Anastenaria

Anastenaria

May 21-23

Anastenaria is a firewalking ceremony in Greece, in the communes of Agia Eleni near Serres and of Langada near Thessalonike. Men and women, some holding red kerchiefs and some carrying icons of St. Constantine and St. Helen—in whose honor the ceremonies are held—dance barefooted on red-hot coals while folk musicians play. The custom is supposed to have originated in an ancient form of worship that was brought by travelers from Kosti in Eastern Thrace and adapted to Christian beliefs.
Firewalking has been practiced in many parts of the world and has been thought at times to ensure a good harvest and at other times to purify the participants.

CONTACTS:
Greek National Tourist Organization
645 Fifth Ave., 9th Fl.
New York, NY 10022
212-421-5777; fax: 212-826-6940
www.visitgreece.gr

SOURCES:
OxYear-1999, p. 215

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, Fourth Edition. © 2010 by Omnigraphics, Inc.