AHEPA Greek School reports that Carnival and Clean Monday were celebrated “with great success” on Monday 27 February.
Students, teachers, volunteers and parents alike arrived to the school dressed in colourful costumes made up of masks, hats and other impressive vestments.
To the sound of festive tunes such as ‘Welcome crazy Carnival’ and ‘Welcome Carnival, let’s dress up and dance’, the school’s students opened the year’s celebrations “with great excitement.”
By all accounts it was an atmosphere “full of movement, laughter and joy”, children played carnival games, threw streamers and danced along to the songs of the season.
Towards the end of the day more than a hundred children joined hands as they danced Zorba to the delight of all present.
And finally, children tasted a number of fast-friendly foods which apparently went down a treat.
The school says the aim of celebrating the customs was to bring about a sort of revival of tradition among the diaspora’s children.
They stressed the importance of introducing young Greeks to the many aspects of Greek Orthodox tradition through various cultural events; in this instance with particular respect to Carnival and Clean Monday, which is followed by Sarakosti (Lent).
Teachers prepared students for the event with various activities in the classroom in the hopes of “giving children a better understanding of the spirit behind these events.”
For example, students learnt that the celebration of Carnival with its revelry and masquerade has its roots in ancient Greece.
A practice which survived through the centuries and was later adapted to fit with Christian customs.
They also learnt that in Greece, Carnival and Clean Monday are celebrated in a variety of special ways, with local traditions being observed in schools, cities and villages all over the country.
In keeping with traditional customs, students were apparently eagerly awaiting the opportunity to wear the traditional ‘Martaki’ wristband of intertwined red and white yarn on the first day of March.
AHEPA Greek School’s Principal, Stella Lambrou, says that “We believe these joyful celebrations are an excellent opportunity for children to get to know each other, work together and spend a pleasant afternoon that they will remember for many years to come.”
