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Patras Carnival, Greece

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What is the Carnival of Patras?

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The Patras Carnival is an annual celebration held in Patras, the third largest city in Greece. The Patras Carnival is considered the second largest in Europe and the third-largest in the world. In addition, it has a long history dating back 180 years.

The Patras Carnival is a conglomerate of activities, so it is not a unique and exclusive event. Carnival celebrations include dances, carnival parades, children’s carnivals and a particularity known as “Treasure Hunt“. In addition, it also celebrates theburning of the King of Carnival, who is burned in St. Nikolaos Street.


 

The celebrations feature hundreds of carriages decorated with flowerss or withsatirical messagess and hundreds of thousands of dancers and musicians that transit through the streets of the city during this special time. In addition, they count on the participation and entertainment ofdozens of artists, musicians and DJs who brighten up the festivities from start to finish.

The carnival is the perfect opportunity for people to put into practice all their ingenuity and creativity and transmit it through the floats and costumes. This is why the Patras Carnival has become one of the most anticipated festivals in Greece and the world. The city is painted in colors to welcome the carnival with good enthusiasm and joy. As part of the city’s carnival festivities, locals and visitors gather to form large colorful groups. Each group gets a different name and costume according to a specific theme.

The essence of the carnivals is found in all participants, whether locals or visitors.All people spontaneously participate in the carnival events in the different spaces, whether public or private. In this way, the Carnival of Patras itself the development of culture through the various spaces and activities. The carnival receives funding fromthe Ministry of Culture and other government bodies to strengthen its activities and continue the traditions of the carnival.

 

Patras Carnival is the second largest carnival in Europe

Patras Carnival is the second largest carnival in Europe

 

When is the Patras Carnival

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The Patras carnivals begin thirty days before the start of Great Lent and culminate on Clean Monday, which is known as the first day of Great Lent in Eastern Christendom. The carnivals take place from approximately January 17 to February 15.

 

 

History of the Carnivals of Patras

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Nineteenth century

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The Patras Carnival is related toancient pagan rituals related to Dionysus. During these traditions, the faithful invoked the deity with special feasts to call or attract spring again. These traditions date back centuries; however, modern carnival as we know it today has its beginnings in the 19th century, more specifically in the year 1829.

Many people believe that the first modern carnival of Patras is due to a dance performed by the villagers after their liberation at the home of a merchant known as Moretti. Despite this, there are also people who claim that the French were the ones who have influenced the festivities the most, along with the Ionians. The latter is attributed to the characteristics with which the islanders are known, fun personality, liveliness and charisma.

Later, after the economic boom at the end of the 19th century, the festivities acquired more stable characteristics. In addition, the first floats emerged with some influence from the cultural and economic contact with Italy. The carnivals were increasingly influenced by the renowned carnivals of Venice, elements that they still retain today. At first, the floats were private constructions; however, later governmental entities began to proliferate the practices of float constructions.



During this same era, the Apollo Theater was built and as a result, somewhat more sophisticated events such as masked and masquerade balls began to emerge. In fact, one of today’s carnival traditions known as Bourboulia emerged because of this event.

At the end of the century arose the first groups or guilds, which are made up of people from the neighborhoods who dress up in costumes and perform pranks. Tradition that is still preserved in the current carnivals.

 

Twentieth century

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During the Gran Época, from the beginning of the century until the first decade, a large participation of people from various social strata took place. This massive participation gave rise to the war of eggs filled with confetti that people threw from their homes. This tradition gave rise to one of the current traditions, which consists ofthrowing chocolates to the spectators during the parade.

Wars and conflicts caused a break in the carnivals. The country went into a great depression that led the cities to oblivion, so the carnivals went into the background, even after the armed conflicts. However, during the late 1930s, a couple of celebrations were held, only to be extinguished again by World War II and the Greek Civil War..

In the middle of the century, carnivals began to emerge again, but somewhat timidly, carried out by the initiative ofmusical groups that managed to attract the attention of the locals again. The revival of the carnival depended heavily on the upper classes, as it was they who traveled to Patras to participate again in the carnivals, especially in the dances. Despite the fact that the carnivals began to take more strength various Christian groups and organizations from other regions of the country found the practices of the festivities dirty and immoral, so they tried on multiple occasions to put an end to the carnivals. The carnival suffered severe censorship and finally in 1964 the carnivals were canceled again due to the death of King Paul.

In the year 1966, the carnivals took on a new structure with a new element of Hunting for Hidden Treasure, which consisted of finding a list of objects. The practice became quite popular and to this day this tradition has been maintained. Since 1974 the revelers began to parade the streets on foot, since previously the floats were the only ones that were part of the parades. Today, people parade through the streets dancing and partying on a 4.5 kilometer route that lasts almost 6 hours.

 

Where is the Patras Carnival

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The carnivals are held in the city of Patras, the third-largest city in the country.

The city of Patras is located in the southeast of the country and has a total area of 125 square kilometers where about 160,000 inhabitants live.

 

The Carnival of Patras is the most important tradition of the city

The Carnival of Patras is the most important tradition of the city

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How the Patras Carnival is celebrated

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The Patras Carnival has a celebration time of almost a month, so the carnival has a large number of events and activities. The activities consist of various dances, meals, celebrations, live music,special ceremonies and many other activities that have a large participation. Despite having a huge list of celebrations, carnivals have some events that stand out from the rest:

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Opening Ceremony

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The opening of the Patras Carnivals is a special event, as they are carried out by a herald. This herald announces the arrival of the carnivals with music, inviting all residents and guests to be part of the carnival festivities.

The Opening Ceremony is held on January 17 and consists of a variety of events including music concerts, dancing, acrobatics, children’s activities and games. The ceremony begins in the morning and extends into the evening, when it reaches its climax.The mayor of the city declares the beginning of the carnival and welcomes the king on his float. The party continues until dawn.

 

Children’s Carnival

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Children’s carnival not only includes a parade exclusively for children, but they also have many recreational and entertaining activities. The first children’s carnival was held in 1968 and since then, it has been part of the main traditions.

Small carnival enclosures are set up in the various plazas and areas around the city. In them games, activities, art presentations, crafts, theatrical performances and music concerts take place.

The children’s carnival ends with its own Grand Parade that features the partition of the little ones of all ages, who are accompanied by their parents, relatives or representatives. The streets are filled with hundreds of themed costumes, flowers and floats. It is estimated that at least 14,000 children participate in these parades every year.

 

Tsiknopempti

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It is one of the events with the highest participation. During the event, hundreds of people organize outdoor barbecues and cook various pieces of meats, sausages, sausages and poultry which they accompany withlocal wine. In addition, large celebrations with traditional music and dancing are also held until late at night.

Bourboulia

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It is one of the oldest festivals, which is presumed to have been held for the first time after the construction of the Apollon Theater in 1872. The event features dances in which both men and women participate. However, onlywomen attend fully covered, keeping their identity secret, while men attend in formal clothes. In this way, the men do not know with whom they will be dancing all night long.

 

Treasure Hunt

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The treasure hunt is a rather competitive game that dates back to the last century. In it, all carnival groups are invited to participate in order to find the treasure and be the winners of the year. Finding the treasure is not easy at all, as you must solve riddles, do quizzes and map the whole city in order to find clues, prizes or even obtain objects to continue solving challenges. The team that obtains the most points and finds the Treasure, is the winner and they will get a trophy. In addition, they will be part of the organization of the next quest the following year.

 

Grand Parade

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The event is attended by thousands of people dressed in colorful and fun costumes. As the parade begins, the huge floats full of creative designs and sense of humor join the parade. The floats’ designs have incredible details, being considered mobile works of art that catch the attention of anyone who approaches the streets.

The Carnival Queen is also part of the parade on her own float, waving, smiling and dancing. Behind her are the Carnival Groups who have their own colorful and themed floats. At the end, there are thousands of people parading on foot, all of them locals or tourists who wish to keep the traditions alive.

During the parade, the floats throw hundreds of thousands of chocolates, candies and sweets to the spectators, turning the event into a magical and delicious celebration.

The parade route features the participation of nearly 30,000 people who travel a 4-kilometer distance through the main streets of the city.

 

Tips for going to the Patras Carnival

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If you wish to attend the Patras Carnival, remember to plan your trip in advance, make a travel itinerary and book your accommodation in advance. Also, remember to pack comfortable clothes and shoes so that you can enjoy your carnivals thoroughly.

 

Events in Patras Carnival

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The carnival of Patras has severalactivities and events that take place from the beginning of the carnivals and continue until the last day during the evenings, so the carnival is a great chain of events that occur gradually. The carnival of Patras consists of the following events:

Opening Ceremony

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It is the event that kicks off the festivities. At the event you can find a great variety of entertainment, music and dancing. The opening of the carnivals takes place at Georgiou I Square.

 

Children’s Carnival

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Children’s Carnival is an event exclusively for children and their representatives. During the event tents are set up with various events, games and activities. In addition, the parade takes place in the streets of the city.

 

Treasure Hunt

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The treasure hunt takes place in different areas of the city and consists of solving clues, answering riddles and using your wits to solve challenges. The winning group wins a cup and organizes the following year’s treasure hunt.

 

Momos of Patras

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This is a satire festival and is held thanks to the various artists of the city and the country. During the eventshort plays are performed and a vote is held to choose the best actor.

 

Tsiknopempti

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It is held two weeks before the last day of carnival. During the event people take to the streets to barbecue, dance, sing and listen to folk music.

 

 

Bourboulia

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This is the most famous dance of the carnivals. Women dress incognito, while men wear formal clothes.

 

Night Parade

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It is the parade that takes place before theGrand Parade. It is a big event that serves as a warm-up for the big parade.Thousands of people take to the streets to show off their costumes and party..

 

Grand Parade

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It is one of the most important and awaited events along with the treasure hunt. Thousands of people take to the streets in various colorful, themed and beautifully crafted costumes. In addition, the imposing colorful floats travel through the streetss of the city on a 4-kilometer route.

 

Closing Ceremony

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It takes place after the Grand Parade.The King of Carnival is burned in the city harbor and the mayor declares the end of the carnivals. The night ends with a show offireworks, theatrical plays, jugglers and acrobats. Parties are held throughout the city, both private and public.

 

The closing ceremony of the Patras Carnival consists of the burning of the King of the Carnival

The closing ceremony of the Patras Carnival consists of the burning of the King of the Carnival

 

Patras Carnival Parades

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The Grand Carnival Parade takes place on the last day of the celebration. In it, hundreds of people participate in large colorful and themed costumes. In addition, large colorful floats accompany the participants along a 4-kilometer route. During the presentation hundreds of sweets, chocolates and candies are thrown to the audience.

The Carnival Queen leads the parade as she waves, dances and parties. The revelers come last on foot; however, they party with the same animosity, sporting their incredible costumes, dancing, singing and celebrating the most special festivities of the city and of the entire year.

 

Parade route

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Patras Carnival parade features large and colorful floats accompanying the revelers on foot

Patras Carnival parade features large and colorful floats accompanying the revelers on foot

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The Patras Carnival Parade takes place on the main thoroughfares of the city and stretches for a length of 4 kilometers.

 

The Galatopita is a traditional cake of the carnival season in Greece

The Galatopita is a traditional cake of the carnival season in Greece

 

What to eat at the Carnival of Patras

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Greece has quite specific traditions regarding the foods that can be consumed before and during the carnival and Great Lent, which is why the last week of the carnival celebration is not allowed to eat meat. However, two weeks before the parade, they make a great feast of meats of various kinds, poultry and sausages, as it is their last chance to eat this type of food before the Great Lent.

Once the last week of festivities is entered, the diet during the feast is based on white meats, milk, butters, flours and cheeses. That is why it is customary to consume Galatopita, a tarda that is made with semolina, milk, butter and other ingredients. The result is a creamy milk tara that everyone enjoys during the holidays.

You also have the opportunity to eat Tiropita, a crispy, flaky pastry made with phyllo dough and filled with a mixture of eggs, cheeses and herbs. Some people sprinkle it lightly with powdered sugar.

In addition, the city of Patras also offers you a wide variety of restaurants and bars that you can visit during the holidays. Some of these are: Banana Moon, Aptaliko and Tomo’s Open Kitchen Bar.

 

Tiropita a typical dish of the Carnival in Greece

Tiropita a typical dish of the Carnival in Greece

 

Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Patras Carnival

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Inside the carnivals you have a long list of activities you can attend. Make sure to go to the opening ceremony with the announcement of the herald and finish with a great party with top quality entertainment. In addition, you can watch the scavenger hunt with the dozens of groups tirelessly searching for clues and items to win the cup.

In addition, you canattend the satire festival that takes place during the week, as well asthe great barbecue that people perform before the ban on consuming red meat during Great Lent.

Finally, you cannot forget to attend the night parade, Grand Parade and closing ceremony, as they are the last two days, so the participation in the streets is extraordinary. In addition, it is a completespectacle of colors and entertainment that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside the Patras Carnivals

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Some of the attractions you can find in the city are:

Achaia Clauss

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This is a large winery that was founded in 1861. The winery has many storage areas with a total capacity of about 7500 tons where they mainly store Mavrodaphne wine. Several world famous people have visited the winery, including European royalty.

 

Archaeological Museum of Patras

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It is a museum that has a large number of exhibits. Despite being somewhat small, you can find a good amount of vases, lamps and historical and ancient figures.

 

Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle

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It is one of the main churches of the city, whose construction dates from 1908 and 1974. Inside you can find a large number of relics of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

Book tickets in the city you are visiting

 

Safety at the Patras Carnival

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Patras is a relatively safe city, so you shouldn’t have any problems when visiting.

Be alert to your surroundings so you don’t fall victim to pickpockets and remember to contact the authorities if you notice any suspicious activity. It is always a good idea to keep your valuables in a safe place to avoid theft and misplacement. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your valuables safe:

 

 

Weather at the Carnival of Patras

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During the carnival celebrations, the city of Patras has a somewhat cold weather, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 6 degrees Celsius. We recommend you to pack some warm clothes.

 

The Patras Carnival floats are oversized and revolve around a theme

The Patras Carnival floats are oversized and revolve around a theme

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How to get to the Patras Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to the city is Araxos Airport, which receives varied flights from Central Europe and Europe. Once here, you can use the different means of transportation to reach the city center.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by ferry

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The port of Patras receives boats, cruise ships and ferries from Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice and Trieste. In addition, it also receives boats from other surrounding cities.

 

How to get there by bus

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The city has a central station where it receives buses from Peloponnese, Athens and other surrounding cities.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take Via E55 to the city center. The drive is 45 minutes.

 

Where to stay in Patras Carnival

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Booking.com

Moxy Patra Marina

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3-star hotel 1.6 km from the city center. Rooms feature a desk and television. The hotel has a pool, gym, bar and free wifi.

 

Astir

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4-star hotel 500 meters from the city center. Rooms have satellite TV and private bathrooms. Facilities include swimming pool, bar, parking and free wifi.

 

Maison Grecque Hotel Extraordinaire

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4-star hotel 400 meters from the city center. Rooms have TV, minibar, air conditioning and private bathroom. The hotel has a bar, 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 


Booking.com

 

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