Greeks revel in Carnival celebrations after pandemic pause
Greeks revel in Carnival celebrations after pandemic pause
Local residents wearing folk costumes cheer during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Galini, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young men and women with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take part at the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A woman and participants with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take photos of the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes parade during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A bell ringer (Koudounatoi) performs during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes dance during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A man wearing carnival costume takes part in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A reveller wearing a carnival costume holds colored smoke in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A man and woman wearing carnival costumes sing and dance in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Local residents wearing folk costumes cheer during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Galini, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes cheer during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Galini, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young men and women with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take part at the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young men and women with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take part at the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A woman and participants with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take photos of the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A woman and participants with faces painted wear white sheets and hold torches on long poles, take photos of the Torch Parade (Lampadiforia) on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, late Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes parade during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes parade during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Young bell ringers (Koudounatoi) dance during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A bell ringer (Koudounatoi) performs during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A bell ringer (Koudounatoi) performs during a traditional custom, in the village of Apeiranthos, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes dance during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents wearing folk costumes dance during a traditional custom called Kordelatoi, in the village of Kourounochori, on the Aegean Sea island of Naxos, Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The first proper celebration of the Carnival after four years of COVID restrictions, has attracted throngs of revellers, Greek and foreign, with the young especially showing up in large numbers. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A man wearing carnival costume takes part in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A man wearing carnival costume takes part in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A reveller wearing a carnival costume holds colored smoke in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A reveller wearing a carnival costume holds colored smoke in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A man and woman wearing carnival costumes sing and dance in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A man and woman wearing carnival costumes sing and dance in a traditional carnival parade in the southeast small town of Paralimni, Cyprus, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The parade on the eve of the start of Orthodox Lent, is back in full force after being suspended for the last two years because of restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
NAXOS, Greece (AP) — Throngs of revelers across Greece attended end-of-Carnival celebrations this weekend for the first time in four years.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the festivities held before the beginning of Lent in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
On the island of Naxos, which hosts some of the most colorful Carnival events in Greece, the number of young people taking part soared this year.
Many of the customs observed are based on rituals from celebrations of the changing seasons that predate antiquity, while others are more recent.
In the latter category is the Lampadiforia, or Torch Parade, held on Naxos that features a procession of young men and women holding torches on poles and with their faces painted to resemble black-and-white masks.
It first took place on the Saturday night preceding Lent in 1994, dreamed up by young members of a local cinema club. About 50 of them went out into the street that year, screaming and dancing while holding torches, and startling other people as they paraded toward the Temple of Apollo.
This year, well over 2,000 torch bearers joined the parade, dancing to the beat of drums along the maze of the narrow streets in old town Naxos to a central square where a scarecrow was burned.
In other parts of Naxos and mainland Greece, young men wearing cow bells and carrying a phallic symbol — a common feature of ancient rites celebrating spring — danced their way to village squares on Sunday.
Other customs included young men wearing folk costumes and holding thick canes making their way to neighboring villages, where they invite local women to dance. The women, in turn, offer the men local delicacies and wine.
In Orthodox Christian countries, Lent, as well as Easter, are celebrated at different times than in primarily Catholic countries because they use different calendars. Greek Orthodox Easter is usually a week later than Catholic Easter.
Carnival celebrations also took place this weekend in Cyprus.
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Nellas reported from Athens, Greece.
