Greeks mark start of Lent with traditional parade скачать в хорошем качестве

Greeks mark start of Lent with traditional parade

(11 Mar 2019) Residents of the Greek mountain town of Sochos, northeast of Thessaloniki, celebrated the beginning of Lent on Monday with a carnival and procession dating back to ancient times. Known locally as 'Clean Monday', the festivities mark the end of the carnival season and the beginning of the 40 day Lent period. Men are helped into tall ribbon-covered masks topped with a foxtail, and colourful costumes including animal hides. With bells around their waists they hold a procession through the streets, then gather to dance in the town's main square. Legend has it that the procession can trace its origins back to the 4th century AD Byzantine general, St. Theodore, who was surrounded by an army of Germanic invaders. He had a big flock of goats slaughtered and his soldiers donned their hides and the bells worn by the animals before attacking the enemy and dispersing them. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...