Водач по изложбата - cult rural - Prisma

APOTROPAIC AND AND PROTECTIVE RITES RITES
During During the the period period of of Carnival Carnival (Apokria) (Apokria) masquerades masquerades are are found found all all over over Greece, Greece,
but but especially especially in in Thessaly, Thessaly, Macedonia Macedonia and and Thrace Thrace and and some some islands, islands, for for example example
Skyros. Skyros. The The symbolic symbolic purpose purpose continues continues to to be be present, present, although although these these generally generally
have have the the character character of of light-hearted light-hearted entertainment. entertainment. The The masquerades masquerades are are known known
by by a a variety variety of of names names (Karnavalia, (Karnavalia, Koudounati, Koudounati, Koukougeri) Koukougeri) and and operate operate in in
groups, groups, some some of of which which are are standard standard (e.g (e.g the the bridegroom-bride bridegroom-bride etc), etc), while while others others
are are formed formed on on the the inspiration inspiration of of the the moment. moment. The The wearing wearing of of animal animal skins, skins, masks masks
in in a a variety variety of of forms forms and and large large sheep-and sheep-and goat- goat- bells bells hung hung around around the the waist waist are are
the the main main features features of of these these disguises. disguises. They They also also have have their their local local variations, variations, often often
associated associated with with local local historical historical events. events.
The The masquerades masquerades in in the the district district of of Naoussa Naoussa in in North-west North-west Macedonia Macedonia are are a a
characteristic characteristic example. example. The The custom, custom, known known as as the the dance dance of of the the Yenitsaros Yenitsaros and and
the the Boula, Boula, is is connected connected with with the the fi ghting fi ghting of of the the inhabitants inhabitants against against the the Turks Turks
during during the the Turkish Turkish occupation. occupation. Its Its origin origin is is to to be be found found in in the the ancient ancient ceremonies ceremonies
celebrating celebrating the the coming coming of of the the spring. spring. Symbolic Symbolic movements, movements, dances dances and and other other
mimic mimic gestures gestures depict depict the the fi rst fi rst forms forms of of the the custom, custom, to to which which new new elements elements
have have been been added added during during its its evolution. evolution. Those Those in in disguise disguise cover cover their their faces faces with with
impressive impressive wax wax masks, masks, totally totally white white with with colors colors in in the the place place of of eyebrows eyebrows a a false false
moustache moustache attached attached and and three three very very small small openings openings for for the the mouth mouth and and eyes. eyes. They They
also also cover cover their their chests chests by by rows rows of of thousands thousands of of coins coins that that produce produce a a particular particular
sound sound while while moving moving or or dancing. dancing.
Amongst Amongst the the most most impressive impressive carnival carnival masquerades masquerades are are those those held held at at Sochos Sochos
(a (a mountain mountain village village near near Thessaloniki). Thessaloniki). They They begin begin with with the the Triodion Triodion and and climax climax
on on the the last last Sunday Sunday of of Carnival Carnival and and Clean Clean Monday. Monday. The The masqueraders masqueraders are are called
Karnavalia called Karnavalia and differ and from differ those from in those other in regions other regions in two main two features: main features: the face the
mask face and mask the and bells. the The bells. mask The (today mask (today made by made a black by a wooden black wooden material material –Sayiaki) –
is Sayiaki) decorated is decorated with colorful with geometric colorful geometric designs and designs beads. and It ends beads. up It in ends a peculiar up in a
pointed peculiar head pointed dress head fi lled dress with straw filled with as an straw extension as an extension of the mask, of the which mask, is which
colorfully is colorfully decorated decorated by narrow by narrow paper paper ribbons ribbons and and with with a fox a tail fox at tail the at the top; top; horse
hair horse is used hair is for used the moustache. for the moustache. Around Around the waist the of waist those of disguised those disguised are tied are five
heavy tied five bells, heavy especially bells, especially selected for selected this purpose. for this Holding purpose. a Holding long staff a or long a wooden staff or
sword a wooden in one sword hand in and one a hand bottle and of strong a bottle drink of strong in the other, drink in Karnavalia the other, go Karnavalia around
the go streets around striking the streets their striking bells, offering their bells, drink offering from their drink bottles from their to the bottles people to they
meet people and they exchanging meet and wishes. exchanging Folk musicians wishes. Folk also musicians participate. also The participate. custom is a
matter The custom of the entire is a matter settlement of the being entire closely settlement connected being closely with productivity connected of with the
fields productivity and flocks. of the fields and flocks.
The The character character of of disguises disguises of of the the carnival carnival in in the the countries countries of of western western and and central central
Europe Europe is is slightly slightly different, different, although although they they have have many many common common elements; elements; notably notably
the the costumes costumes and and the the masks. masks.
In In Poland Poland the the Carnival, Carnival, (Zapusty), (Zapusty), covers covers the the period period from from New New Year Year or or the the
Epiphany Epiphany until until Ash Ash Wednesday. Wednesday. It It is is the the prolongation prolongation of of the the Twelve Twelve day day
Christmas, Christmas, and and at at the the same same time time it it precedes precedes the the Lent Lent period period and and Easter. Easter. It It was was
a a period period of of joy joy and and revelry revelry , the , the highlight highlight of of which which was was the the last last days days of of carnival, carnival,
called called “mięsopust “mięsopust or or “ostatki”. “ostatki”. The The rich rich carnival carnival rites rites included included colourful colourful and and
joyful joyful processions processions of of people people wearing wearing fancy fancy dress, dress, animal animal masks masks and and looking looking
like like monsters. monsters. Until Until recently recently popular popular in in the the territory territory of of Małopolska Małopolska fancy fancy dress dress
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19. “Boula” masquerades in the carnival of
Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (phot. V.Voutsas)
20. Artwork “Boula”, oil on wood by Tassos
Mantzavinos
21. Carnival mask from Sochos, Macedonia,
Greece (phot. V.Voutsas)
22. Disguisers march during carnival in Sochos,
Macedonia, Greece (phot.V.Voutsas)