The ancient custom of the mountainous Pieria “ragatzaria” or “lagatzaria” is expected to be revived again this year, on New Year’s Day, in the city of Veria, awakening memories from the past and continuing the rich tradition of customs and traditions of the mountainous villages of Pieria.

Young men who will form groups, “packs”, will wear the white foustanelles and embroidered waistcoats and will be belted around their waists with many bells “pikes, trakes and cyprias”. In their hands they will hold wooden swords. Their faces will either be covered with masks and sheepskin coats, or painted with coal dust. The goal is for them not to be recognized by anyone, not even by the “bad” elements.

“In the past, under the foustanella, to cover their bare legs, they wore constructions made of sheep’s wool, which they called “cholevia”. The “holevias” were tied to the waistband of the underwear and were their powerful weapon against the severe cold. They still wore tsaruchia with tassels, which were handmade, ordered from workshops in Kozani, Veria and Larissa, areas where tanning and the cottage industry of shoemaking flourished at the time. Under the knees they tied tassels which they called “bodettes”, says, speaking to APE-MPE, the municipal councilor of the Makedonidos Municipal Unit of the municipality of Veria, president of the Legal Entity KAPA Veria and president of the school committee of Primary Education of the municipality of Veria, Athanasios Dellas.

“The word “ragatzaria”, or “lagatzaria” is of Slavic origin and means mercenary, while it revives in the memory of the massacre of children by Herod” explains Mr. Dellas, who enriched his knowledge on the subject from the folklorist G. Melikis as well as elderly people of the area.

“Once upon a time, the custom took place in all the mountainous villages of the Pierian mountains, mainly in Daskio, while it was celebrated not only on New Year’s, but also on Epiphany. The reason for the double performance of the custom lies in the fact that until the middle of the 4th century AD. the Christians celebrated the New Year on Epiphany day unlike the pagans who celebrated it on January 1st. So we can see this double performance as a memory or influence of this event” notes Mr. Dellas pointing out that “many did it twice in order to boost their meager income”.

In several cases, in the company of the “ragazzari”, another type of disguise was added, that of the bridegroom and the bride who accompanied the procession on horseback. In each team there was also the leader, the captain. He was the strongest of the group or the oldest. He inspired recognition and had the respect of all.

The “raggatjaria” were always accompanied by the sounds of the bagpipes, while the “raggatjari” danced and sang New Year’s carols with the following verses:

Santa come, January is dawning Santa, where do you come from and where do you get off.

I come from abroad and go to my own.

As if coming from abroad, sing us a song.

I learned songs to tell you songs. I leaned on the crutch to say the alphabet. And the crutch was green and defoliated. Golden branches and silverless leaves.

Frangits here, Frangitsa there. Fragitsa goes to the tap with the festoon around her neck, the wire on her head and with the silver-belt low low girdled…

“Sometimes they also sang and danced other songs that were about the coming of winter or the life of thieves,” added Mr. Dellas.

“Ragatjars” went from house to house throughout the village. Their treat was tsipouro, chestnuts and walnuts, salted meat and if they visited any wealthy house, then they were also given some cold meat.

After the custom was over, the omigiri continued her feast by drinking tsipouro and roasting the meat she collected. Whatever was left over went to a fair distribution.

“Many times, as a result of the drinking, there were fights between the ragajarians, which unfortunately some were bloody. As we have the example of the Sphikiotes and the Polydendriotes with a fatal outcome for both groups. In commemoration of this, even today the area where these events took place, on the old Sfikia and Polydendri road, is called “st’scutumen”” recounts Mr. Dellas.

The custom of “ragatzaria” or “lagatzaria” is being revived on New Year’s Day in the city of Veria by the Cultural Association of Daski “To Paliokastro”. There, with the deafening sounds of their bells, they will provoke evil spirits, frighten them and purify all the houses and shops they visit, receiving in return many treats and kind wishes for the new year.