Tsiatsios or Tranos Dance
The iconic Tranos Dance —or “Tsiatsios”, named after the Turko-Albanian raider Tzatzos or Tsiatsios, who terrorized the area during Ottoman rule— takes place every year on August 16th in the courtyard of the Great Panagia in Samarina, Grevena. The entire village participates in the dance. Two concentric circles are formed: in the inner circle stand the men, with the elders at the front and usually led by the oldest man in the village, followed by the middle-aged men, the younger men and the youngsters. In the outer circle the women carry their own dance, maintaining the same age order, although unmarried girls do not participate. At the centre of the circle, the organizer coordinates the dance with a wand he holds. Six songs are sung and danced to, referring either to heroic deeds or to moments of everyday life. The ritual always concludes with the distinctive whistling of the dancers and spectators. The Tranos Dance remains a unique custom to this day, deeply rooted in the collective memory of the people of Samarina, functioning as a living link between generations and cultivating a sense of community, cohesion and continuity.
