Folk culture in the area of Drama is of particular interest not only because of the richness and distinctiveness of its various forms but also because elements of ancient Greek and Byzantine tradition have survived in it even today. There are very many feast days and celebrations but some of the more unusual ones are mentioned below.
6th Jan: Monastiraki, Xiropotamos, Pyrgi
Epiphany is celebrated in the village square where young people dress up in traditional costume or as ‘Arapides’, with black skin and wearing long, black capes and hoods made of goatskin. Dances follow in the evening.
6th-8th Jan: Kali Vrisi
The ‘Bamboogeri’ (men masquerading as animals) appear and try to scare the villagers and visitors. The high point of the celebration is the reenactment of a wedding.
7th-8th Jan: Volakas
An ‘Arapides’ celebration takes place. A traditional wedding is reenacted and ‘bears’ (locals dressed in fleeces) come out into the streets.
7th-8th Jan: Petrousa
A procession takes place through the village and a wedding is reenacted.
18th Jan: Agios Athanasios
Bonfires and traditional horse races are held to celebrate the feast of St. Athanasios
Feb-March: Carnival period where celebrations take place in several villages
Tyrinis Monday (3rd week of Lent): Kalambaki, Mavrolefki
The ‘Kaloyeros’ (good old man) visits the houses of the village and the women shower him with seeds and grain, symbols of a rich harvest.
2nd March (date varies): Kato Nevrokopi
Feast of St. Theodore. On the eve of the feast, villagers go to the small chapel of Agios Theodoros on the Falakro mountain where they spend the night in a cave.
Kathara Deftera (1st day of Lent): Horisti
Carnival parade. Masquerades, various performances and reenactments take place.
Easter: Religious and customary Easter festivities take place in and around Drama during this period. Some villages have their own special customs.
Thursday – Easter Week: Kali Vrisi
Procession of the icon of the Resurrection all around the border of the farmland to protect the village from all evil.
Friday – Easter Week: Prosotsani, Kalifyto, Monastiraki
The Feast of the Life Giving Spring is celebrated with noteworthy cultural events.
Sunday after Easter: Sitagri
Pontian refugees keep alive the ancient traditions of their birth place.
Visits to graves are accompanied by singing and the distribution of sweets and red eggs.
21st & 23rd May: Mavrolefki
The ‘Anastenaria’ celebration is in honour of the saints Konstantinos and Eleni. An ecstatic dance accompanied by the lyre and tabor is followed by a ritual animal sacrifice and the walking on hot coals
Summer: Xiropotamos, Petrousa
International festivals of traditional dance are held.
8th June: Volakas
The Feast of the Holy Spirit is celebrated in a small church on Mount Falakro. The feast is marked by an animal sacrifice, dance and song and the villagers return on horseback.
