Carnival in Kozani

The Carnival of Kozani welcomes the public from 20 February to 2 March. It is a set of customs that has not yet exhausted its potential, being flexible and adaptable to the conditions of each new era.



Its nucleus and centre is Phanos (Latern in English), a celebration of a devotional and subversive nature, built around an altar on which the fire burns all night, is celebrated in Kozani on Sunday, March 2. It takes place on Sunday evening at the end of the Carnival period, when the festivities are at their peak. A circle is formed around the fire, led by the lead singer, who first sings the traditional songs of the Phanos (Latern in English), verse by verse, followed by the choir, which repeats them in the same way.

The event takes place in certain places in Kozani, at certain crossroads, which are decorated by the leaders of each Phanos. It is not a spontaneous gathering of people celebrating in any part of the city. There are so many elements that make up a successful Fano - talent, expertise, knowledge of tradition, willingness to volunteer, cooperation, and coexistence - that its why recognition and longevity are difficult to achieve.