Students (of group 4) wrote about the most characteristic traditions and festivals of the place where they live. Discussions and photos in the FORUM here.

In particular:

 

The Greeks wrote:

Tsiknopempti

 Christina Mesopotamia - 03.03.2016 09:38

Tsiknopempti (Τσικνοπέμτπτη in Greek) is the Thursday before carnival. We celebrate it by baking and eating meat. Souvlaki, gyros etc !!! Tsikna of burning meat smells everywhere! This celebration has its roots in byzantine era, and it takes place before Easter.

 

The carnival of Kastoria (Ragoutsaria)

THALIA MAVRODIMOU - 18.01.2016 17:52

Carnival is a big celebration in Kastoria too, and it is celebrated on 6-8 of January in our region, whereas in rest of Greece later in spring.
The carnival of Kastoria (Ragoutsaria) revive the ancient Dionysian orgiastic ceremonies that took place since ancient times, in the middle of winter, and immediately after the feast of the sun's birth on December 25th, (passed in Christian worship by introducing celebration of Christmas) in honor of nature that will be reborn in spring. Ragoutsaria close the festive twelve days of Christian period.

Here's a video of Ragoutsaria 2016 we celebrated a few days before:

 

 

The Danish wrote:

 Jens Christian Brødbæk - 06.01.2016 11:11

Venoe

Laura Soevsoe Struijk - 06.01.2016 11:16

 

Carnival (Fastelavn) is a big celebration in Denmark, in which the coming of the spring is celebrated. It was also the day to exercise evil spirits. It was also believed that by killing black cats, you would be save from the plague. Therefore black – live – cats were put in a barrel. People – mostly children – then proceeded to hit the barrels with bats until the barrel broke and the cat was dead. To day, that is illegal and the cat has been replaced with candy, much like a piñata.

Much like Halloween, children dress up and knocks on doors, sing a song and then gets candy. The song is called “Fastelavn er mit navn” meaning “Fastelavn is my name.”

 

Fastalavn er mit navn:

Fastalavn er mit navn

Boller vil jeg have

Hvis jeg ingen boller får

Så laver jeg ballade

 

Boller op, boller ned

Boller i min mave

Hvis jeg ingen boller får

Så laver jeg ballade

 

    English:

Fastelavn is my name

I want buns

If I don’t get no buns

Then I will make trouble

 

Buns up, buns down

Buns in my tummy

If I don’t get no buns

Then I will make trouble

 

Laura Soevsoe Struijk - 06.01.2016 11:18