Mystery 100 Sacred Songs – Halloween

In the context of the events of the 2023 Eleusis Cultural Capital of Europe, from the weekend of February 11 and 12, a cycle of actions begins, with the general title Mystery 100 Sacred Songs, which focuses on traditional events and rituals in the Greek music and dance tradition. The scientific and artistic curator is Lambros Liavas, professor of ethnomusicology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

On Saturday, February 11, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Labor Center of Western Attica (EKEDA, Charilaou 28), the Inaugural Conference entitled “From the Eleusinian Mysteries to folk events and rituals” will be held, where the reasoning behind the cycle “The Sacred Songs” will be presented. 

Speakers:
– Andromachi Economou (researcher at the Greek Folklore Research Center of the Academy of Athens). “Holy Marriages. Popular perceptions and contemporary events”
– Zoe Margari (researcher at the Academy of Athens). “The Sacred Dances”
– Lampros Liavas “The Sacred Songs in the cycle of the Greek Halloween”.

At the same time, the documentary film “The Breath of the Earth. Folk customs and rituals in Northern Greece” (Director: Panos Karkanevatos, scientific research: Lampros Liavas).

On Sunday, February 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Eleourgiki, the pandemic festivities of the cycle “Sacred Songs” will begin with the songs and dances of the Greek Carnival.

“These days have it!.. The Greek Rite of Spring” is the title of the Halloween celebration, with traditional disguises, bells and satirical songs and dances from all regions of Hellenism. You only need to bring your “Dionysian” mood and comfortable dancing shoes!

The tone is set by the “Koundunatoi” and “Glentistades” from the Association of Mesotopites of Lesbos “I Anagennisi”, the Company of Dimitris Kotsikas, the traditional Macedonian brass band and the singers Spyros Brebos and Avgerini Gatsi.

Rituals in the cycle of Life cover the human journey “from cradle to death”: birth, childhood, love-marriage, estrangement, death. While the events in the cycle of Time and Vegetation “homeopathically” accompany agricultural and livestock occupations through symbolic acts-customs with the widespread participation of the community.

The events for “Sacred Songs” are spread throughout 2023 and mark the main seasonal stations:

February 12, 2023
Halloween – “These days have it!”. The Greek Rite of Spring

March 19, 2023
Vernal Equinox – “Raise Mariola from the earth!”. The divine and the human lament

April 22, 2023
Easter – “The trees are all open!” Of Christ and Adonis!

June 24, 2023
Summer Solstice – “‘Come out Sun, burn me!’ Of Therus and Cledon

August 2, 2023
Summer Festivals – The “Summer Easter”

September 14, 2023
Of Stavros (departure of aliens, refugee) – “Like going to a foreign country!”

November 21, 2023
Mesosporitissa (bearing fruit) – The three goods of the Earth: wheat, wine, oil

December 16, 2023
Winter Solstice – “Twelve days of festive Christmas means!..”

The events begin and end with two Days (February 11 and December 16, 2023), with special presentations and film screenings that introduce the public to the symbolic codes, the deeper meaning and the function of popular actions.