Editing Carnival (section)

====Greece====
In [[Greece]], Carnival is known as {{Lang|el-Latn|Apókries}} ({{Lang|el|Απόκριες}}, <small>lit.</small> '[goodbye] to meat'), and officially begins with the "Opening of the [[Triodion]]", the liturgical book used by the [[Greek Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]] from then until [[Holy Week]].<ref name="HR-MFA">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad/en/about-greece/history-and-culture/culture.html?page=8|title=Greek Customs|website=Hellenic Republic: [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]|access-date=2017-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828232026/http://www.mfa.gr/missionsabroad/en/about-greece/history-and-culture/culture.html?page=8|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Apokries is made up of three themed weeks of celebration known as {{Lang|el-Latn|Prophoní}} ({{Lang|el|Προφωνή}}, 'preannouncement week'), {{Lang|el-Latn|Kreatiní}} ({{Lang|el|Κρεατινή}}, 'meat week'), and {{Lang|el-Latn|Tiriní}} ({{Lang|el|Τυρινή}}, 'cheese week'). One of the season's high points during Kreatini is {{Lang|el-Latn|[[Tsiknopempti|Tsiknopémpti]]}} (<small>lit.</small> 'Smoky-Thursday'), when celebrants throw large outdoor parties and roast huge amounts of meat; the ritual is repeated the following Sunday, after which point meat is forbidden until Easter. The following week, Tirini, is marked by similar festivities revolving around the consumption of cheese, eggs, and dairy and culminates with a "Cheese Sunday". [[Great Lent]], and its restrictive fasting rules, begins in earnest the next day on [[Clean Monday]]. Throughout the Carnival season, festivals, parades, and balls are held all over the country. Many people disguise themselves as {{Lang|el-Latn|maskarádes}} ("masqueraders") and engage in pranks and revelry throughout the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnivaland.net/patras-carnival/|title=Your Ultimate Guide to Attending Patras Carnival Greece|date=2018-11-09|website=Carnivaland|language=en-US|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409191634/https://www.carnivaland.net/patras-carnival/|archive-date=9 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref>

[[File:Kingcarnival.jpg|thumb|left|The float of the King Carnival parading in [[Patras]], Greece]]

[[Patras]] holds the largest annual Carnival in Greece, and one of the largest in the world. The famous [[Patras Carnival]] is a three-day spectacle replete with concerts, theatre performances, parading troupes, an elaborate [[Treasure hunt (game)|treasure hunt]] game, three major parades, parallel celebrations specifically for children, and many [[masquerade ball]]s including the famous Bourboúlia ({{Lang|el|Μπουρμπούλια}}) ball in which women wear special robe-like costumes called a {{Lang|el-Latn|dómino}} to hide their identy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnivalpatras.gr/en/events/bourboulia/|title=BOURBOULIA|website=Patras Carnival|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325224619/http://www.carnivalpatras.gr/en/events/bourboulia/|archive-date=25 March 2019|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> The festivities come to a crescendo on "Cheese Sunday" when The Grand Parade of troupes and floats leads celebrators to the harbor for the ceremonial burning of the effigy of King Carnival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnivalpatras.gr/en/events/big-parade/|title=THE BIG PARADE|website=Patras Carnival|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409195706/https://www.carnivalpatras.gr/en/events/big-parade/|archive-date=9 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref>
[[File:Bourboulia the Ladies.JPG|thumb|Ladies on their way to the historic Bourboulia ball in Patras, Greece, wearing the ''dómino'' costumes unique to that ball]]

The Carnival in [[Corfu (city)|Corfu]] is much influenced by the Carnival of [[Venice]]. During this period, various theatrical sketches are presented on the island, called ''Petególia'' or ''Petegolétsa'' (Πετεγολέτσα) in the local dialect. In previous centuries, existed also the custom of "Giostra" ([[jousting]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apokries.ert.gr/petegoletsa-kerkyra/ |title=Πετεγολέτσα Κέρκυρας |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-date=27 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427034947/http://apokries.ert.gr/petegoletsa-kerkyra/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The second biggest Carnival in Greece takes place in [[Xanthi]] ([[Eastern Macedonia and Thrace]]) since 1966 and it is the major event of its kind in Northern Greece. The [[Xanthi Carnival]] manages to attract visitors from the nearby countries such as [[Bulgaria]], [[Turkey]], and [[Romania]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestival.gr/xalllara/item/296134-epese-i-aulaia-tou-karnabaliou-stin-ksanthi-plithos-episkepton-apo-toyrkia-boylgaria-kai-roymania|title=Έπεσε η "αυλαία" του καρναβαλιού στην Ξάνθη - Πλήθος επισκεπτών από Τουρκία, Βουλγαρία και Ρουμανία|website=thestival.gr|date=27 February 2017|language=el-GR|access-date=2020-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301225314/http://www.thestival.gr/xalllara/item/296134-epese-i-aulaia-tou-karnabaliou-stin-ksanthi-plithos-episkepton-apo-toyrkia-boylgaria-kai-roymania|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Other regions host festivities of smaller extent, focused on the reenactment of traditional carnival customs, such as [[Tyrnavos]] ([[Thessaly]]), [[Kozani]] ([[Western Macedonia]]), [[Rethymno]] ([[Crete]]). Tyrnavos holds an annual Phallus festival, a traditional "phallkloric" event<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,553070,00.html "The Annual Phallus Festival in Greece"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122115504/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,553070,00.html |date=22 January 2009 }}, ''Der Spiegel'', English edition, 3 June 2008, Retrieved on 15 December 2008</ref> in which giant, gaudily painted effigies of [[phallus]]es made of [[papier-mâché]] are paraded, and which women are asked to touch or kiss. Their reward for so doing is a shot of the famous local [[tsipouro]] alcohol spirit.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mendonca|first1=Shawn|last2=Pan|first2=Jessica|last3=Brandes*|first3=Steven|title=Fr01-16 Festival of the "Steel Phallus" and the "Bourani" Carnival of Tynavos: Phallic Festivals of Contemporary Japan and Greece|date=April 2020|journal=The Journal of Urology|language=en|volume=203|pages=e289–e290| issue=Supplement 4 | doi=10.1097/JU.0000000000000850.016|issn=0022-5347|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Every year, from the 1st to the 8th of January, mostly in regions of [[Western Macedonia]], traditional Carnival festivals erupt. Best known of these is the {{Lang|el-Latn|Ragoutsária}} ({{Lang|el|Ραγκουτσάρια}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tanea.gr/default.asp?pid=28&ct=18&artid=4548248&enthDate=27112009 |title=TA NEA On-line – Τριήμερο γλεντιού στα Ραγκουτσάρια |publisher=Tanea.gr |date=29 April 2010 |access-date=9 March 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> festival in the city of [[Kastoria]] whose celebration may date back to antiquity and whose name derives from the Latin word {{Lang|la|rogatores}} 'beggars', in reference to the beggars who could mingle with the rich in their masks.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kastoria.gov.gr/%cf%81%ce%b1%ce%b3%ce%ba%ce%bf%cf%85%cf%84%cf%83%ce%ac%cf%81%ce%b9%ce%b1/|title=Ραγκουτσάρια|website=Δήμος Καστοριάς|language=el-GR|trans-title=Ragoutsaria|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917151432/http://www.kastoria.gov.gr/%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%84%CF%83%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1/|archive-date=17 September 2019|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> It takes place from 6–8 January with mass participation and is noted for its brass bands, flutes, and [[Macedonians (Greeks)|Macedonian]] [[drums]]. It is an ancient celebration of nature's rebirth akin to ancient festivals for [[Dionysus]] ([[Dionysia]]) and [[Cronus|Kronos]] ([[Saturnalia]]).<ref name=":1" />