North Greek Festivals and the Worship of Dionysos

A. J. B. Wace

doi:10.1017/S006824540000174X

North Greek Festivals and the Worship of Dionysos

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 October 2013

A. J. B. Wace

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During the course of travel and exploration that we have carried out during the last three years in Thessaly, and South Macedonia, Mr. M. S. Thompson and myself have discovered that in these regions a carnival play similar to that seen by Mr. Dawkins in Thrace is still performed on certain occasions. It is surprising that these festivals have for so long escaped the notice of travellers, for the area in which they occur is a large one, and they were more extensively celebrated in days gone by. Mr. G. F. Abbott seems to be the only traveller who has noticed them, and even he has misunderstood them.

Type: Research Article
Information: Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 16 , November 1910 , pp. 232 - 253

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S006824540000174X [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1910

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^{page 232 note 1} J.H.S. 1906, pp. 191, ff.

^{page 232 note 2} Macedonian Folklore, pp. 80, 88.

^{page 232 note 3} This district comprises part of Aperantia and Dolopia; cf. Leake, , Northern Greece, iv. pp. 266 ff.Google Scholar

^{page 233 note 1} This line is noi the correct version, which Mr. Mpriakos had forgotten, but one supplied by himself to fill the gap.

^{page 234 note 1} The translations appended to the songs are far from perfect; they are merely intended to give the reader unacquainted with modern Greek an idea of their meaning.

^{page 234 note 2} For similar songs, cf. Κονδύλης Περὶ γλώσσης καὶ καταγωγῆς τῶν Θρᾳκῶν Athens, 1905, pp. 12–15, from Thrace (Adrianople); ῾Ελληνικὸς Φιλολογικὸς Σύλλογος 1874 (ix.), pp. 336 ff. from Imbros; Abbott, Macedonian Folklore, pp. 89 ff.; Passow, Carmina Popularia, ccxciv.–ccciii.

^{page 235 note 1} This was sung to us at Plátanos near Halmyros. Cf. Passow, op. cit. cccxxxv, cccxxxvi.

^{page 235 note 2} One tally equals five kilogrammes; one λουτζέκι equals eleven okes (one oke is lbs.).

^{page 236 note 1} When these songs are sung, in order to prolong the note with a kind of drone, an extra syllable with v is often inserted in the words, e.g.:—

^{page 237 note 1} From Halmyros.

^{page 237 note 2} Cf. Passow, op. cit. 219, note.

^{page 237 note 8} From Koukouráva on the west side of Mavrovoúni.

^{page 239 note 1} In former days in this district when a father invited guests to his daughter's wedding, he sent round an apple or an orange to his friends as an invitation. The orange, lemon, or apple carried by the bride is probably a survival of this custom, and a sign that she is a bride.

^{page 240 note 1} We unfortunately saw this band only at night when it was impossible to photograph them.

^{page 241 note 1} Παραδόσεις ii. p. 1273: he also mentions New Year masquerades in Crete and Achaia, but apparently there is no dramatic performance connected with them.

^{page 241 note 2} A sheep-skin mask worn at Keramidi, which we procured there, has been given to the Cambridge Ethnological Museum.

^{page 242 note 1} Παραδόσεις loc. cit.

^{page 243 note 1} Macedonian Folklore, pp. 80, 88.

^{page 243 note 2} Γειά χαρά καὶ ὁ Αϊ Βασίλης πολλὰ σιτάρια πολλὰ κριθάρια πολλὰ παιδούδια

^{page 243 note 3} At Krushevo the Vlach boys on New Year's day mask themselves, and ran about ringing bells; they call themselves Arákĭ (sing. Arápŭ); Cosmulei, , Datini, Credinte, si Superstitii Aromânesti (Bucuresti, 1909), p. 38.Google Scholar Similar masquerades occur at the same time at Vlacho-Klisura, Neveska, and Hrupista.

^{page 243 note 4} Παραδόσεις ii. pp. 1273 ff.

^{page 243 note 6} A dialect form of ᾿Αράπηδες Arabs.

^{page 244 note 1} Cf. Polites, ᾿Αράπηδες ii. p. 1273.

^{page 246 note 1} This and other information I owe to the kindness of Παπᾶς Παῦλος Οἰκονόμου of St. Laurence.

^{page 249 note 1} Δελτίον τῆς Ιστορικῆς καὶ ᾿Εθνολογικῆς ῾Εταιρείας τῆς ῾Ελλάδος 1900 (Vol. V), pp. 347 ff.

^{page 249 note 2} The inhabitants of this district are said to be mainly Vlachs, Hellenized, Weigand, , Die Aremunen, i. p. 146Google Scholar; cf. Leake, , Northern Greece, iv. p. 167.Google Scholar

^{page 250 note 1} B.S.A. xi. pp. 72 ff. It has recently been described by Παπαγεωργίου in Λαογραφία Vol. II. pp. 35 ff.

^{page 250 note 2} J.H.S. 1906, pp. 191 ff.

^{page 250 note 3} Macedonian Folklore, pp. 30, 31.

^{page 251 note 1} J.H.S. loc. cit.

^{page 251 note 2} Modern Greek Folklore, pp. 228 ff.

^{page 251 note 2} J.H.S. loc. cit. p. 204.

^{page 252 note 1} J.H.S. loc. cit. p. 201.

^{page 252 note 2} See above p. 243; Abbott, op. cit. p. 80.

^{page 252 note 3} ῾Ελληνικὸς Φιλολογικὸς Εύλλογος 1875 (Vol. IX), p. 341; cf. the similar song from Aenos, ibid. p. 339, and the song from the Olympos district quoted by Hamilton. Greek Saints and their Festivals, p. 127.

^{page 253 note 1} Lawson, op. cit. p. 197; Hamilton, op. cit. pp. 112 ff; Dawkins, , Folklore, xv. p. 214.Google Scholar

^{page 253 note 2} J.H.S. loc. cit. p. 201.

^{page 253 note 2} See Ridgeway, Origin of Tragedy.

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