Tuesday 28 February 2017

Clean Monday - Camels in Crete!


Have you ever been to a camel parade in Crete? No? Well you are missing some fun.
Most years we go to the camel festival in the village of Kaina but this year we visited Gerani, near Rethymnon which has a similar - though different - tradition. This year it was the 100 year anniversary of the Camel parade at Gerani.You can see my blog from a visit to Kaina camel festival here


Clean Monday - the beginning of lent for the Orthodox Greeks is celebrated with traditional food and customs. Most families go Kite flying and often take a picnic 


Clean  Monday means Lagana - Unleavened bread, topped with lots of sesame seeds yum!

Antonis in the traditional, wood fired, Georgioupolis bakery

We arrived as the Camels were gathering for the start of the parade








The villagers were enjoying their morning coffee as the festivities began to start



There were loudspeakers all through the village and you could see dancing in hallways!

The parade comes down through the village





Hitching a lift under a camel!







Children taking turns to use the controls to swivel this camel's head




Hmmm that's not a camel!


A holiday atmosphere



Laguna, olives, salad, halva and the traditional Clean Monday dish of octopus cooked with macaroni was given to all

Lots of dancing!


A camel park?

The guys from the syllogos cooking huge cauldrons of macaroni with octopus

Later in the afternoon we called at Parasia near Vamos for our Clean Monday meal. We drove past Lake Kournas on the way and it was packed with families enjoying their day out!

Lettuce salad, Octopus cooked in wine and cuttlefish

Cuttlefish. Never tried it? You must!


A few video clips to share the atmosphere!

Who says you can't do Cretan dancing to a rock and roll lead guitar rif!

























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