Zorba the Greek Project - The textiles of Palaiochori
Zorba the Greek, the hero of author Kazantzakis “lives” in Eastern Halkidiki!
White houses. Red roofs. Chimneys all around. The winter is cold in Giorgis’ village. It starts in September and until June it has run its course. Thick covers. Woven. Traditional wool rugs. Blankets. All in warm and bright colours.
Rugs hanging on the wall. They protect people from the cold and shield the house from damages and dust. Textiles of silk and cotton are covering the beds.
On the floor there are woven kilims and carpets. Calligraphic designs. Bright, Yellow, Red, Orange, Brown. As if the floor is laden with flowers. Like gardens blooming at your feet. Masterpieces of craftsmanship and patience. Intricate designs. Images. Beauty. A floor garden in full bloom.
And bedding on the furniture. Silk or cotton – loom-woven, too. Fine work. And towels in the kitchen.
Humble, but clean houses, fully tidy and packed with women’s dowries. Small, but ornamented salons, full of the light and colour of the tradition of Palaiochori. Beds barely fitting one person, hard and uncomfortable divans, but covered and adorned with intricate textile collections.
The textiles of Palaiochori, the textiles of Giorgis and other heroes and heroines of Palaiochori’s everyday life, are part of our historical continuity.
