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The fire walking ritual of Greek Macedonia
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When:
May 21, 2009
- May 23, 2009
Where: Agia Eleni, Serres, and Thessaloniki, Greece
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The Anastenaria is a northern Greece traditional ritual of fire walking which dates back to pagan times. There are variations in the ritual from place to place, and though the ''Anastenaria'' is a ceremony that derives from times before Christ, it is dedicated and attached to the christian faith. This ceremony takes place on Saint-Konstantinos day, 21st of May. The whole celbration lasts three to four days. The communities, which celebrate the Anastenaria, are descendants of refugees from Eastern Thrace that settled in Northern Greece following the migrations necessitated by the Balkan Wars and by the later exchange of populations in 1923. Every year, barefoot villagers of Agia Eleni, Serres, and of Langada, Thessaloniki, get themselves worked up into a trance before walking over hot coals.
[Courtesy of Astoria Travel of Athens, Greece]
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IMPORTANT:
Please note that the details of the event are subject to change.
We strongly recommended that you check with the organizers
before making any travel arrangements.
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Event related information:
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Online hotel reservations:
Country background and overview:
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
[Courtesy of The World Factbook]
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 Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey. |
Languages:
Greek |
Climate:
Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers. |
Capital:
Athens |
Time Zone:
UTC+2 (Summer UTC+3) |
Currency (code):
euro (EUR) |
Call Code:
+30 |
Electric Power:
220v 50Hz |
Tourist office:
Ellinikos Organismos Tourismou-EOT (Greek/Hellenic National Tourism Organisation)
Tsoha 7 Street,
115 21 Athens, Greece
Phone: (30) 210 870 7000 |
Tourist website:
Click Here |
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