Transcript Οι καλικάτζαροι

Kalikanzari...
and their action...
with the wishes of group «Comenius» – Lachesis of second General College of
Chalkida.
Οι καλικάντζαροι στο δωδεκαήμερο των
Χριστουγέννων
The festive period of Christmas and NewDodecaimero (twelve days) is named,
Year, both in Greece and Europe is full from the Byzantine years, the festive
of customs and beliefs. The Christmas period from the 25th of December to the
6th of January. It starts with the birth of
tree, the candles, the presents and
carols are customs which remained aliveChrist and ends with the baptism and the
from Ancient Times till today. The period Blessing of the waters (Epiphany). The
around winter solstice till the beginning Dodecaimero is a unique period with lots
of peculiar characteristics such as, for
of January is one of the most ancient
example, the prohibition of fast, but,
festive period of humanity. The
celebration of Light Birth (Epiphany), of also…of work.
the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ are very
old, too.
One of the most magical beliefs of the
Dodecaimero is the appearance of the
Kalikantzari. The Kalikantzari, Karkantzali,
Karkatzelia or Pagana are spirits or demons of
the earth (of the underworld) that make their
appearance these celebration days making
people’s life difficult. As to the etymology of the
name Kalikantzaros, there are many views.
Though, it is certain that the annomination–Kali
(good), mollifies the spirits and flatters them.
As ,for example, in Greece, we usually call the
storm a “fourtouna” or “good luck” and vinegar,
“glykadi”, or something sweet, and the furies
(Erinnyes) “Benevolent Spirits”, Eumenides. The
name Pagana has to do with the word “pagano”,
witch means idolater.
The Kalikantzari live all year long down from
earth and plane away the tree that holds it. When,
with Christmas, begins the celebration and the
joy, the organisations and the nice smelling, they
get out of curiosity or of disposition to take part in
the surface of earth and stick their noses into
people’s business.
The Epiphany as the priests bless the waters and
the Birth of Light is a fact, they come back to the
earth. The tree they planed has now been
nourished and they start again from the
beginning.
It is true that the Kalikantzari are much more
trouble-makers and teasers, than dangerous.
They are hided in the cold ash of the fireplace
and that is why the whole Dodecaimero the fire
should not be put off. They steel the pancakes or
the freshly-baked sausages. They dirty the freshcleaned clothes, mess up the freshly-ground flour
and tangle up women at the clothes’ patches.
That is why it was better for everybody not to
work these days not even walk out alone! If a
Kalikantzaros meet you alone at the road, he
may make you dance until your feet can’t stand!
I don’t know if Kalikantzari were
ever really scared of men, as the
appearance they were given and
the things they did were funnier,
than scary. For example, the
known Karkantzalos “Psilobelonis”
is very long and skinny, blackish
with long fingers and tail. He is so
gangling that he passes through
the cracks of the doors and the
keyholes.
Another known Kalikantzaros is
“Mandrakoukos the chief”.
“Mandrakoukos” holds for
sceptre his pastoral shepherd’s
crook and frequently goes to
folds and grasslands. His cap
that was by him out of bristles is
not enough to cover his ear,
which are as big as donkey’s.
He has a huge nose that is
hung like as soft dough.
“Mandrakoukos”, throws a hack
from the chimney and steals the
sausages from the fire and at
the grasslands he teases the
sheep.
Another one is “Anemis” the cut waist
(kopsomesis). He has a very slim and
long waist and the upper part of his body
goes round and round as whirligig. He
tangles the warp of the loom and breaks
the thread on the spinning.
Kalikantzaros “tragopodis” looks like
god Pana. He is hairy, has feet and
tail, and he is such a trouble-maker.
He steals sweets and candies and
messes up the food if it is not covered.
“Vervenzou” with the three
faces, keeps alive the threeface god Ekati, until today. As
in the ancient years the same
at the nowadays Greek
tradition, the landladies used
to leave for her a plate of food,
or sausages, at the corner of
the roof.
Kalikantzaros “Kantharos”
comes from Rhodes Island. He
is copied from a famous
kantharos of 8th century B.C.
“Kantharos” is an ancient kind of
cup for drinking wine. His pinny
has traditional island
embroideries.
Though, people would rather the Kalikantzari not mess up at
their lives. With their different hocus-pocus or other tricks,
they kept them away from their houses. Kalikantzari don’t like
at all bad smells. So, they burnt at the fireplace an old shoes,
so that the smell and smoke would whisk away them.
Kalikantzari like neither crowd of people nor noise. What is
better for people to get together at their houses, keep the fire,
sing, drink and eat the tasty food and the candies, than been
stolen by the Kalikantzari….!
There are plants which send away Kalikantzari and
bring good luck to the New Year. Such a plant, which is
even nowadays used in our houses for good luck and
protection, is Scilla Maritima. Pythagoras who lived in
the 6th century B.C., used to hang this plant above his
door as a symbol of good health and regeneration. Its
like the light which is reborn during the winter solstice
and it wishes Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The pieces of information about
kalikantzaros and the ideographic draws are
taken from the book of h\Thanos Velloudios
“AERIKA – XOTIKA - KALIKANTZARI”
The draws were sketched by P. Tetsi, A.
Baynes and
G.Gliata.