Apokries

Name: Apokries
Start: 2025-02-22
End: 2025-03-15
Location: Galaxidi

Greece’s Carnival of Color, Satire, and Springtime Joy

2026/02/07 - 2026/02/28

For followers of the Greek Orthodox Church, the three weeks leading up to Lent-a period when meat, alcohol, and entertainment are traditionally avoided-are known as Apokries, the Greek carnival season. During this time, people joyfully mark the end of winter by dancing, joining masquerade parades, and celebrating with parties and festivities in the streets.
Every year, as winter gives way to Lent, Greece comes alive with Apokries, a vibrant festival where ancient traditions blend with modern creativity, filling the country with color, music, and playful spectacle.

Confetti drifts through the air, the rhythms of drums and bouzouki echo, honey-drenched loukoumades (fried doughnuts) and sizzling souvlaki tempt the taste buds, velvet costumes brush the skin, and the warmth of community is everywhere. Apokries is a feast for the senses-a festival of hope that sweeps away the gloom of winter.

Main Attractions

Parades, Street Festivals, and the Burning of the Carnival King

The highlight of Apokries is especially the grand parade in Patras, where over 30,000 costumed participants and dozens of floats fill the streets, drawing more than 300,000 spectators. The colorful procession, full of masks, satire, and music, climaxes with the symbolic burning of the Carnival King. In Athens, Thessaloniki, and villages across Greece, music, dance, and impromptu performances fill the streets, while children’s parades, treasure hunts, and masquerade balls keep the celebration going for weeks.

One of the most beloved events is Tsiknopempti (“Smoky Thursday”), when the whole country grills meat outdoors, and towns and villages are filled with the irresistible aroma of barbecue. In Galaxidi, the “flour war” tradition covers participants in colored powder, and in Tyrnavos, the ancient Phallus Festival adds a unique, earthy touch to the festivities.

Masks, Costumes, and Decorations

Apokries is a visual feast, with feathered headdresses, sequined costumes, Venetian masks, and pop-culture-inspired disguises filling the streets. Many costumes are handmade, blending ancient Greek, Venetian, and modern influences. Homes and squares are decorated with colorful flags and ribbons, and the sound of confetti and children’s laughter fills the air.

Traditional Food and Drink

Food is central to Apokries. On Tsiknopempti, souvlaki, lamb chops, sausages, and kokoretsi (spit-roasted offal) are grilled to perfection. Tables are filled with meze (small dishes), salads, and pies, while sweets like loukoumades, diples (crispy pastries), and semolina halva are especially popular. Local wine, ouzo, and raki flow freely, and the aromas of charcoal and spices warm the winter air.

Cultural and Historical Background

The history of Apokries stretches back to the ancient Greek festivals of Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and joy. These celebrations featured masked processions, music, dance, theater, and bold satire, marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring. They were a time for catharsis, when the usual rules were relaxed and people could express themselves freely. Over time, these pagan festivities merged with Christian traditions leading up to Lent, evolving into the modern Apokries-with its masks, parades, satire, and feasting.

The word “Apokries” itself means “abstaining from meat,” referring to the final days of indulgence before the fasting period of Lent. For Greek Orthodox believers, it’s a religious milestone, but also a cherished time for families and communities to celebrate the joy of life, renewal, and the coming of spring. Social hierarchies and norms are temporarily upended, and through masks, satire, and humor, people are able to critique authority and release everyday frustrations-a kind of “social safety valve.”

The symbolic rituals of Apokries-masks, costumes, floats, and the burning of effigies like the Carnival King-represent the transition from winter darkness to spring light, and the cycle of death and rebirth. Through these celebrations, Greeks have preserved a sense of community, resilience, and creativity that has endured from ancient times. Today, Apokries continues to unite people across generations and regions, embodying the free-spirited, joyful heart of Greek culture.

Participant Voices

I came to Athens for Apokries. I danced with strangers, ate freshly grilled souvlaki, and laughed late into the night. My kids loved the treasure hunts and confetti fights!

Fun Facts

Tsiknopempti (“Smoky Thursday”) is named for the tradition of grilling meat on the Thursday before Lent begins.
Galaxidi’s “flour war” is a centuries-old tradition where participants throw colored flour at each other.
The word “carnival” comes from the Latin “carne vale” (“farewell to meat”), which has the same meaning as the Greek “Apokries.”

Festival Dates

Apokries is celebrated throughout Greece for about three weeks leading up to Clean Monday (the start of Lent). Major events are held in Patras, Athens, Thessaloniki, and other cities, with dates varying each year. Check local calendars for details.