"Sooty Thursday"

March 3rd 2005

SHROVE-THURSDAY

During the whole period of Carnival, joy and cheerfulness reign throughout the country, but on Shrove-Thursday, they reach their highest pitch. This day is called Tsiknopempti, because of the smell of grilling meat coming from all the houses (tsiknonoun =burn).

In Karyes near Arahova, the locals slaughter fat pigs and make salt pork and sausages, in Megara, they slaughter lambs and after having eaten themselves, they distribute the rest to relatives and poor people. Families gather in houses to celebrate this day with eating, drinking, joking, playing various games, singing and dancing. In Kerkyra, in the centre of town, they organize a meeting called the Petegletsa. which is an occasion for Korfiots to criticise each other.