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Cultural Activities

 Many cultural events and activities are organised every year by the local authorities and the cultural associations of like the Association of Women, in the frame of which functions chorus, and the Educative - Cultural Association "The Parnassos" with five dancing departments. Important is the action of also Mountaineering Ski Association in the direction of organisation of alternative activities. These events aim not only to entertain the local population and all visitors but also to refresh the memory of the older and teach the younger the cultural inheritance of Davlia. The Municipality organises events during the following celebrations:


Carnival.

Shrove Monday Kite Flying.
 Traditional fiesta with carnivals and live music and free lenten food in the main square of the village. People of all ages breaking into the streets. The need of escape from the everyday routine and the joy of disguise prompts young and older people to impersonate persons, sometimes with romantic and other with ironic disposal. The history of disguise begins in ancient Greece,at the age of Dionisus. In ancient Egypt it is connected with the god Osiris, while in Ancient Rome, it refers in the Louperkalia of Romen. At the orthodoxe delivery the Carnival is the preparatory period for the pre-easter period. Literally "Apokrea'" means abstention from the meat. And the latin root word "Karnavali" births through this delivery: carne=meat + vale=leaving. The roots of Carnival starting in the antiquity. The carnival is roughly public in all the populations, in all the deliveries, in all the religions. The carnival feasts are completed shrove Monday with Koulouma, that is to say the clambake that signals the end of carnival. Kids and not only flying their kite s and having fun in the lenten table.


Memorial of the Burn of the village by the Italians in May.

Chorus of Women Association.
 The historical black anniversary of destruction of the village from the Italians is celebrated with crowd of events, in order to remember the oldest and learn the youngest. During of events is realised a memorial in honour of the colonel D. Kaliagkaki and the other heroes of Davlia. Follows speech of the mayor but also speeches of personalities of the region ahead pantheon of Davlia in the main square, as well as folk dance program from the numerous dancing groups of the cultural association and the chorus of Women Association.


First of May!

 A day for joy and memory. Joy - because young and elder people run to the country side and enjoy the nature, which is at its best time. We gather the flowers and make the "First of May wreath", which we hang at our houses' doors. We play, bake, dance, sing and enjoy the beautiful nature. It's a day of memory, because we remember and honor the struggle and sacrifices of working people. The struggles which began the first of May in 1886 in Chicago/ U.S.A. when a general strike was held which had the widely-known demand : "eight hours of work, eight hours of sleep, eight hours of entertainment and education". Today the working people through speeches and demonstrations honor the others who fought in order to achieve better working conditions and more fair payment.


Celebrations of the 25th of March and 28th of October.

School Parade.
 The 25th of March is a special day of big double feast. Feast of Church for the happy message that brought the archangel Gabriel to the humble and flawless virgin Mairy and national feast of Greece for the release from the Turkish balance. The 28th of October 1940, the Greeks, in the first line of free world had said a very loud NO to the nazistic totalitarianism. They had started a battle for peace, democracy and dignity, without taking in consideration the numerical correlations, proving that fight when is inspired by the will of free persons for the defence of values and the ideals of life, is never useless. In the above historical anniversaries the festive program includes events and speeches in all the schools, masses in the holy temples, school parade, some speeches by the local authority, and a traditional dance by the dancing club of the village.


Celebration of the Holy Spirit.

 Dancing Festival in the main square of Davlia.


Celebration of the Prophet Elia.

Celebration of the Prophet Elia.
 Τraditional festival with live music and dance groups often organised by the womens' club.


Celebration of the Virgin Mary the 23rd of August.

 The Jerusalem Monastery of Davlia celebrates at that day. Lot of pilgrims coming for the adoration from the whole region other locations of the country, starting from the eve and spreading with the holy liturgy of the 23rd.


Celebration of the Saints Anargiri.

 The Feast of Saint Anargiri is the official holiday of Davlia,as are honoured the patron saints of the village. All the institutions organise various cultural events, with the attendance of dancing department of Cultural Association and the Chorus Association of Women.


Easter.

Meeting of the two Epitaphs.
 Τhe biggest celebration in the village with a captivating atmosphere especially during the meeting of the two epitaphs in the centre of the village on the night of the holy friday. This is also an informal competition that takes place front of all city, for the more well embelished epitaph. On the holy Saturday, and after the end of the mass of the ressurection of Jesus, all the believers bring to their houses the candle with the holy light from the ressurection and before they enter to their house they make a cross from the smoke in the upper frame of the door; then they lit the candle where they keep the pictures of the saints inside the house and they make sure to keep the candle burning till the next Easter. The most characteristic custom of the Easter is the way the inhabitants barbecue the lamb on the Easter Sunday. After the ressurection of Jesus on the holly Saturday and before the dawning of the next day, the inhabitants light the fire where they will barbecue their lamb. It takes a lot of expertness in order to prepare the right "glowing embers" in order to cook and not burn the lamb and many times it is needed to throw water in the fire for reducing the heat.
The Traditional Barbecue.
At that day, Davlia is wrapped in clouds of smoke and looks like its on fire from the so many fires that the inhabitants have lit for their barbecue. This custom which is not only kept alive from year to year, but is given new life by the young people, who take part with great enthusiasm and imagination in the custom of the "lakkos" (pit for the fire for roasting the lambs) made in each neighbourhood, and large numbers of lambs are roasted together over these. This needs skill and care. The celebration ends in the afternoon where in the main square of the village there is traditional live music, lots of wine, eggs painted in red (another Easter custom), and many other "goodies" offered by the inhabitants in this big community party.


Christmas.

Το χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο.
 ΕChristmas is one from the bigger feasts of christian world. According to the orthodoxe christian church, in which most Greeks belong, it is the second more important feast afterwards Easter. The name "Christmas" declares the aim of feast, that is to say the birth of Christ. Is an event which never grows old, an event with a significance which spans all time, which remains in our thoughts as timely, luminous, as though we live it today.We are all moved by God's ineffable condescension that God becomes one of us in to deify us. Christmas is celebrated on 25 December. Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25 was made by the Pope Julius. The 4th century a.c. 25 December was fixed as the day of birth of Christ, because it coincided with the end of 9 months from the Annunciation of Virgin Mary of (25 March). At Davlia we celebrate with lot of splendour the birth of Christ. During Christmas period the schools stop and the landords are particularly careful with the cleanness. Housewifes preparing the traditional shortbreads and many christmas sweets like the diples, the kourambiedes and the melomakarona. Also they dont forget to embelish the Christmas tree, a custom that has its origin in Germany. In Greece this custom came from their Bavarian Kings and prevailed afterwards the B World War. In the past, instead of a tree, mainly islander people, embelished an effigy of boat. However, we do not only decorate the houses, but also the streets, the squares, the show windows and all the schools so that the spirit of Christmas unfolds everywhere. Of all the preparations on Christmas Eve, the most important and typical of all is that of the Christmas Bread. Kneading the Christmas Bread is considered a holy task and it is a purely Christian custom. Women prepare the dough with especial patience and devotion on Christmas Eve, using a special mixture of yeast containing dried basil. Christmas Bread is the blessed bread on the Christmas table, as according to religion it will sustain the life of the landlord and his family. A cross is always carved on top of the Christmas Bread. Some people used to put a plain egg in the middle of the Christmas Bread as a symbol of fertility. The Christmas day afterwards the beautiful litourgy in church with womens choir psalms, people setting up a big table with roasted lamb or pork or turnover turkey ,a custom that reached in Europe from Mexico hardly in 1824 and the traditional Christmas cake. On Christmas Eve, groups of small children singing carols and receiving tips, treats of nuts, figs and other edibles and sweets. The world carol in Greek is "kalanda" and comes from the Latin "calenda", which means "beginning of the month", and referred to the songs sung at the beginning of the month. This in turn had its roots in the Greek verb "kalo," which means "to call." The Christmas carols are based on popular old folk songs.
Τα χριστουγεννιάτικα δώρα.
They are songs with good wishes for the householder and the other members of the family. Christmas carols are a ceremonial act, which according to folk tradition brings prosperity and good luck. Afterwards Christmas comes the New Year's Day and the most characteristic customs are following: The custom of the one who brings gifts to children and the poor. His name is Saint Basil or Santa Claus, a kind and fat old man with round glasses, white beard, red suit and magical powers, living at the North Pole together with snow fairies and elves. Santa Claus is the most favourite custom amongst children who impatiently waiting for his gifts.At the Greek delivery the real Father Christmas is the Saint Basil. He was born in Neocaesarea in 330AD and died in age of 48 years in December the 378AD. He was buried on 1 January 379AD and on each New Year's Day we commemorate him when his name was connected by Orthodoxe with the celebration of New Year's Day. In his short life, Saint Basil did so many things for people that history called him Great while he was still alive. The Saint Basil shared all his fortune to the poor and needy by doing a marvellous charitable work making a lot of charitable institutions, nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, orphanages etc. He is the one that established the distribution of goods, food, clothes, money and all kinds of help to poor families and destitutes while he was very strict with those who escaped the faith of Christ. Another great custom one of very few customs of ancient origin kept alive is the cutting of the Vasilopita (New Year's Cake). In ancient times, there was a custom of celebration bread which was offered to the gods on great agricultural celebrations by the ancient Greeks. Usually, the head of the family, the grandfather or the father, after previously making the sign of the cross himself, he would take the knife and make the sign of the cross over the top, without cutting it. Afterwards, he would start to cut pieces, setting aside the first piece for God, the second for Christ, the third for the Madonna and the fourth for the house. Then everyone would take their piece. In whoever piece it falls the small coin,it brings good luck to whoever carries it or to those who have relations with him. The mainly dish of New Year's Day is the chicken soup, this custom is maintained particularly in Thessaly and in Crete.





 

 



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The present website was financed by Regional Operational Program of Sterea Hellas 2000-2006 - Axis 1 and was part-financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund - Department of Orientation.

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