Celebration was held last Sunday. The biggest parade is usually in Moschato near Pireaus or on the packed streets of Plaka.
3 XANTHI
Xanthi in north-eastern Greece has been celebrating apokries since 1966 and the carnival has grown to become the second biggest in Greece. This carnival draws closely on its folklore culminating in the Folk Parade on the final Saturday and features folk dance groups from all over Greece and which finally merge in an all-night music Fiesta in the main square. On Tyrofagos Sunday, the festivities end with the burning of the Tzaros, a human effigy.
4 TYRVANOS
Perhaps the apokries that are closest to the ancient Dionysian traditions is the Apokries carnival as celebrated at Tyrnavos, near Larissa in Thessaly. The local people parade with bells and phallic objects strapped to them. The bawdy Apokriatika songs are also popular. Also adding to the festivities is the tasting of the local tsipouro and mezzes.
READ MORE: Meat, cheese, wine and the cuisine of apokries
5 NAOUSSA
In Northern Greece, in Naoussa, the Gennitsaroi and Boules predominate. Unmarried young men dressed up as Genitsaroi, and the bride or Boula, also a man, parade through the streets of Naoussa. In Kastoria, the Ragoutsaria carnival is accompanied by musicians playing traditional music. .
6 GALAXIDI
In the port town of Galaxidi on the Gulf of Corinth, the carnival draws on the town’s maritime traditions. During Apokries the alevromoutzouromata custom is revived on Clean Monday recalling the times when sailors leaving on voyages were pelted with flour. These days hundreds of people get in on the act to throw flour at each other and dance around fires – some will even jump over the fires.
7 RETHYMNON
The biggest Apokries celebration in Crete takes place in Rethymnon and is characterised by three weeks of festive events culminating in the Grand Parade through the streets of the city on Sunday evening. Festivities continue into the night. The themes of the costumes worn are varied and can even draw on current events.
8 SKYROS
On the Aegian island of Skyros, the Apokries celebrations are marked by the clanging of goat bells worn around the waists of men dressed in hooded blacked capes with goat skins who play the role of the Geros (old man). These “old men” lead the dancing and singing and make as much noise as possible.
9 LIMASSOL
In Cyprus, the biggest and best-organised carnival celebrations take place in Limassol. On the last day, the Grand Carnival Parade draws the people wearing their masks and costumes to the streets to follow the King of Carnival and receive good-luck blessings from him. The carnival floats literally do that as they are set to float on the waters of the city harbour.
10 LOCAL VILLAGES
Last but not least: Every town and village in Greece will have its own Apokries celebrations marked by a riot of colour, costumes, music, good humour, good food and authenticity.