Colors of Thessalia Region - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The people of Thessaly are rather conservative, and frequently, especially in the settlements distant from the large cities, they neglect the achievements of civilization. For tourists, it might be not very comfortable. For example, in many restaurants, you cannot pay by a credit card.

The people respect customs reverently here, they always celebrate all church holidays and often wear their traditional clothes, this is noticeable mostly in the rural areas. Life is slow-paced; although pretty much everybody gets up early here, at the same time no one is in a hurry and everything is done in due course. The laboring job is mainly done in the first half of the day; all farm markets and shops are open from the early morning and by noon, many of them are already closed.

The Greeks are very proud of their fellow countrymen. In particular, if a celebrity is originally from the same town as they are, he or she will be treated like a family member. Therefore, be careful in statements in order not to hurt the patriotic feelings of the person you are talking to. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

For the Greeks a family is an integral part of life. Parents try to do everything to ensure their children’s future, and children show deference to their parents and to the older generation in general. This tradition of family succession is especially noticeable during feasts and holidays when all family members get together at the same place. Moreover, they eat their traditional dishes prepared collectively by their family’s women; they drink the local wine and both the young and the old sing their national songs all together.

Thessaly is the agrarian center of the country, and pretty much everyone is engaged in farming here. Since a greater part of the vegetables and fruits is grown in this region, the residents do like different feasts and holidays. Almost every local product has its own festival. Of course, these festivals are mostly regional, but if you wish, during your trip, especially if it occurs in autumn, you can manage to participate in two or three festivities like this.

One of the most extraordinary festivals is held in Tirnavos, a town near Larissa. During Butter Week, which is the week before Great Lent, the annual phallus festival, or “Burani”, takes place here. Within the festival’s days, phallus images can be found everywhere, in every street of the city. Various bottles, ceramics, buns, and balloons in the form of a reproductive organ are specially produced for the holiday. The town residents dress up, sing songs of a salacious nature, and treat guests generously with local tsipouro. A ritual effigy is burned during the celebration; the main character of the festival is a man in Pan’s character costume.

The feta cheese festival originates from Elassona, one of the towns of Thessaly. Actually, nowadays it is celebrated all over Greece, but in September it is exactly in Thessaly where you can witness the most interesting folk festivals dedicated to this sort of cheese.

Almost all major cities of Greece host various international festivals. Thus, every April the Mediterranean Festival of New Filmmakers takes place in Larissa. The festival features short films. In February, the International Film Festival of Larissa is held here. The event is very popular, and submissions of artists regardless of age but with a youthful and fresh insight are officially accepted. Therefore, not only full-length feature films and documentaries but also works by school-age directors are presented during the festival. Moreover, in October, the Chestnut Festival is celebrated here, and in November you can take part in the Pan Hellenic Festival of Pontian Dances.

Every summer an interesting event takes place on the foothills of Olympus - the Olympus Festival, which embraces Pieria, Macedonia, and Thessalia. It is the summit of the year’s cultural activities. The programme includes productions of plays from the ancient and modern Greek and foreign repertoire, ballet, classical and folk concerts, as well as talks on the archaeological significance of the area.

Extreme sports fans from all over the world are attracted by the Sea and Mountain Sports Festival held in early July around the Tsagarada area of Eastern Pelion. Different outdoor activities for all ages, tastes, and abilities are available; among them, there is rock climbing, canyoning, mountain biking, sea kayaking, flying fox, archery, scuba diving, horse riding, trekking, mountain running, and orientation competition. During the festival, there are also many other thematic events held, such as film shows, evening music events, parties and much more.

It appears that the most festival city of Thessaly is Karditsa, Festivals and festivities take place in each village at least once a year. For more than 30 years, the International Festival of Karditsa has been held here, various Greek stars and world-class musicians participate in it. Traditionally the event takes place in summer, usually at the end of June and the beginning of July. The purpose of the festival is to support and promote classical, contemporary and choral music. At the beginning of autumn, there is a dance festival held in Karditsa, and in October, you can visit a great Trade Fair. In March, tourists can get to the Pan Hellenic Festival of Amateur Theater.

The Meteora Music Festival is another major musical event which takes place in Kalambaka in July. For three days, the huge concert venue hosts shows and musical concerts. In addition, the guests of the festival can participate in different sports events organized during the festival. The 1200 meters Festival dedicated to electronic music is also held here. In August, DJs and musicians from all over the country come to Kalambaka.