Rougatsaria

The Rougkatsaria is a carnival custom of the Twelve Days of Christmas, with roots that trace back to ancient Dionysian rituals. Groups of masked revelers wander through the narrow streets, visiting 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, figures in sheepskins alongside the iconic 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 wishes for the year ahead, in a warm and celebratory atmosphere that offers a truly authentic local experience.

Where to experience it: The custom is revived in Elati, Kranidia, Mikrovalto, and Tranovalto.