Photography / Text: One day trip to Galaxidi on Ash Monday in order to see the Alevromoutzouromata (flour smudging) custom.
The good thing regarding this custom is that it starts at about 12 at noon. I left the car at the entrance of the center of the town in order to avoid traffic. I entered the town center and instantly I got a very good idea what was about to happen. All the houses that are located in the street where the parade will pass are covered with protective sheets so as for the walls not to be painted. I saw that there are people selling protective uniforms, glasses and masks. I bought the whole set cause I really wanted to live the experience from the inside and also I did not have second clothing with me.
I headed to the exit of the town, the spot where the parade would start. There were trucks with people sharing bags full of flour and the vehicles of the parade. The parade started and I instantly realized that my protective uniform was not enough. Fortunately I had dresses my camera with protective nylon. The only uncovered piece of my camera was the lens filter. All features of my camera were on automatic mode as it was impossible to make any configurations. I could not even see the screen of my camera, so I started taking photos in a (more or less) random way. headed to the exit of the town, the spot where the parade would start.
There were trucks with people sharing bags full of flour and the vehicles of the parade. The parade started and I instantly realized that my protective uniform was not enough. Fortunately I had dresses my camera with protective nylon. The only uncovered piece of my camera was the lens filter. All features of my camera were on automatic mode as it was impossible to make any configurations. I could not even see the screen of my camera, so I started taking photos in a (more or less) random way.
The parade reached the street by the sea where the big battle started. Most of the flour is used there. That is the place where the fires are lit and that took the whole experience to another level. People jumping over the fires, dancing around them, drinking is a must. Music was playing out of the big speakers installed along the street.
The shops at that street were full of people and all of them have protective nylon in front of them in order to protect their customers from flour. Some people have gathered across the streets but they are too far away to live the experience, they lose the best parts.
The previous time I was there I had stayed one day extra and I even had a better time. You see, I could participate until the end of the whole custom, I could drink much more and the most important thing: Driving back was not in my mind at all.
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