Carnival on Skopelos
SKOPELOS BLOG, SKOPELOS BLOGSPOT, SKOPELOS BLOGGING, SKOPELOS BLOGS, SKOPELOS BLOGGERS, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS SKOPELOS, CARNIVAL SKOPELOS, CULTURE SKOPELOS, TRATA(TRAWL), BRAMDES, WEDDING PROCESSION, “THE GOOD”, Carnival in Skopelos, traditions on Skopelos island, the culture of Skopelos, Skopelos Bramdes, Skopelos Trata, Skopelos good, Skopelos clean Monday
Skopelos Carnival
Beautiful Skopelos is an island with surprises !!! Besides the incomparable natural beauty, Skopelos has many strong points to show. Come and spend a traditional Halloween in Skopelos for real fun !!!
After all, Skopelos’ carnival customs are the most interesting. Furthermore, the culture of Skopelos is full of surprises. TIP 1: The first settlers of the island were Peparethos and Stafylos, both sons of the god Dionysus, the god of fertility, vines, and wine. So the carnival customs are rooted in ancient tradition, the popular “peparitheio wine” and celebrations were held to honor the God Dionysus. TIP 2: Carnival Skopelos songs are mostly obscene songs as they contain many “forbidden” words. Nevertheless, the fun of the carnival, everyone is singing it, regardless of age and social class. TIP 3: Many events were funny representations of everyday activities. An example is a bear (arkoudiaris) and the doctor. TIP 4: The bellmen (koudounatoi) and moutsounes were men who wore masks and were sitting in the neighborhood of Panagitsa.The women were embarrassed even to come closer to them as their fun was vulgar language and provocative teasing. Some ancient customs have survived to this day. All local people of Skopelos, children, and adults, with cheer and joy, revive their traditions every year at Halloween. Carnival events are so important that in the old days, locals who worked away from the island returned home these days to celebrate their special customs. Moreover, traditions on Skopelos Island are still alive.
Carnival on Skopelos Begins
Carnival lasts for three weeks. The carnival customs start from the “Tsiknopempti”(Thursday). Groups of young and old-dressed masqueraders hanging around the alleys of Skopelos. Laughing, singing, and teasing everyone, ending up at a Skopelos tavern and having fun until the early hours. The most famous Halloween carnival customs in Skopelos are the wedding procession and the “good”, the “bramdes”, and the trata (Trawl).
Skopelos Wedding Procession, “Good”
On the last Sunday of Carnival, a grand parade is organized, which represents the Skopelos wedding procession. The role of the bride is played by a masked man, while everyone is satirizing a character. Throughout the singing, the well-known “indecent” and non-carnival songs, and they drink happily.
Skopelos “Bramdes”
The “Bramdes” are Skopelos’ traditional costumes. They wear good handkerchiefs, breeches, foustaneles (local costume for men), and silver charpas (tsaprazia). They are walking around Skopelos alleys and singing the epic Skopelos song “Vlacha”. The “Bramdes” gather in Gyftorema, Mylos, always singing and dancing. The householders open their homes to offer their Skopelos traditional sweets like rice pudding (rizogalo), galaktombourek,o as well as endless wine.
Skopelos “Trata” (Trawl)
On the last Sunday celebrated the custom of Skopelos Trata was celebrated. Smudgy masquerades carry a boat made of reeds and wood, the trata. On their way, they sing obscene songs, drink, and tease the attendees. They hold nets, for example, and catch the passers-by.
The followers of the trata are also masquerades. Together they end up on the beach where they will drop the trata. The celebration and dance last until the early hours of the morning. TIP: This custom has its roots in the attacks that plagued the Aegean islands from the terrible pirates. “CLEAN MONDAY” IN SKOPELOS On Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), Skopelites paint by bluing a cross on their foreheads and hanging a branch of hyacinths in their ears. The day is celebrated by fasting as well as drinking wine at the beaches, in their huts, and in the fields.
