Carnival in Dodecanese

KARPATHOS

On Ash Monday, according to the custom, inhabitants set up the Popular Court Of Justice for Rudeness.
Some people make improper or vulgar gestures to others, are arrested by the policemen (TZAFEDES), and brought to the Court of Justice for Rudeness, made up of the respected people of the island. The Court session is extremely funny, people exchange a lot of accusations, then comes the sentence of the Court, followed at the end by a big traditional party.
Municipality of Karpathos: Tel.: 22450 22556

LEROS

Carnival is celebrated by "kamouzeles": masquerades, and poetic improvisations, during which people make up funny verses. Then, children dressed as monks recite these verses, visiting in succession all the houses of the village.
On the island of Simi, carnival custom is the same.
Municipality of Leros: Tel.: 22470 22937