"Unique" Greek ancient traditions.
In
ancient times the Dionysian revels were
very lewd. Dominant elements in these
customs are the phallus symbols and
satire, which centres on local events.
Every year in ancient Athens, a huge
phallus was taken around the city at the
Greater Dionysia, and similar processions
were held in many other cities. This
phallic aspect of the revels has been
preserved most enthusiastically in
Tyrnavo.
The “Dirty
Monday” festival in Tyrnavos is one
of the most famous carnivals in Greece.
Faithful to the old traditions, the
people of Tyrnavos still honour the god
Dionyssus with various festivities.
Perhaps the most obviously pagan of
these is found under the misleading
name 'cooking the bourani', a vegetable
soup, which is served on Ash Monday every
year and brings a lot of Greek and
foreign tourists in the area. During the
cooking of the soup, the "bourani
people" do a lot of teasing with
phallic symbols, while phallic objects
are paraded through the town. Unabashedly
phallic, this carnival celebration in
Tyrnavos is wild fun. There are people
against it, but the Festival has come
through, and every year, on Ash Monday,
the town of Tyrnavos is jam-packed with
fun-loving participants and spectators.
People of all ages, women and men, Greeks
and foreigners, participate and enjoy
themselves.
The
Festival began centuries, if not
millennia, ago. While it is a
bit absurd, history is full of festivals
associated with fertility
symbols. Some archaeologists think that
fertility rites are one of the oldest
forms of religious rites in Greece.
 and see the YOUTUBE video of the
happenings at Tyrnavos' "Mpourani" festival, and
Here to see the YOUTUBE video
of the happenings at the Carnival of Kozani.
How to Get There: You can go to Tyrnavos by public bus
via Larissa or get the train to Larissa and the bus from Larissa
to Tyrnavos. The trip is difficult due to the bad connection
times and this is one of the reasons that we have decided to plan
the one, two days & three days excursions to the region of Thessaly.
2009 "Dirty Monday" is on March 02.
The tours are organised for groups of 5
- 45 people.
- a one day excursion to Tyrnavos leaving Athens early Monday morning,
- a two day tour to Meteora and Tyrnavos. Departure on Sunday. Overnight in Kalambaka.
- a three days tour for the Carnival at Kozani and Tyrnavos.
If
you are interested to take part let us know and we shall
contact you in due time.
 
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