Customs

The customs of our region are rooted in ancient traditions and practices passed down from generation to generation. Every celebration and ceremony highlights the relationship of people with nature and religious beliefs, while also preserving the uniqueness of the local culture.

From the “Stoicheio tis Charmainas” to the “Aleuromoutzouromata” and the “Neratzitia”, these customs remain alive and remind us of the authenticity and traditional life of the region. Every celebration has its own history and its own special character.

Carnival in the Municipality of Delphi is a rhythmic cultural encounter in the heart of Greece, where myths, legends, and centuries-old customs are revived in a festive period lasting three full weeks, while its end simultaneously signifies preparation for the following year.

In Amfissa, the pulse is transmitted from generation to generation with the start of the “Odyssey” game. Teams of adults, masked in impressive costumes, wander throughout the city searching for the solution to the riddle that will bring Penelope into Odysseus’s embrace.

The children take over with the “Dirty Games” and the “Hidden Treasure”. Laughter and joy flow abundantly in the corners of the city as, through games involving theater, the creation of floats and constructions, and the preparation of dance performances, the young ones join forces with the adults, continuously spreading cheer in a constant exchange of roles.

In the villages of the Municipal Unit of Amfissa, past customs that united the locals are revived, such as the Camel Custom in Sernikaki, lighting fires and revelry with treats in Prosili, Elaionas, and Agia Efthymia, as well as in the settlement of Drosochori.

The last three days of Carnival culminate with the awakening of Kostantis. The myth says that Kostantis haunts upon hearing the chilling news of his beloved Lenio’s death by lightning in the Harmaina district. And since then, he transforms into a strange and terrifying creature, who descends the stairs of Agios Nikolaos to lead to the great struggle with the other spirits of Girizi and Techoli, in Kechagia Square.

On Carnival Sunday, young and old carnival-goers flood the central avenues of Itea and Amfissa, accompanied by floats, satirizing current events and ending in lively parties before the burning of King Carnival. Musical groups hold concerts and the fun lasts until the early morning hours.

In Delphi, the custom dictates that the entire village dresses in traditional and aristocratic clothes (“Archontochoriates”), parading through the streets of the town accompanied by music to nail the “Gkavogiannos”. This is a peculiar Dionysian troupe that revives the custom, where according to myth, Gkavogiannos possessed magical properties and, due to the injustice he felt he suffered, left the village saying that he had placed stakes at its four ends which cause unpleasant situations for the villagers. The end of the parade finds all participants and visitors becoming one big company and all together having fun with local treats and wine.

At the close of the three-day period, the Municipality of Delphi is in the spotlight, as the most famous event of Galaxidi, the “Alevromoutzouromata” (flour smudging), becomes a pole of attraction for thousands of visitors from all over Greece. The custom of alevromoutzouromata is ancient, lost in the depths of centuries, and today it undoubtedly attracts interest from all over the world.

Tradition says that Galaxidi sailors, who traveled the seas of almost the entire world, saw folk festivals in Sicily where locals had painted their faces like circus clowns. They were impressed and brought these festivals to Galaxidi. It is a Dionysian feast based on spontaneity and improvisation, expressing what is called the joy of life. A feast with a unique backdrop, because it takes place in a town that maintains its charming atmosphere intact thanks to its distinct architectural and cultural heritage preserved to this day, in the picturesque and aristocratic maritime town of Galaxidi, or as it is called, “the island of the mainland”.

On Clean Monday, the celebration and dancing begin in the Central Square of Chrisso,while the traditional bean soup is being prepared in the cauldron to be offered to participants along with all Lenten dishes. The events conclude with the traditional gaïtanaki and carnival songs.

Similar events are held in each Municipal Unit with the contribution of Cultural Associations.

A cultural event that attracts a lot of visitors is “The Night of the Elements”. This is the famous event that revives the love story of the tanner Constantis for Lenio. During the event, on the Saturday of Carnival, from the steps of Agios Nikolaos, thousands of bell-ringers dressed in leather, pour into the city and lead the Elements of Harmaina, Techoli and Girizi, to the great fight, in Kechagia Square, accompanied by the sounds of traditional instruments of the area.

Municipal Unit of Amfissa

Galaxidi is also famous for its unique festivals and customs. The “Alevromoutzouroma”, which takes place every Clean Monday, is one of the most unique and entertaining customs in Greece.

Also notable is the anniversary celebration of “Prepon”, which is celebrated with particular splendor in September. “Prepon” symbolizes the honor and memory of the seafaring ancestors, highlighting the bond of Galaxidi with the sea and its history. The events include memorial ceremonies, traditional dances and music, bridging the past with the present.

Galaxidi, with its unique atmosphere, its historical significance and its living tradition, invites you to discover its magic.

“Alevromoutzouromata” is a fun and energetic custom that usually takes place on Clean Monday. The villagers throw flour at each other, covering everything with a white “blanket” of flour, creating a special atmosphere of celebration and unity.

This custom is associated with the farewell celebration of Carnival and the welcoming of Lent, while the participants approach it with humor and liveliness. Disruption and fun are its characteristics, with flour symbolizing purity and renewal.

With the arrival of September, Desfina transforms into a vibrant scene of tradition and celebration, as the grape harvest begins. This period, known in our popular tradition as the “Grape Harvest”, is dedicated to the harvesting of grapes from the vineyards that embrace the village.

The harvest in Desfina is not just an agricultural task, it is a true ritual. Entire families participate in the harvest, picking the ripe grapes that have reached the peak of their flavor and aromatic intensity. Each bunch, filled with the summer sun, is carefully transported to begin the next stage of creation

After the harvest, the grapes are taken to the wine presses, where they are traditionally pressed to produce must. From this, wine will be produced, while the remains, the well-known marc, are used to produce tsipouro. The distillation takes place in the region’s cauldrons, a process that is accompanied by feasts, music and abundant delicacies. The air is filled with the aromas of grapes and the warm feeling of community, which shares the joy of creation.

The harvest season is an opportunity for celebration. In Desfina, traditional customs accompany the process, such as the blessing of the vines and traditional prayers for a good harvest. As the harvest progresses, the locals organize feasts accompanied by local delicacies.

Desfina, with its vineyards reflected in the autumn light, offers a unique opportunity to combine contact with tradition, nature and taste in a journey that unites the past with the present, creating an experience that will remain unforgettable.

Located in the heart of Roumeli, the Municipality of Delphi is revitalized by the “lungs” of Parnassos, Gkiona, Oiti and Vardousia. April is fragrant with the aromas of the Delphic land and the entire landscape is in harmony with the great celebration of Christianity where the Resurrection symbolizes the rebirth of nature.

Easter in the Municipality of Delphi is celebrated with devotion in the temples, monasteries and dioceses of the units. The celebration of brotherhood and love becomes an occasion for the neighborhoods to be filled with colors and the churches with believers who will all sing “Christ is Risen”.

Since Lazarus Friday in Amfissa, the “Lazaritses”, students of all ages, have been pouring out with their beautiful flower-decorated baskets singing Lazarus carols in various versions such as “Lazarus has come, the Vagia have come…” etc.

During Holy Week, various customs are revived.

This week, the hostesses prepare the Easter red eggs, with many maintaining natural ways of dyeing them with onion leaves, nettles and red threads. Cookies and kourabiedes also have a prominent place on the festive table.

The Epitaphs in the parishes prepare all night on Holy Thursday towards the dawn of Good Friday, while women of all ages sing the encomiums. A walking pilgrimage custom takes place at the chapel of Agia Paraskevi in Sernikaki, where faithful pilgrims arrive late on the night of Holy Thursday in order to thank the patron saint, Agia tou Eleonas, for fruitfulness, but also to pray for good health.

Amfissa is known for the “Tear of the Virgin Mary”, a custom that begins after the end of the service of the Deposition. In local cafes and restaurants, locals and visitors accompany Lenten dishes with the local tsipouro from the distilleries of the area, likening its transparent color and intense flavor to the tear of the Virgin Mary for the Crucified One.

On the evening of Good Friday, the Epitaph procession takes place with the encomiums of Nymphios and Axion esti resounding. In Galaxidi, the Epitaph procession is characteristic as it is completed in the sea, thus paying homage to the patron saint of sailors, Saint Nicholas.

Saturday is dedicated to the preparation for the skewering of the traditional obelia. The hosts procure local lamb and goat from livestock units in the area, from Desfina, Vargiani and Segditsa, etc.

After Easter and with the end of fasting, the festive tables are prepared with delicious dishes. Local recipes are handed down with reverence from generation to generation. One such special recipe we find in Desfina is the so-called “psimarni”, that is, mainly late lamb or goat, which is slow-roasted in the oven accompanied by seasonal herbs, oregano from the mountain slopes, plenty of garlic and olive oil from the traditional olive grove of Amfissa.

On Easter Sunday, families and entire neighborhoods meet at the traditional “pits”, where they place the spits with Lambri meat in a row for roasting. While the roasting continues, the housewives offer delicious dishes such as kokoretsi, gardoumbes and splinandero, always accompanied by the wine of the region. The festive table is not without other dishes made with local products, such as the cheeses of Parnassos and Galaxidi, a sample of the wealth of the primary sector of the place.

In Delphi and Chrissos, the custom of the feast of Love is preserved unchanged, where after the service, a large crowd of people flock to admire the local dances in the central square, with the dance groups performing dances wearing the authentic Desfiniot costume.

The Easter period coincides with the celebration of the Liberation of the Castle of Salona, a landmark celebration as a historical event, as it was the first castle to be liberated on April 10, 1821, with the participation of leading figures of the Greek Revolution, such as Androutsos, Diakos, Salonon Isaias, Gouras, Panourgias, Dyovouniotis, Mitropoulos and others.

A series of cultural events that keep the memory of the place alive and highlight the importance played by the region, conclude with the Reenactment of the Battle at Kastro and Pigadia, in Amfissa, and culminate with the impressive parade of windbreakers and reenactors on Salonon Avenue, with numerous participants from all over the country, municipal philharmonics, bands and representatives of the highest state level, as well as thousands of visitors.

In the Municipality of Delphi, traditional customs and traditions are kept alive, forming an integral part of the local culture and everyday life. One of the most characteristic and important customs of the region are the festivals, which combine religious worship with traditional feasting and the unique hospitality of Roumeli.

Throughout the year, and especially in the summer, dozens of festivals are held in each Municipal Community, offering unique opportunities for visitors to experience authentic local tradition. These festivals, which are usually held in honor of local saints or other religious holidays, are more than just a celebration, they are a true celebration of life, where religious devotion meets fun, dance, music and a sense of community.

This tradition has its roots in ancient times, when local communities celebrated holidays with dances, music and delicacies. Today, the festivals in the Municipality of Delphi continue to revive this ancient spirit, preserving the authenticity and uniqueness of the local culture. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy Roumeli music, dance to the rhythms of traditional songs and taste authentic local products, experiencing unforgettable memories.

This connection of religious worship with the traditional celebration, the liveliness and authenticity of the festivals, is a way to honor our ancestors and keep our traditions alive, passing on the unique heritage of Roumeli from generation to generation. With each festival, we keep our “roots” alive and highlight the true folk soul of our place.