A festival like no other - the Carnival of Naoussa in Greece is completely different from all other festivities in Greece.

There, along with the contemporary, popular street parties that take place throughout the two weeks of the carnival season, the city revives this ancient tradition combining the region’s rich ancient Greek history with commemorating the tremendous heroism of the period of Ottoman rule.

In one of Naoussa’s most visually striking customs, young unmarried men dress in a traditional costume, including the Greek fustanella and other clothing adorned with silver and jewels, while wearing a unique, handmade mask known as a ”Prosopos.”

This incredibly colourful and centuries-old tradition dictates that only young, unmarried men can become ”Genitsari,” the male players who take part in the dance while the ”Boula”, the only female figure, but her part is also enacted by a man, who is dressed as a traditional bride.

Groups of these masked young men in traditional costumes dance around the old parts of the city, along a designated route that finds its origins back in the very first years of the establishment of the modern city of Naoussa, in the Middle Ages.

The fantastically attired young men brandish swords and dance to the emotionally charged music of the traditional instruments recreating a uniquely Greek combination of delirious happiness and terrible sadness.

A Carnival like no other in Greece or the world - The Carnival of Naoussa in Greece is completely different from all other Carnival festivities in Greece.
There, along with the contemporary, popular street parties that take place throughout the two weeks of the Carnival season, the city revives this ancient tradition combining the region’s rich ancient Greek history with commemorating the tremendous heroism of the period of Ottoman rule.

In one of Naoussa’s most visually striking customs, young unmarried men dress in a traditional costume, including the Greek fustanella and other clothing adorned with silver and jewels, while wearing a unique, handmade mask known as a ”Prosopos.” This incredibly colorful and centuries-old tradition dictates that only young, unmarried men can become ”Genitsari,” the male players who take part in the dance while the ”Boula”, the only female figure, but her part is also enacted by a man, who is dressed as a traditional bride.

Groups of these masked young men in traditional costumes dance around the old parts of the city, along a designated route that finds its origins back in the very first years of the establishment of the modern city of Naoussa, in the Middle Ages.

The fantastically attired young men brandish swords and dance to the emotionally charged music of the traditional instruments re-creating a uniquely Greek combination of delirious happiness and terrible sadness.