02/03/2025
👉This weekend marks the peak of carnival parades and festivities across Greece!
🎊What is the Carnival, and How is it Celebrated?
Every region, city, and village in Greece has its own unique traditions and customs, many of which, thankfully, have been preserved to this day.
🎉Carnival, or Apokries, refers to the three weeks leading up to Clean Monday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day Lent. The name comes from the Greek phrase meaning "abstaining from meat," as it was traditionally a time for Christians to gradually reduce meat consumption. Similarly, the word carnival has Latin roots (carne vale), meaning "farewell to meat."
🎭The most distinctive feature of the Greek Carnival is the tradition of dressing up in costumes—a practice found all over Greece and throughout Europe, as well. Each region has its own customs, from the lesser-known celebrations in Northern Greece to Athens and to the grand, world-famous carnival of Patras, which attracts thousands of visitors.
🏛Our favorite one is the Dionysian Carnival, rooted in ancient Greece. Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and fertility, represents the very essence of carnival—disguises, dancing, feasting, and the celebration of life.
⏳️If you missed this year’s festivities, don’t worry!
Join us for an authentic revival of the Greek Carnival from February 13-19, 2026, and experience it for yourself!
📧Send us an email for the detailed suggested program
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