A voyage through time with the customs of the Carnival in the region of Epirus
The Greek carnival is a time in the year which is celebrated with ounces of fun across Greece and, in the region of Epirus, it always held a special place In the hearts of the locals. The last day of the carnival is on Cheesefare Sunday which is a day before the first Monday of Lent (Ash/Green Monday).
During the Carnival season, the locals of the region of Epirus used to play a game called "hasko". What they would do, was to take a wooden stick and tie a thread at its one end. They would then boil eggs, clean them and tie one with the thread at the stick. This would be dipped in a bowl of yogurt...With the whole family around the feast table, they would play the game of dipping the egg in yogurt and try to bite it from the stick with their hands tied behind their back. As you can all imagine, this would prove to be quite a tricky business causing the laughter of everyone present!
In the village of Pogogi the whole family would play the game on Cheesefare Sunday at dinner time. The eggs consumed on that day were the last thing they would eat that day and the first being eggs again for Easter Sunday after the end of the Lent.
Carnival wise, the locals of all ages would dress up for the mascarade on, both, the Meatfare Sunday and the Cheesefare Sunday.
On the last Saturday of the carnival season (Cheesefare Saturday) the ladies of the house used to hold a competition between them of who would prepare the most and the best "tiroboureka" cheese breads.
In the village of Zagori, the last Sunday before Lent (Cheesefare Sunday) was a special occasion for the whole family to eat together and have a great feast. The family table consisted of special delicacies and was called "the table of love". Among those special delicacies we would find many types of savoury pies, cheese, eggs, milk and butter.
Plan a "traditional" three-day escape for Ash Monday at Mikro Papigo 1700 Hotel & Spa in the village complex of Zagorohoria. Enjoy the festivities of the region of Epirus which are still going strong for the whole Carnival season!
