Boubousaria
Every year on the eve and day of Epiphany (January 5–6), Siatista transforms into a vibrant, colorful stage: residents put on disguises, take to the streets, and celebrate until morning during the famous Boubousaria. Groups wearing traditional and satirical costumes, knitted face veils, and accompanied by brass instruments parade through Chora and Geraneia, dancing and playfully satirizing people and events of the past year. The custom has Dionysian roots—it is linked to joy, masquerade, and liberation—and today stands as one of the most lively celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It is a winter carnival filled with energy, music, and unmistakable Siatista spirits. The tradition is also revived beyond Siatista: in Galatini on New Year’s Day and in Eratyra on the second day of the year, where masked locals dance through the alleys to welcome the new year and ward off evil.
