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  • Mochos : “Xinochondro and Mouzoudia”
    16:00 -23:59
    2019.03.02

     

    The second Saturday of Carnival, it is a custom to have a big open air party in the center of the village of Mochos and the custom is called “Xinochondro and Mouzoudia”. They cook xinochondro (or trachana) [ dried cracked wheat and fermented milk that is used to make a soup ]. They cook xinochondro and they offer it for free to the people who participate the festivity. All attendants have to make some black signs on their face. In the past this was done by using the ashes of the fire that cooked xinochondro.

    Here is a video as prepared by a local TV channel showing the preparations for “Xinochondro and Mouzoudia”.

    The event is organized the 2nd of March 2019, at 16:00 starts the event for the children and later starts the party for the elder that continues until early in the morning. Xinochondros, wine and refreshments are free, but beer and souvlaki are sold.

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  • Anopolis : Carnival Cretan Marriage C A N C E L E D
    12:00 -23:55
    2019.03.10

  • Koxari : Kids Carnival Party
    12:00 -15:00
    2019.03.10

     

    The Cultural Assotiation of Koxari village is organizing a Kid’s Carnival Party, on Sunday, March 10th 2019, at 12:00. The party will take place at the Primary School of the village with free entrance.

  • Malia : Carnival Parade
    15:00 -18:00
    2019.03.10

     

    In Malia, the Association “Maliotiko Carnavali” is organizing a carnival parade on Sunday, March 10th, in 2019, at 15:00.

    Apokries (Greek Carnival)

    The Greek carnival (Apokries) has its roots in ancient Greece. It comes from the pagan rituals of the ancient Greeks and the celebrations in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and cheerfulness. The English word ‘carnival’ comes from the Latin ‘carnem levare’ or ‘carnis levamen’, which means ‘abstention from eating meat’. In Greek, the word “Apokries” is used and means exactly the same. People were dressed up as satyrs or wore masks and flew out in the streets and neighbourhoods, behaving “provocatively” with explicit phrases and deeds.

    This tradition eventually spread to other parts of the world through the Roman Empire and the discovery of the New World. However, pagan practices were so deeply rooted that they were not completely abolished. Later, when Christianity appeared and although people ceased to worship the gods of Olympus, the habits of the Greeks to disguise themselves and celebrate on the streets remained.

    Once a year, carnivals occur in many cities and villages in our country. The carnival begins 60 days before Greek Orthodox Easter, lasts three weeks and this period is called Triodion. The first week is called “Prophonis” when it was announced that Apokries began and every family had to take care of its supplies. The second week is called “Kreatini,” (Meat Week) because it’s the last week to eat meat. Especially on Thursday this week, the so-called “Tsiknopempti” (Tsikna Thursday), people bake meat in all houses and the smell of roast (tsikna) fills the air in the neighborhoods. The third week is called “Tyrini” or “Tyrofagou” and “Makaronou” (Cheese Week). During this period, it is only allowed to eat dairy products, mainly cheese accompanied with macaroni in order to be prepared for the fasting of the Great Lent.

    The carnival events are at their peak at the last weekend of the Apokries by having a carnival parade of the chariots and the masqueraders followed by the burning of the King of Carnival, and ending with an outdoor music-dancing feast until the early hours of the day, bidding in this way farewell to the carnival that ended.

    In the Municipality of Chersonissos, the Greek Carnival is celebrated with great joy, color and imagination.

    Malia Carnival Parade 2019

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  • Koxari : Ash Monday
    12:00 -16:00
    2019.03.11

     

    The Cultural Assotiation of Koxari village is organizing a festive event to celebrate Ash Monday, March 11th 2019. The event will take place at the Primary School of the village.

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  • Historic national anniversary March 25th, 1821
    All day
    2019.03.25

     

    On 25th of March, the War of Independence in 1821 against the Turkish yoke after 400 years of slavery is celebrated. Specifically, it was the armed rebellion of the Greeks against the Ottomans in order to establish an independent nation, the Greek nation.

    Apart from the national character of this historical celebration, the celebration of 25th of March is also a religious one. On 25th of March, the Annunciation is also celebrated and is one of the greatest celebrations of Christianity. The day of the Annunciation was the day when Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

    The Municipality of Chersonissos celebrates this national holiday with dignity every year. Specifically, in order to celebrate the National Holiday, the following events take place:
    Greek flag-raising at the City Hall, the municipal and public buildings in all municipal units of the Municipality of Chersonissos as well as at schools.
    Divine Liturgy takes place in all the Holy Temples of the Municipality of Chersonissos .
    In particular, at the headquarters of the Municipality of Chersonissos in Gournes, there is a doxology in the Holy Church of the Annunciation.

    Wreaths are placed at Monuments in Chersonissos Harbor, at Municipality of Chersonissos’ headquarters in Gournes, in Analipsi, in Chersonissos, in Malia, in Episkopi and in Mochos.

    In addition, school flag parades are being carried out by the children and pupils of the schools of the Municipality of Chersonissos at the headquarters of the Municipality of Chersonissos in Gournes, in front of the City Hall, on the main street of El. Venizelos at Chersonissos Port, on the main street of El. Venizelos in Malia and in Episkopi, from the Primary School to Monument.

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