Holidays

How I learnt about Tsiknopempti....

I suppose that Greek holidays can be a big topic.

Yesterday I woke up unaware of things happening in the country. I heard that there would be carnival soon and saw some costumes sold in shops weeks before.

While I was cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, I saw a neighbor in the house in front of mine taking out some barbecue stuff and starting grilling meat. The smoke reached my house. I observed the scene with curiosity and forgot about it till I went out of the house and realized that most of the cafes and even some shops got their barbecues out to cook some meet. In the streets I also saw people dressed up in different costumes. My guess was almost right: carnival was coming.

In fact as I learnt later, yesterday was Tsiknopempti (Thursday of the Smoke of Grilled Meat). It is celebrated on Thursday of the second Carnival week, 11 days before Clean Monday. Some websites and friends shared their knowledge with me telling that there are a lot of traditions like sharing meal with the passers-by or jumping over the fire or exchanging meat presents between fiancés. Young people prefer going out to the parties organized by local bars and clubs.