Customs and traditions in various areas of Greece

The day of Theofania was celebrated yesterday in every corner of Greece. The water is sanctified by the priest, as a way to deal with the elves, but is really interesting to read how the Greek people celebrating the Theofania in different areas.

In the island of Ionio Lefkada: holy oranges
The faithful gathered beside the sea and the priest throws the cross into the water, as in many parts of the country. But in Lefkada, along with the cross, the sea and throwing a bunch of oranges tied together with a rope. Then the blessed oranges, hung next to icons in churches.

Hermione Korinthos: seafarers diver
Shortly before the cross was dropped into the sea, the 'diver' characteristics known as the lads who will dive to catch the cross, wearing traditional costumes of old sailors and turn from house to house singing. The housewives of the welcoming greetings and traditional treats and wish them every success in dive below.

Kastoria: the revived Ragoutsaria
On the day of Epiphany in Kastoria revived Ragoutsaria. The people wearing scary masks to exorcise evil from the region and seek "compensation" from passersby for the good they do in the city. Similar is the custom "rokatzaria, which revived in Drama, where people with terrifying masks rid of evil spirits.

Halkidiki: the king and fotarades
In many villages of Halkidiki still revives the custom of Fotaradon. The "king" is loaded with bells opens the dance and follow Fotarades, believers of nationals with wooden swords, trying to prevent anyone trying to steal a sausage that is set up in the village square

Galatista Halkidiki: the camel and the kidnapping ...
This is a custom, which revived continuously since the late 19th century. Then, someone in love to kidnap the beloved under the eyes of the Turkish Commissioner, has an idea of a unique trick. Erected a feast in the village while he created the effigy of a camel in which he hid and friends of the kidnappers who entered the house and stole his girlfriend.

St. Baptist Halkidiki: the Fruits & Vegetables and bats
Rich in traditions of Lights, the Chalkidiki revives the custom of Fruits and Vegetables in Agios Prodromos. On the eve of Epiphany, some lads, the Fruits and Vegetables, saying the carols and instead of money, housewives give them meat and sausages. On the day of St. John the Fruits and Vegetables dancing in the village square. When they break out of the circle dance, grab a bat and just re-enters the dance, the bats fly up and whistles to mark the end of the holiday season.

Drama: The bampougera and the ash
It is one of the most interesting traditions which you will find in Drama. On the eve of Theofania, women taking ashes from the fireplace and spread with the right hand in the house, saying spells to leave the goblins. On the day of Theofania and after the blessing of water, some residents-the-bampougera wearing animal skins, stand outside the church and holding a bag (supposedly filled with ashes) to beat this encountered bullies and the goblins!

Drama: the niggers and Alexander the Great
The custom of Nigger takes us many years back, when the Negroes warriors of Alexander the Great is said, that with their shouts able to prosecute their opponents of Indian elephants. Today, the locals, dressed in animal skins, wear bells and dancing in the street to chase the evil spirits and goblins. This custom, revived and in several areas of Kavala.

Thessaly: rivers and spraying
In many villages in Thessaly, where there are rivers, people get the icons from the church and the river transport. There, in the icy waters of the river, throwing the cross and sprinkle it with the icons, which then return to the church and tend to sprinkle with holy water and the fields to have a good harvest. In several villages in Thessaly, plunge the entire image in the river!

Dodecanese: the diver holding their breath
In Dodecanese but mainly in Symi and Kalymnos, the 'diver', those who dive to catch the cross, defying the low water temperatures of the sea, holding their breath to stay as long as possible under cold water. And of course, as long as the icy plunge, the fishermen of the islands with boats, forming a protective cordon around the diver, who are the lucky new year has just entered.
Source: naftemporiki.gr