Although not as famous as other Mediterranean or Central European carnivals, the Patras Carnival is amongst Europe’s finest. Along with London’s Nottingham Parade, it has the largest number of masquerades (40,000 in the Great Parade) and is, without doubt, the first in Europe with regard to the participation of young people, making it a leader in fun and passion.

IT STARTED APPROXIMATELY 180 YEARS ago and has since presented an interesting history and evolution. In 1829, it was initially a Bal Masque thrown in the houses of the local bourgeoisie. Around 1879, members of the bourgeoisie sponsored the construction of carnival chariots and established the parade. For many decades, the official Patras Carnival, a local event, was limited to the balls and the parade. There was, of course, another popular version with parties at local taverns and private residences, and the boules (an improvised masquerade, with people wearing clothes of the opposite sex or granny’s attire).

The local craftsmen were also involved in the building of the chariots, which reflected their know how and different styles. But the Carnival remained a bourgeois celebration since the posh dances and the chariot parade were its main highlights. With the exception of the boules, all other local carnival customs were also created by the bourgeois class, such as the wax eggs “war”, the chocolate war and the “bourboulia” dances.

Clearly, this carnival was of Italian origin and had nothing to do with the pagan carnival traditions that existed in others parts of Greece and whose roots were lost in time, dating back to the ancient god Dionysus. Characterised by phallic symbols and a wide range of disguises and songs, the latter were mainly rural festivities celebrating the fertility of spring and the yield of the earth and the flocks.

Its western character was further reinforced by the fact that, in addition to the cosmopolitan local bourgeoisie (Greeks from the colonies, as well as English, Germans and others local businessmen, mainly raisin merchants), the carnival attracted the city’s sizeable Italian community (political refugees) and the islanders from the Ionian Islands, who had settled in Patras in search of work.

The Patras Carnival evolved with these Italian, urban and bourgeois traits, which at times were more apparent and other times less, depending on the prevailing political and economic events, until 1940. In the years between 1940 and 1950, the carnival was put on hold because of WWII, the German Occupation and the Greek Civil War. It resumed in 1951 with a single change: from then on the organisation would be handled by the Municipality of Patras. In 1966, a new game was tried, in the context of the carnival: a treasure hunt for the chariot crews. Only 94 people participated, but the number gradually rose in the following years, as the car ownership condition for participation was dropped.

The secret of success of the Patras Carnival is summed in the following: since it was never related to old customs and rituals, it evolved in harmony with the times. Thus in 1968, as perceptions, freedoms and pastimes changed, the carnival opened its doors wide open to the youths, who turned it into their own celebration. As a result, thousands of young people participate in the carnival every year.

This in turn led to the following incontestable event: until 1990, Greece had only the Patras Carnival and a few -less than ten – local carnival celebrations. From 1990 onwards, dozens of large and small Greek”>http://www.toplink.gr/greek/xanthi/greece/index.html”>Greek cities, usually at the initiative of the municipalities, organise carnivals, similar to the one taking place in Patras (masquerade parades, etc.).

Because it is an event that offers energy, collective work and a leading role to the youths, it has the power and ability to go beyond the Greek borders. The future will show.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Greece Patras Carnival Is Amongst Europe’S Finest

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