Kalikanzari'''

1
Kalikanzari...
and their action...
with the wishes of group Comenius Lachesis of
second General College of Chalkida.
2
?? ?a?????t?a??? st? d?de?a?µe?? t?? ???st????????

The festive period of Christmas and New Year,
both in Greece and Europe is full of customs and
beliefs. The Christmas tree, the candles, the
presents and carols are customs which remained
alive from Ancient Times till today. The period
around winter solstice till the beginning of
January is one of the most ancient festive period
of humanity. The celebration of Light Birth
(Epiphany), of the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ
are very old, too.

Dodecaimero (twelve days) is named, from the
Byzantine years, the festive period from the 25th
of December to the 6th of January. It starts with
the birth of Christ and ends with the baptism and
the Blessing of the waters (Epiphany). The
Dodecaimero is a unique period with lots of
peculiar characteristics such as, for example,
the prohibition of fast, but, alsoof work.
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One of the most magical beliefs of the
Dodecaimero is the appearance of the
Kalikantzari. The Kalikantzari, Karkantzali,
Karkatzelia or Pagana are spirits or demons of
the earth (of the underworld) that make their
appearance these celebration days making peoples
life difficult. As to the etymology of the name
Kalikantzaros, there are many views. Though, it
is certain that the annominationKali (good),
mollifies the spirits and flatters them. As ,for
example, in Greece, we usually call the storm a
fourtouna or good luck and vinegar,
glykadi, or something sweet, and the furies
(Erinnyes) Benevolent Spirits, Eumenides. The
name Pagana has to do with the word pagano,
witch means idolater. The Kalikantzari live all
year long down from earth and plane away the tree
that holds it. When, with Christmas, begins the
celebration and the joy, the organisations and
the nice smelling, they get out of curiosity or
of disposition to take part in the surface of
earth and stick their noses into peoples
business.
4
The Epiphany as the priests bless the waters and
the Birth of Light is a fact, they come back to
the earth. The tree they planed has now been
nourished and they start again from the
beginning. It is true that the Kalikantzari are
much more trouble-makers and teasers, than
dangerous. They are hided in the cold ash of the
fireplace and that is why the whole Dodecaimero
the fire should not be put off. They steel the
pancakes or the freshly-baked sausages. They
dirty the fresh-cleaned clothes, mess up the
freshly-ground flour and tangle up women at the
clothes patches. That is why it was better for
everybody not to work these days not even walk
out alone! If a Kalikantzaros meet you alone at
the road, he may make you dance until your feet
cant stand!
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I dont know if Kalikantzari were ever really
scared of men, as the appearance they were given
and the things they did were funnier, than scary.
For example, the known Karkantzalos
Psilobelonis is very long and skinny, blackish
with long fingers and tail. He is so gangling
that he passes through the cracks of the doors
and the keyholes.
? ??????????S
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Another known Kalikantzaros is Mandrakoukos the
chief. Mandrakoukos holds for sceptre his
pastoral shepherds crook and frequently goes to
folds and grasslands. His cap that was by him out
of bristles is not enough to cover his ear, which
are as big as donkeys. He has a huge nose that
is hung like as soft dough. Mandrakoukos,
throws a hack from the chimney and steals the
sausages from the fire and at the grasslands he
teases the sheep.
? ???????????S
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Another one is Anemis the cut waist
(kopsomesis). He has a very slim and long waist
and the upper part of his body goes round and
round as whirligig. He tangles the warp of the
loom and breaks the thread on the spinning.
? ??????S???S
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Kalikantzaros tragopodis looks like god Pana.
He is hairy, has feet and tail, and he is such a
trouble-maker. He steals sweets and candies and
messes up the food if it is not covered.
? ???G?????S
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Vervenzou with the three faces, keeps alive
the three-face god Ekati, until today. As in the
ancient years the same at the nowadays Greek
tradition, the landladies used to leave for her a
plate of food, or sausages, at the corner of the
roof.
? ?????????
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Kalikantzaros Kantharos comes from Rhodes
Island. He is copied from a famous kantharos of
8th century B.C. Kantharos is an ancient kind
of cup for drinking wine. His pinny has
traditional island embroideries.
? ???T???S
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Though, people would rather the Kalikantzari not
mess up at their lives. With their different
hocus-pocus or other tricks, they kept them away
from their houses. Kalikantzari dont like at all
bad smells. So, they burnt at the fireplace an
old shoes, so that the smell and smoke would
whisk away them. Kalikantzari like neither crowd
of people nor noise. What is better for people to
get together at their houses, keep the fire,
sing, drink and eat the tasty food and the
candies, than been stolen by the Kalikantzari.!
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There are plants which send away Kalikantzari and
bring good luck to the New Year. Such a plant,
which is even nowadays used in our houses for
good luck and protection, is Scilla Maritima.
Pythagoras who lived in the 6th century B.C.,
used to hang this plant above his door as a
symbol of good health and regeneration. Its like
the light which is reborn during the winter
solstice and it wishes Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
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The pieces of information about kalikantzaros and
the ideographic draws are taken from the book of
h\Thanos Velloudios AERIKA XOTIKA -
KALIKANTZARI The draws were sketched by P.
Tetsi, A. Baynes and G.Gliata.