Metaxourgio Carnival

What I can see

The carnival in Greece is characterised by grandiose floats, parades, uniformly dressed participants and spectators on either side of central streets. The Carnival of Metaxourgio is something entirely different. It is a moving carnival street party with people of all ages, nationalities and musical cultures as participants, who melt into one big company. There are no floats or costumes and there is no typical carnival music. The neighbourhoods of Metaxourgio and Keramikos are animated by percussion groups, who are joined by other participants, dressing however they like, as they move along the roads. The carnival starts from Avdi Square in early noon and ends there or Plato’s Academy in early evening. Moments of note during the carnival are the entrance to the atrium of Chinatown and in the end, the maypole and the burning of the Carnival in Avdi Square. These are the only elements of this carnival referring to tradition.

What I can't see

It is a carnival which started just a few years ago and usually takes place in late February, the Sunday before the three-day period of Clean Monday. It is a very special carnival, and more and more people come every year. Until 2019, it was not organised by the municipality or any other public authority, and there were no sponsors. It was created spontaneously, as an initiative of local residents and businesses. Although this carnival has not revived any local tradition, carnival events in this neighbourhood, as in other districts of Athens, were held until the middle of the 20th century in a similar style and spontaneity.

Bibliography