Rougoutsaria
Groups of masqueraders roam the alleys, visiting homes, singing, teasing passersby, and exchanging wishes for the New Year. They are accompanied by brass bands that spread the festive spirit throughout the town. Rougoutsaria is a carnival custom of the Twelve Days of Christmas with roots reaching back to ancient Dionysian rituals. Young villagers, dressed in traditional costumes —such as the “captains,” the “brides,” the “gourbiteoi” wearing animal skins, and the “bear”— wander from house to house throughout the night until dawn on New Year’s Day. After the Divine Liturgy, villagers gather in the square to exchange wishes for the new year in a warm and celebratory atmosphere — an authentic experience worthy of your discovery.
Where to experience it: The custom is revived in Elati, Kranidia, Mikrovalto, and Tranovalto.
