blog Γυμνασίου Κριεζών

Greek Carnival-The custom of Koudounades in Skyros

“Koudounades” is a tradition of Skyros, an island near Evia. The custom does not have a standard date of celebration, as it takes place at the last weekend of the Carnival, that is, forty days before the Orthodox Easter. In “Koudounades” men wear these costumes, which have goat bells that weigh about 50 kilos and are tied and hung from their shoulders. Men play the role of ‘geros’, which in greek means “old man”, and are dressed in a hooded black cape, white woven trousers and socks, and leather handmade sandals. Behind their back and under the cape they put pillows or rugs to make it look like a hump.

These men run through the streets of the town, dance and make as much noise as possible. When the men wear this costume, they hold a stick, which is called “glitsa” and their face is covered with a hanging goat skin, which they wear like a mask.  With this stick, they want to show that most men on the island were shepherds.

The “geroi” usually are accompanied by an island girl, the “korela”. The korela’s face is also covered with a cloth, but she is dressed in white, in contrast to the black dressed “geros”. Her job is to clear the way for geros to pass through the crowded pebbled streets of the island and sing for him when he gets tired. The custom of “Koudounades” attracts many visitors from the whole country as the island bustles with life these days.

(by Anastastios Moirostos)