Carnival in Cyclades

NAXOS

According to tradition, the island of Naxos is considered to be the birthplace of the god Dionysos.
The celebrations start on the first Saturday of the carnival, with the slaughter of pigs and other festivities.
At noon on the last Sunday of the carnival, in the village called Apiranthos, the Koudounati (people who bear bells) make their appearance. They wear cloaks and hoods and go around the village creating a lot of noise and speaking and behaving in a provocative way. They also carry a piece of wood, called somba, similar to the Dionysian phallus.
The group is joined by other carnival figures such as the Yeros (old man), the Gria (old lady) and the Bear. Among the festivities organised by the Koudounati, the visitor can also admire the Bride's Wedding, Death, the Resurrection of the Dead and the Ploughing.
On Ash Monday, in the villages of Potamia, Kaloxido, Livadia and others, the Kordelati or Levendes make their appearance, called so because they wear ribbons (Kordeles) on fez and shoulders.
The Kordelati wear the foustanella, the traditional Greek kilt. They are also known as the Levendes, a nick-name they got from the pirates. They are followed by the "robbers", who grab the local girls, forcing them to join in the dancing and celebrations, which last until dawn.
Municipality of Naxos: Tel.: 22850 22717