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CIVILIZATION
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Karpathos is situated
very near to Crete and in many way it has been influenced by
it in many ways. They share the same pride , generosity of heart
and contemplation to tradition and hospitality as traits that
they have in common. Their common habits are especially evident
in their music, since the lyre player , similarly to Crete creates
songs and dances that often describe everyday moments or the
celebrated events.
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Concerning
the occupations of the inhabitants , due to the
landscape they were involved with agriculture,
the raising of livestock and fishing. They raised
sheep and cultivated grains, fruits, olives and
vineyards. But because the living and agricultural
conditions in the barren mainland areas was very
strenuous, many inhabitants chose the road of
immigration to America and the rest of Greece.
The windmills are not operational anymore and
the products that were cultivated in the past
on the island are now imported. Only the beekeeping
presented improvement, due to the fact that the
beehives changed , and the production of ceramics
increased due to tourism.
The houses that are built today are different
in style than the ones of the past and tourism
has brought over changes both in the living conditions
of the locals but also in their occupations, which
are now mostly related with tourism. The stores,
restaurants, hotels and rooms to let are continuously
increasing.
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Tourism did not
affect the manners and customs of the island. On the contrary
as a reaction, the Karpathians strengthened their faith
and placed their attention in their customs and traditions.
Every chance they get, in festivities or festivals they
show and promote their traditions. Not only do they enjoy
themselves but also they provoke the visitors to participate
and enjoy an unforgettable experience.
In the village of Olympus almost all the women wear their
traditional costumes. There are different costumes for the
younger girls and a different ones for the older women.
In the past the men used to wear their traditional costume
that included blue breeches and a blue vest. These costumes
are different in each village. One of the most important
celebration is that of a weddings, baptisms and open-air
festivals.
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A wedding
is thought of as the most important event and
the whole village celebrates. The wedding and
especially the celebration last for a week.
In the past, marriages in Karpathos were arranged.
The so-called "match makers" used to meet the
parents of the bride and groom and plan the future
of the young couple. When the negotiations were
completed and both the families agreed, the match
maker brought the grooms relatives and the groom
to the house of the bride were the first engagement
took place. If the young people wished they could
have a more official engagement later on.
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By rule the wedding took place a week after the engagement ,on a Sunday and in its preparation the whole village participated. The young women and the seamstresses sewed the wedding dress and the dresses , they white washed the house of the couple to be and made all the preparations for the feast, they made sweets and many others. The men were involved with the preparations of the meats, the preparation of the house with furniture and anything else that was needed. On Sunday the young men and women dressed the bride and groom, then the groom together with the best man and his friends started out for the house of the bride picked her up to go to the church. |
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During
the older days they used to use horses for this
procedure, they used to decorate them with beautiful
woven fabrics and this of course was one of the
best spectacle for the visitors. After the wedding
wreaths were kissed by the guests, the couple
used to go home were the groom had to brake a
pomegranate so that everything would be rosy in
their marriage and the feast went on for at least
two more days.
A custom that is only found in Karpathos is that
of the "efta" (means seven in Greek). This custom
included a feast that takes place seven days after
the birth of a baby, were the relatives and friends
got together and built a crib for the baby, if
there is no crib, and they put it to sleep by
singing wishes. Sweets and food was served and
a feast follows it. The baptism followed later.
The Karpathians pursue the chance to be merry
and they take this chance in each of the open-air
festivals that can be found in various places
of Karpathos.
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The municipality organizes
manifestations with concerts of traditional and modern music.
Most of them take place in the Grounds of the Municipality building.
The traditional songs are categorized as folklore, serenades
and lamenting. The dances are named "siganos" (slow) or Kato
and Pano dance which is fast and festive. The musicians, who
mainly originate from the village of Menetes are seated in a
bandstand and a man who must be a good dancer leads the dance
while the women follow.
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Karpathos
is an island were many University Professors originated
from. Emmanuel Manolakis in 1896 with the "Karpathakia"
refers to the Dorian Vote of Karpathos that brought
forward useful information about the history of the
island. Michael Michailides was a philologist, historian
and folklore writer with a vast work on Karpathos.
Kostis Minas was a professor in Folklore art in the
University of Athens. George Georgiou wrote the 1st
volume of the "Karpathakia", George Halkias studied
the folklore art of the village of Olympus and Vasos
Vasilakis wrote the "Mesochori of Karpathos"
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Also famous and distinguished painters originated from Karpathos , such as John
Kapsis, Marios Anastasiadis, John Hatzivasilis and Minas Vlachos that has exhibited his work both in Athens and abroad. |
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