The Momoeria dancers stirred up the people of Kalamaria, a suburb of Thessaloniki, Greece, with their frantic performance on Sunday December17, 2017.
Momoeria is a custom of the New Year's celebration that takes place in eight villages of the Kozani area in West Macedonia, Greece.
The Momoeria dancers represent the priests of Momos (god of laughter and satire) or commanders of Alexander the Great wearing helmets, white shirts, cross waistcoats, multi-pleated white skirts, traditional shoes and wooden sticks decorated with ribbons and tassels.
The Momoeria has been transferred from Matsouka (now Municipality of Maçka), an area of the mountainous Trabzon (Turkey), to northern Greece.
Following the Exchange of Populations, according to Lausanne Treaty between Greece and Turkey, in 1923, Christian Greeks from Asia Minor (Anatolia) and Pontus (Black Sea) region had to abandon their homeland and become refugees in Greece.
People from the Black Sea region have safeguarded meticulously their heritage and relocated their distinctive cultural elements in Greece.
Ioannis Kousaridis, 45 years old, has been participating in Momoeria dancers’ troupe since he was a adolescence.
He said: “I was lucky as my grandparents came from Pontus, so I have strong experiences”.
He added: “I grew up following the Momoeria performances. I started dancing when I was 16 years old. Since then I have been participating to in Momoeria troupe consistently”.
Regarding his feelings during the dance, Ioannis Kousaridis, said: "No matter what I tell you, you cannot understand how I feel".