Carnivals in Greece
Xanthi Carnival
Xanthi is about 2 hours from Thessaloniki and can be reached by bus and train. Xanthi Carnival is called the “Rio of Greece.” Of course, having never been to Rio, it’s hard for me to make a comparison, but even from the photos, you can tell this carnival is on a smaller scale compared to Rio. The costumes were interesting, and the little ones in costumes looked especially cute alongside the adults. Some people participated as a group with a specific theme. For instance, a group dressed as chefs passed by with a flour battle.
Spectators watching the parade also joined in by throwing colorful powders at those in costumes. According to legend, during the period when rumors about Jesus becoming a prophet increased, fearing he would be killed, people tried to camouflage Jesus by painting their children’s faces. On one Sunday, believing he would no longer be killed, the people collectively washed their children’s faces. That festive Sunday became the Xanthi Carnival. The fun of the carnival isn’t confined to a single day; it starts a week in advance though.
Before the parade, it’s possible to take photos with people in costumes. There are also concerts, dance shows, and other activities like exhibitions. The parade ends with fireworks.
The festival area gets very crowded with both locals and tourists. Although there are many cafes and restaurants around, almost all of them are full. If you go by yourself, I’d recommend to stay at least one night in Xanthi to enjoy the carnival more fully and have the chance to explore the city.
Naoussa Carnival
Naoussa Carnival takes its name from the city itself. The city is about 90 km from Thessaloniki, around a 1-hour drive by car, 1.5 hours by bus, and about 2 hours by train. When we arrived, a group was singing on the stage in the town square, and people were dancing. Of course, even though it was raining, we joined in the dance in our own way.
As we wandered through the streets of the city, we encountered people in different costumes—some were almost in a Halloween mode—but we didn’t see too many people in costumes. Most of the cafes in the square were full as far as I remember. There are few places where you could buy souvenirs. The carnival actually starts on Sunday and continues on Monday, with traditional clothing, songs, and dances. Since we went on Saturday, it seems we only came across the warm-up events before the carnival.
One of the key features of the Naoussa Carnival is its incorporation of pagan rituals and local folklore, which give the event a distinctive character. Traditional music and dancing play a major role in the Naoussa Carnival. Participants move through the streets, accompanied by local musicians playing traditional Greek instruments such as the zurna and daouli (drums). The dances and rhythms are often linked to ancient warrior traditions and fertility rites.
There’s also the opportunity to taste local delicacies and drink Naoussa’s famous wine. The event does not just attract tourists but also the residents of Naoussa enjoy this tradition as far as I observed.
