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WELCOME TO WELCOME TO NEO GYNAIKOASTRO KILKISNEO GYNAIKOASTRO KILKIS

COMENIUS COMENIUS PROGRAMPROGRAM

HIGH SCHOOL OF

NEO GYNAIKOKASTRO KILKIS

GREEK PARTNER

A presentation for: COMENIUS A presentation for: COMENIUS PROGRAMPROGRAM

“TOGETHER THROUGH THE RAINBOW OF THE EUROPEAN TRADITIONS”

Greece has a long history, cultural tradition and great culture. There are many manners and customs that the new generations still maintain them today. At each small or large place in Greece, there are special features that have their own beauty and value.

Parthenon, Athens

White Tower, Thessaloniki

Sandorini, Island

Kilkis, is the capital of the Prefecture, is found in the centre and has almost 19.250 inhabitants. Just 50 kilometres far from Thessaloniki, it constitutes an important agricultural, commercial and transport node.

Kilkis, Central Avenue

Agios Georgios Kilkis

Cave of Kilkis

Kilkis Prefecture is distinguished for a lot of cultural, even if it is obvious the lack of organisation, the weakening because of the lack of young people, as much as the lack of interest in general, especially because of the intense bread-meaning and economic problems, instead of the conscious and brave effort of the local actors.

Indeed, making the effort to classify in a more specific way the existing cultural elements we could distinguishes them in:

Historical events that were happened in the territory concerned and that can constitute places of pilgrimage or even reasons for events,

Existence of certain important archaeological sites and monuments,

Old Byzantine and post Byzantine churches, Manners and customs that already exist or

revive, Traditional marriages,

Traditional events and local feasts,Folklore material that can be exploited in a

lot of ways, festivals that occur almost in each month of

the year, almost in each Community, Cultural events, even occasional theatrical

representations, existence of cultural associations even inactive in certain cases which tries and many times implement important events and activities,

Traditional foods.

Neo Gynaikokastro, lying in SE of Kilkis, it took its name by an old castle, that was built in this area at the Byzantine season from the Andronikos Palaiologos, descendant of Palaiologoi family.

The castle was so much powerful fortress, that it was said that it could easily be defended only by women. Thus, it took the name Gynaikokastro. Other people say that really it was defended by women, while another legend says that the castle was suddenly conquered from women in the old years.

Excavations on this hill brought to surface some tombs of the Precocious Age of Iron that are characterized for the particular burials that they contained.

Much later two villages were built, one in each side of the hill, in three kilometres of distance that took the name of the castle. The oldest was called “Old Gynaikokastro” and the other “New Gynaikokastro” (1924).

Through this presentation, there is the opportunity to learn our place and its feature, such as: music, foods, games/sports, festivals, dances, clothes and customs.

MusicThe traditional Greek Music or “Folk Music”

[Dimotiki Mousiki= music of people] as it usually called, includes all the songs, rhythms and purposes of Greece Areas. These compositions in the vast majority of authors are unknown, have life more than a century and their roots go back to the Byzantine period and seniority.

This is not only one kind of music but many kinds and that are usually characterized by the area in which they played or from which they originate (islands, Epirus, Pontian etc) and often are related to the music of neighboring peoples.

The Greek music has many and different kinds: light music, folk songs and rebetika, pop, rock and of course traditional music

Every Greek place, according to habitants, has its own musical tradition. The main types of traditional music which found in Kilkis are:

Every Greek place, according to habitants, has its own musical tradition. The main types of traditional music which found in Kilkis are:

Pontiac music. (The language which used in Pontian Songs is the Pontic dialect. Greek language, with rich expressiveness. In Pontiac music used stringed instruments, such as lyre, wind instruments (flute) and percussion instruments (tabor). The music tells of Pontian life, bravery, joy and sorrow, hope and passion of Pontians people.

Macedonian Folk Music. (The musical instruments used by folk musicians before the first World War were bagpipes, tambouras, flutes and drums. Gradually the used instruments changed and added in Macedonia music the violin and the clarinet and then the famous brass (cornet, trombone) and later the accordion

Vlach music etc

Respectively from each kind of music are emerged dances such as Pontian, Macedonian, Vlach etc [However, a very famous dance in all the tourists visiting Greece is syrtaki (video Zorba)]

Food The Greek cuisine has mainly

Mediterranean cooking recipes. In this category are the most famous figures of Greek cuisine:

 

Milk Pie (Macedonian recipe)Ingredients for doughOne cup of tea water½ cup of tea seed oilA pinch of saltA ping of vinegarFlour as neededIngredients for filling2 liters of milk8 eggs¼ butter

ImplementationPut the flour in a bowl and all the ingredients

of the dough and knead thoroughly. Let it rest for 20 minutes at 20-25o C. Divide the dough into four pieces, of which one of them is bigger and thicker. Open a large sheet with a rolling pin and place it around the pan and the walls after anoint with oil the pan. Open the other three pieces and bake in the oven without adding anything.

After removing from the oven, crush them in the center of the pan and place the great sheet. Finally, beat the eggs, add milk and butter and cut into small cubes. We bake it at 170o C for forty five minutes.

Havits (Pontian recipe) Ingredients2 cups corn flour1.5 tsp flour250-300gr cow butterImplementationIn a saucepan, boil 1.5 liter of water, adding

1.5 tsp salt. In a roomy bowl, pour 2 cups corn flour, preferably baked and stir in cold water, making a thin batter.

Pour slowly the porridge in the pot with boiling water and then stir. Burn cow butter in a pan and pour into the kettle with stirring porridge. Remove the saucepan from the heat. The havits is ready! It serves hot.

Fasolada (Bean Soup)Ingredients ½ kilo beans 2 onions5-6 carrots1 stalk of celery200gr of tomato sauce2-3 fresh tomatoesa little olive oil1 ½ liter of waterSaltPepper

ImplementationPlace one night before the beans in cold

water in a bowl and cover until the next day. Start to do the next day the TRADITIONAL BEAN SOUP of Greece, boiling bean in water for 10 minutes and discarding the water first or the second. Warm water and again after a boil, put in chopped onions and carrots cut into rings.

After 2-3 minutes, add beans and leave it for about an hour to boil all together. Then after adding the tomato sauce, the chopped tomatoes, celery, oil, salt and pepper and let cook for another 20 minutes. Serve them hot in deep dish.

GamesTa Mila (The Apples) “Mila” is a game which played with a ball, with

more than four children. Kids are divided into two groups and stand facing each other at certain distance. In the middle stand other children. The groups of children that are at the ends, throw the ball and try to hit children in the center. One child is hit when the ball hit.

 

Children that are at the center trying to avoid the blows struck because whatever comes out. But when a child is the center of the group and managed to catch the ball in the air, then wins “an apple” which means that gets one advantage (or “life”) and can play one more time.

Tilephonaki (Telephone)This game is played with many children.

Players sit in a row in a straight line. The first finds a word and tells to the ear of the second without listen others. This word should preferably be difficult or has many syllables. The second repeats the third that he heard or understood, the third tells the word to the fourth and so on.

When reach the last turn, the child shouts the word that heard loud and if the word is the same that had told the first then the phone works normally. But if the word is distorted that means that the phone is broken. Usually the word is distorted and the funny of the game is that each child has to repeat what heard. The games continues and the child who comes first in the series suggest his own word.

Makria Gaidoura (Long Donkey)This game is played with two groups. Each

group has 5-6 players. The first group sits down and almost the other group jump one to one on the back of the children of the first team. If the first group didn’t fall down, then wins. If dropped, the second group wins.

Cultural EventsIn the town of Kilkis and the nearby villages

(of the Prefecture of Kilkis) are made at regular times several cultural events. The events related to or resulting from nominal or other celebrations, by religion or by culture, maintained for many years. Also are made many cultural events (dance, theatre, concerts) for various social purposes.

 

Some of the most popular events in the Prefecture of Kilkis are:

GYNAIKOKASTREIAINTERNATIONAL PUPPET SHOW AND

PANTOMIME FESTIVALTHEOTOKEIA

GYNAIKOKASTREIA (Gynaikokastro)  From the 2nd to the 5th of August in the Palio

Gynaikokastro the “Gynaikokastreia” are organized. In the frame of this event the children’s program “playing with the colours”, a popular lever, dishes and foods characteristic of Pontioi, traditional dances, participation of dancing groups from Spain, Czech Republic and sketches of Pontiako theatre are among the events.

INTERNATIONAL PUPPET SHOW AND PANTOMIME FESTIVAL. THE COLOURFUL “FESTIVAL” (Kilkis)

It’s about the feast that aggregates dolls, puppets, actors and music from the entire world in the town of Kilkis. It is realised from the 4th until 12th October, with the participation of troupes from many European countries (Greece, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and Poland).

The festival is organised by the Organisation of Culture of the Municipality and groups from many countries take part. The planning and the implementation of the Festival’s program have as starting point the puppet show and the pantomime, two forms of art but also a game, widespread in all the countries of the world.

The overall presentation aims at as the promotion of the techniques involved, but also the communication of messages from generation in generation, underlining, at the same time, the common reporting points of the populations. The events are realised in the Congress Centre of Kilkis Municipality.

Along with the festival, other activities are realised, as seminars, workshops and fairs. The program of those events has as follows: fairs of games and photograph - Projections of video, Seminar on the Bodily Theatre of Doll, workshops.

“THEOTOKIA” (Goumenissa)Ten days events organized on the occasion

of the celebration of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Goumenissa. Photograph, folkloric, wooden sculpture and embroidery fairs are realised, as well as dancing, wrestling, theatrical, cycling, rock concerts, popular evenings, fireworks, ping-pong, sighting, popular evenings and football games, walking.

Traditional Costumes The classic Greek outfit for men is the costume of Tsolia and for women the dress of “Voskopoula”: a combination of a dress with apron and

headscarf.The traditional costume is different in

every place of Greece and each one has its own uniqueness and beauty.

Traditional costumes are worn now only in the events and mainly of the members of dance clubs or students. Also, there are as exhibits in various folk and other types of museums

Below: Pontian CostumeMacedonian CostumeVlach Costume

Pontian Costume Women’s Dress  

“Zipouna” or “Zoupouna”

1. “Tapla” : head cover made of thick

leather or thick fabric2. “Kosmimata” (Accessories): an important part of the costume that

indicates whether the wealthy family of a woman

3. “Sparel” : woman’s underwear4. “Katife”: expensive and rich garment of

heavy velvet fabric 5. “Laxor” : wool fabric6. “Zoupouna” : dress7. “Salvar”: long and very wide women’s

trousers

“Papax”: head cover“Kamis”: woven shirt, usually plaid or solid color“Filaxton”: silver amulet hanging from the neck or pinned to the chest. Usually worn by those who fled or war or in exile“Elga”“Gilek”: short vest“Kama” : knife“Trapoloz” : long strip of cloth that used in the tightness of the clothes“Egolipio” : type of silver tray with reliefs of St.George something that gives the grandfather to the grandson putting into some written wishes.“Silahlik” : thick leather belt with many pockets“Gavlouh” : tobacco pouch “Zipka” : men’s breeches“Meschia” : leather shoes from additions to pork or beef skin with lacing on the sides which served men who went to the mountain“Tzapoulas” : low shoes

Men’s Costume  “Zipka”

Pontian Costume

Macedonian Costume

Traditional Bride Dress Traditional Dress of engaged women

Macedonian Costume

Vlach Costume

Source: http://ngunaikokastroschool.blogspot.comSource: http://ngunaikokastroschool.blogspot.com

CUSTOMS :

With the support of the PRIMARY SCHOOL of NEO GYNAIKOKASTRO, it presented material from the recent event which held at the school, for the custom of

“Genitsaros and Bulla”.

The current period of Carnival, represented the custom of “Genitsaros and Bulla”. In the custom takes part only young men-unmarried. “Gianitsaros”, the proud man is the player with many silver in the chest, with the long “sword” and the “face” of wax.

The main role played by “Bulla”, a man who plays without ridicule, the woman in baggy dresses and the decorated face with tulle and flowers.

The children are ahead of the crowd as they are an integral part of the happening. At the end of the procession follows the musicians with zournas and tabor.

The custom begins the first Sunday of Carnival and last all day. On “Ash” or “Green Monday” they throw their

“masks” and follow specified route.

The crowd, as it’s called in Greek “ta mpouloukia” passes of the neighboring houses, scatter joy and with all other people gathered in the square of the village. There have fun all together with traditional pies, sweets and plenty of wine.

OTHER CUSTOMS OF THE WIDE AREA OF KILKIS

Custom of “Momogeroi” or “Momoeria” It is celebrated during the period between the

New Year’s Day and the Epiphany, in Iliolousto, in Agios Markos, in Neo Gynaikokastro, and in Filyria.

It is a custom celebrated by the Greek tribe of Pontioi. Actually, it concerns of a traditional popular theatre, that is to say masquerades and performances related to the period of the “twelve days”.

In the dialect spoken by the Pontioi the word Momoeros is exclusively used in this special case of the “twelve days” masquerades and, incidentally, in order to declare the concept of the tricky person.

It concerns to a complicated performance with a court, satiric “dere-bey” and the justice, comical lamentations, rapine of a young girl, bride’s murder, groom’s

resurrection, marriage and childbirth.

All these happenings are gathered together with dances, songs, vulgarisms and obscene movements having as final aim the fertility of the ground and the dissuasion of the ill. The “torvatzis” (a man holding a nosebag) participates in stable as well, gathering the offers of the spectators.

Custom “Kourbani” It is the offer of bloody sacrifice to the

godhood, to render honour to a Saint asking for some return for the individual or the community that makes the offers (health, protection of cultivations).

February 1st Day

It is an ancient custom, in which a lot of elements survive coming from the ancient Greek sacrifice and influenced from Judaic and mainly Christian adoration habits.

Kourbani celebrated in villages:Polykastro: the first Monday afterwards

the Saint George, boiled veal with its brewis

Toumpa: May the 2nd, day of Saint Athanassios with lambs and hulled grain

Griva: Day of Ascension, with lambs and green onions

Custom of “Kolinte” It is celebrated the Christmas eve in the

villages Polypetro and Griva (villages in the Prefecture of Kilkis), with lighting of fire, food and dance. They share the ash of the fire for good chance.