A carnival in Athens
A revolution of lost socialization through the anonymity of the mask
Carnival originates in ancient times and pagan celebrations when people tried to approach the divine through orgiastic rituals. Christianity tried to disallow it as a pagan element but these ancient roots in people’s souls stood in the way so church tolerated it as the end of carousal before the start of sanitization that comes with the Great Lent.
One of the main reasons why these festivities are so beloved is the opportunity they provide for people to get away from their everyday lives and worries. Through masquerade, drinking, dancing and singing people chase the conquest of temporary happiness away from their problems and they reconcile with everyone as they do not know who they hug or dance with behind the anonymity provided by the mask. Their goal is to be someone else for a while, ideally unrecognizable so that one can be as free and impulsive as they want without the fear of someone judging them.
These festivities provide an opportunity for the people of the city to come closer. They all have fun together in a revelry and develop a sense of belonging in a team as they drink cling glasses and dance with strangers.
In ancient Rome and in Venice rich people enjoyed masquerades quite often behind closed doors. But, in this time of the year carnival becomes accessible to everyone. Cheap and simple materials such as straws or foil combined with creativity can compose an impressive appearance.
In this carnival most of the costumes were handmade. Even the king of the carnival (Carnavalos) was made out of paperboards, foils and feathers, a cheap and handmade yet beautiful creation. Imagination, creativity and improvisation ruled helping people dodge their problems as they became part of this outbreak of joy and color.
That day in Metaxourgion the sounds of African drums combined with latin dances met the dragon at the Chinatown block composing a multicultural vibe. At the evening, people gathered at the square for the maypole (or gaitanaki as we call it) a tall pillar with different colors of ribbons tied in it in a way that lets people form a circle as they dance around it. These ribbons resemble the ones that people in ancient Athens used to hang in trees, in herms and scapegoats .
The highlight of the festivities is the burning of the king Carnavalos that takes place when the sun sets. Carnavalos becomes the purgatorial victim as he clutters up all of society’s sins to be burned with him helping the people that take part in the carnival leave pure and ready for the Great Lent.
As he burns, people dance around him. It is a special feeling to be around them at the time as their joy is contagious and the whole spectacle a unique experience.
