The Boumparoi
If you find yourself in Eptachori on New Year’s Day, you shall find yourself waking up to sounds of bells and laughter echoing through the town’s narrow streets. Youngsters, along with a few spirited older villagers, transform into Boumparoi, wearing white clothes, sheepskin hides, and large bells strapped to their bodies, setting the mood for the day’s festivities. These are the so-called “Boumparoi”. Alongside them are the “Bride”, the “Captain” in his traditional fustanella, and the village’s marching band, creating a folk performance that begins at dawn and lasts until nightfall. This unusual procession passes by every house, dancing, singing, inviting everyone to join the festivities. After the church service, the Boumparoi paint the faces of those present and lead the crowd to the village square, where the ritual reaches its climax with the “abduction of the Bride”, followed by dancing, wine, and high spirits well into the night. It is a day you will remember for a long time: the village fills with life, music, and smiles.
