This is followed by the burning of the Carnival and the throwing of dozens of flares that light up the spring sky.
The Sofadon Carnival has now become an institution, not only for the Karditsa Regional Unit or Thessaly, but also for all of Greece. It was started in 1982 by the Educational Association of Sofados with the aim of satirizing the everyday life and habits of Greeks in the “golden” post-political eras! Its central theme was then, according to data from the municipal authority, the Carousel of Friendship and Peace, in which all the tribes of the world participated in an attempt to convey the great demand of the 20th century which was tested by two World Wars. Thus the chariots and infantry divisions of the first year, and of the immediately following ones, were mainly related to these quests. From 1992 onwards the Carnival passed to the municipality of Sofadon. Since then, and until today, the event is organized by the Municipal Authority with the assistance of all the Associations of the city. In the same year, the “Hidden Treasure Hunt” was added, a series of artistic competitions for all the children of the area with the aim of the final prize. Many parties began to be organized by the shops of Sofades and the whole city resembled a buzzing hive of joy and optimism. Since then, the organization of the Treasure has been undertaken and carried out to this day by the Sofadon Educational Association.
In 1994, it received status as a Legal Entity under the name “Carnival of Sofados” and later joined the Cultural Organization of the municipality.
Every year, an Organizing Committee was created for the better coordination of the event, in which elected officials of the Local Government, representatives of Associations and citizens participated. Today the Sofadon Carnival is part of the multifaceted activity of D.O.P.A.P.S.
A Carnival Office is organized early on, which coordinates the individual activities and prepares the teams of Carnivalists for the Great Carnival Parade.
This year, more renewed and with more fun than ever, the Sofadon Carnival returns for the 40th year.
The anticipation is great, the mood is even greater after the absence due to the pandemic, with the carnival events being a reality again!
An institution – celebration, with the well-known authentic Sofian hospitality and entertainment full of fun and joy.
Preparations have begun and are underway on all… carnival fronts, as reported by the municipal authority of the municipality of Sofadon, in order for the Sofadi Carnival 2023 to once again be the crowning glory of the carnival events not only in the Prefecture of Karditsa but also in surrounding area.
The events, as announced, will be completed on Clean Monday and will include the big carnival parade, the big feast and music and dance events for everyone. The detailed program will be announced in the next few days, while the point of reference will be for the entire duration of the Carnival office, which will coordinate the individual activities and prepare the groups of Carnivalists for the Great Carnival Parade.
Innovation for 2023
The innovation for 2023 is the festival of Balkan countries.
In particular, it was joined by the organization of the Festival of Balkan Countries with music and dance groups from Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Croatia. The aim is the large parallel events in the Local Communities, but also the promotion of the comparative advantages of the municipality of Sofades, particularly the Lake, Loutra Smokovos and Rentina.
The Sabbath feast
The Traditional evening on Saturday evening, February 25 in the Central Square of Sofadon will be held with the participation of local and Balkan dance groups where everyone can taste the delicious traditional food, the mutton blougouri that the skilled cooks prepare early.
Sunday’s Great Parade
On the afternoon of the Great Halloween on Sunday, February 26, dozens of floats and walking groups and dance groups parade, which are hosted by the organizers every year on such days.
This is followed by the burning of the Carnival and the throwing of dozens of flares that light up the spring sky.
Clean Monday in many Local Communities of the municipality
The Cultural Associations of the Local Communities, with the valuable help of the municipality, celebrate the beginning of Lent with music and dance, offering a wide variety of fasting foods to their visitors.
Parallel actions
Parallel actions take place every year and of course the emblematic “hidden treasure hunt”. Through a series of competitions of an artistic nature, but also of originality, they accumulate points so that at the end the winning team can be declared and receive the symbolic prize from the municipality.
Also, as part of the preparation, the Carnival Office has already started its operation, which coordinates the individual activities and prepares the groups of Carnivalists for the Great Parade. The purpose, as emphasized, is for everyone to have a satisfying break of laughter, joy and fun with a lot of passion and imagination.
In his statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the mayor of the municipality of Sofados, Athanasios Skarlos, emphasizes: “The pandemic deprived us of this unique feeling, which the Carnival of Sofados can generously offer. Being therefore aware of this huge cultural heritage, the municipality of Sofadon organizes Carnival 2023, one of the biggest cultural events in the prefecture of Karditsa, without forgetting the essence of this great celebration, which is above all an ode to the joy of life .
Our goal was to upgrade the institution and enrich it with new elements, bearing in mind that we owe it and to preserve the tradition. Thus, we kept intact the elements of the Sofadi Carnival that culminates with the great carnival parade in the streets of Sofadis and we invited dance groups from the Balkans to share all these nuggets of the common Culture that, to a certain extent, shaped our national physiognomy.
We invite the whole world to participate with fun, joy and optimism in order to experience the magic of the carnival up close and also to get to know the incomparable natural beauty and hospitality of the wider area such as Smokovo Lake, Smokovo Baths, Redina and our religious monuments”.
RES-EMP
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I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
