Carnival is one of the best festivals of the calendar year and its a celebration shared by most Christian countries, so there are Carnival events across the world. Today NetFerry explores Carnival in Greece, the masquerade party known to Greeks as Apokries. When translated, the word Apokries means "abstinence from meat", referring to the period of celebration before Lent. This festival has ancient roots that you can trace back to pagan traditions and the festivities in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine and Goliards!

The festive period

Greek Carnival lasts three weeks, running up to 'Clean Monday', the first day of Orthodox Lent when the period of fasting, abstinence and sobriety begin. The first week is known as Profoni, the beginning of the Carnival period; the second week, known as Kreatini, in which you can eat meat, and finally, Tyrini, where people eat eggs and dairy products. But the best feast is the Thursday of the second week, on Tsiknopempti, a special day when the smell of roasted meat emanates from homes, restaurants and taverns and music brightens the day. 

On Sunday of the week where you are permitted to eat cheese, there are parades, floats and masks throughout Greece; where the souls of the young and old fill with joy, as everyone eats excellent traditional food and everyone dresses up in inventive costumes. On 'Clean Monday' - Kathara Deftera, marks the end of all the celebrations and the beginning of Lent. Most people organise something wholesome and outdoorsy to do on this day. If the weather is nice, even a trip to the beach, to eat fish and play outside. Kites are a symbolise this special day and many people fly them over the crystal clear Greek sea or in the green countryside.

Do not miss Greek Carnival

Every Greek city, island and town celebrate the Carnival. Still, NetFerry highly recommends the festivities in Patras, where local associations take to the streets for the whole week, and there is a parade involving floats, masks, and music. The most famous part of the ritual is the 'Battle of the chocolate', where girls on carriages decorated with flowers, go around throwing out petals and sweets to the crowd. The black Domino is the typical mask worn Patras, with a large cloak and hood, harking back to the Venetians. The procession of Bourboulia women is another tradition dating back to the 1800s, where women disguise themselves, so they could get out of the domestic environment for a day to enjoy the festivities with the men, without being discovered! Kefalonia also has fascinating carnival traditions. The Isle of Skiros holds an event where men, dressed in goatskins and large cowbells, are unleashed to perform Dionysian dances with masked faces, this known as the dance of the goats.

Ferries to Greece

You can buy your ship ticket to Greece on the Netferry website. Our site offers you all the information you need to organise your ferry trip to Greece. You can find out departure and arrival times, ports and active connections to and from Greece, accommodation onboard and special rates and prices! Ferries to Greece operate throughout the year; you can buy your ticket independently and securely on our online booking service.