Απόκριες (apo-kreas=goodbye to meat) is the three week period before the Σαρακοστή (sa-ra-ko-STEE), the “Great Lent”. The Σαρακοστή lasts forty days and ends on Πάσχα (PAS-cha=Easter).During Σαρακοστή, people fast and prepare themselves spiritually for the great feast of Πάσχα.
Απόκριες and Πάσχα are moving holidays but usually Απόκριες is during the month of February. The most important day of Απόκριες is the last Sunday of this three-week period, which is the peak of of the celebrations. This year, mark the calendars for February 22nd!
Throughout this period, but especially on Sunday, February 22nd, there are numerous events and parties where people dress up as μασκαράδες (ma-ska-RA-dhes= masqueraders), engage in pranks, treasure hunts, concerts, masked balls, and street festivals.
The main event is the grand parade of masked troupes and floats Sunday at noon. There are numerous parades all over Greece but the most popular is the one of Patra. Every year Patra has millions visitors who either participate in the parade or simply gather on the streets to watch the floats and the μασκαράδες! The carnival ends with the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival at the harbor!
The Patra’s King Carnival 2014
The closing ceremony in Patra: Burning the King Carnival (2014)
