[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG96NzmpQYg[/YOUTUBE]
The custom of Arapides
In Eastern Macedonia the twelve-day period from Christmas to Epiphany culminates in a unique feast involving the reenactment of an original, symbolic custom. The custom of Arapides, one of the most important traditional cultural events in the region. The Arapides a hangover of the Dionysiac - Orphic dances takes place on 7 January, the day of the feast of Saint John the Baptist, when men cover their faces and arms with ashes – hence the name “Arapides”, which also denotes a deeply-tanned person – and wear pelts covering all the body to the legs. The back is fulfilled with straw to form a hump and 4 big bells called "tsania" with one bigger than the others called "batali", are hung on the waist. On the legs they wear "Kaltsounia" and on soles "tsarvoulia", while the impressive head cover is called "barbota" and is made of black goat skin. Every year at St. John celebration, after attending the Mass, the Arapides, with men wearing fustanella ahead, jumping and holding wooden long knives -added to the Arapides equipment during the Turkish Occupation-, wander the streets of the towns to send away the evil spirits with the noise made by the heavy bells hanging off their bodies. Finally at the town square two Arapides duel. The one who loses falls down dead in a symbolism of the murder of Dionysus by Titans, but will soon stand up again resurrected by Zeus. This final act symbolises also the resurrection of nature after the winter period. According to another traditional view, the Arapides were also used by Alexander the Great so as to frighten the elephants in the ranks of his enemie's army. The whole event is accompanied by traditional music and dances.
This ancient greek custom, is preserved without a pause since the very old times up to nowadays by different Cultural Associations in Macedonia. The event takes place in the town of Nikisiani, in the prefecture of Kavala, and in the villages of Monastiraki, Volakas, Pyrgi, Xyropotamos, Kali Vrysi and Petrousa in the Prefecture of Drama.
The duel.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvS6i5Mlf4[/YOUTUBE]
10-27-2007, 11:46 AM
Αράπηδες / Αrapides 
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