Every year in Greece, people prepare for the carnival season, known as Apokries, where they can dress up in disguise, wearing costumes and masks.
The carnival season is a time for freedom of expression and dates back to Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine, fun and fertility.
Apokries, which means ‘abstaining from meat,’ traditionally begins ten weeks before Greek Orthodox Easter and reaches its peak the weekend before the first day of Lent, which is on March 3 this year.
A number of parades are held across Greece which attract thousands of locals, both young and old, as well as tourists.
At certain local carnivals, like that of Tyrnavos, fertility and the phallus are celebrated. The biggest carnival however, is that held in the Greek city of Patras.
Source: The Athens Centre
