THE FEAST OF THE BREAM

-SOULI EVENTS-RE-ENACTMENT OF

KOUGI EXPLOSION and

THE DANCE OF ZALONGO

-

EASTER ON THE ISLAND OF CORFU

The Municipality ofFiliates, the localAquaculture Corporationand Cultural association ofSagiada organize on 6th

August every year the"Feast of the bream" on thelocal beach (about 15 kmfrom Filiates).

Free bream with wine are served to thosewho attend the festival at a night full ofsinging and dancing. Each year the eventbrings together people from all overThesprotia (the name of our prefecture) andthe surrounding areas. Local people reallylook forward to this religiously-originatedfeast!

Souli is a municipality in

Epirus, which was

inhabited by about

12,000 residents. In the

18th and 19th century,

the citizens of Souli, who

were renowned for their

discipline, bravery and

resistance rebelled

against the Ottoman

occupation.

Without food and ammunition the Souliotes(residents of Souli) could not resist any more andwith the help of a traitor who helped theOttomans to enter into the village of Souli, theywithdrawed to the fortresses of Kiafa and Kougi,where they fought their last battle on December 7,1803. They eventually capitulated and Ali Pashapromised to release them to other parts.

The explosion of Kougi

On December 12, 1803,the Souliotes left Soulitowards the coast ofEpirus. A monk namedSamuel remained inKougi and set fire to thepowder magazines with amassive explosion thatcost him his and some ofhis partners’ life. In themeantime, the Ottomanarmy attacked the otherSouliotes, neglecting thepromises Ali Pasha hadmade to them.

The battle of Zalongo is remembered today for

the sacrifice of the citizens of Souli women

who preferred to jump off its cliffs, to their

death, rather than fall into the hands of Ali

Pasha's soldiers. Survivors were forced to flee

once more mostly to Central Greece.

Easter Saturday- Pot throwing custom

At 6.00 a.m. at the church of the Virgin Mary the custom of theartificial earthquake represents the earthquake followedChrist’s Resurrection.

At 11.00 a.m., the first Resurrection is announced. People saythe phrase “Christós Anésti” (Christ is risen) to each other.The response is “Alithós Anésti” (he has truly risen). Bellspeal loudly and the bands parade through the streets.

People hurl clay pots from windows and balconies whichcrash noisily on the streets below.

At night, Christians attend the Catholic Mass ofthe Resurrection in Duomo, or the OrthodoxResurrection Service. Thousands of lit candlesare put on balconies, on window sills or areheld by people. The Resurrection of Christ iscelebrated at 12.00 with drum beats andfireworks.

It dates back to the Venetians who used tothrow all their old and useless objects andpots out of their windows (on Jan 1st).

This tradition is now carried on by localCorfiot people all over the island

What they do is to...throw pots from theirbalconies or windows!!!

The Pot-Throwing custom!!!

Many thanks to…

Nasoufis DimitriosPikouli Foteini

Mantzouki EleftheriaBotos Petros

Tzovaras KostasStergiou Minas

Stergiou AndreasTsatsis Stavros

Stefos PanagiotisThanou Ioanna

Evangelou KaterinaBerati Zoe

Vaggeli CharaManos IoannisBrahimi Minas

Levetsios GerasimosRoubis Antonis