During the Apokries festival this year, Amfikleia in central Greece has roasted the world’s longest kontosouvli at 130 metres.
To prepare the giant spit, 800 kilograms of meat, mutton and pork, were used.
According to Keep Talking Greece, the kontosouvli is an annual Apokries tradition for the Greek city.
The kontosouvli was slow-roasted over an open charcoal fire pit from morning until the afternoon. It was then cut into portions and distributed to locals and tourists who were visiting Amfikleia for the last Sunday of Apokries.
The last time the kontosouvli tradition was held, the spit was 125 metres long and 750 kilograms of meat were used.
Apokries festivals return to Greece after pandemic pause:
This world record comes as thousands of revellers across Greece attended end-of-Apokries celebrations this weekend for the first time in three years.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the festivities being held before the beginning of Lent in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
In Patras, the annual parade took place for the first time in three years on Saturday and featured 139 vehicles and their crew members. The second parade, held on Sunday, showcased the vehicles constructed by the artists of the carnival’s workshop of the municipality of Patra.
The 2023 Patra Carnival concluded with a spectacular fireworks display on the Aghios Nikolaos Quay.
In other parts of mainland Greece, young men wearing cow bells and carrying a phallic symbol — a common feature of ancient rites celebrating spring — danced their way to village squares on Sunday.
Other customs included young men wearing folk costumes making their way to neighbouring villages, where they invite local women to dance. The women, in turn, offer the men local delicacies and wine.
Source: Keep Talking Greece and AP News.
