Kastorian Ragoutsaria

Ragoutsaria, the carnivals of Kastoria, are celebrated from January 6 to 8 and are a revival of the ancient Dionysian rituals, taking place since ancient times. According to the locals are a celebration that aims to make participants forget the problems of the year.



Α Carnival Parade, men, women, young and old celebrate with colourful costumes in the street of Kastoria city.
The name and origin of this custom can be traced back to classical antiquity, from which it was transferred to our days through Roman and Byzantium times.

In Ragoutsaria, all the people of Kastoria, men and women, young and old, take part in "bouloukia" (packs of people), each with its own traditional brass band, and with them thousands of visitors, celebrate for three days and nights with a thousand different costumes in the streets of the city in a real pandemonium.


Programme

Monday 6 (Epiphany) and Tuesday 7 January (St. John's Day):
Carnival "bouloukia" in the streets of the city.

Wednesday 8 January (Pateritsa) Ragoutsaria of Kastoria:
Parade of Ragoutsarians, starting at 14:00.

Starting point: Courtyard of the Municipal Hall and via Mitropoleos Street and Omonia Square, ends at the Emmanouil Bros Square (Doltso district).