Rougatsaria
The Rougkatsaria is a carnival custom of the Twelve Days of Christmas, with roots that reach back to ancient Dionysian rituals. Groups of masked revelers wander through the narrow streets and visit homes, singing, playfully teasing people, and exchanging wishes for a happy new year. They are accompanied by brass bands that spread the festive spirit throughout the town. Young people from the village, dressed in imaginative costumes—captains, brides, “gourmpiteoi” in sheepskins, and the bear—move from house to house throughout the night until the early hours of New Year’s Day. After the Divine Liturgy, locals gather in the square to exchange New Year wishes in a warm and festive atmosphere—an authentic experience well worth discovering.
Where to experience it: The custom is revived in Elati, Kranidia, Mikrovalto, and Tranovalto.