Civilisation, Folklore and Tradition (cont)

  Lately cultural organisations and the Cultural Centre of the Municipality
of Karpathos organise local cultural events (reviving of old customs,
wine festivals in Volada and Othos, dance festivals, theatre plays,
concerts and many others).

The Karpathian House

  The colourful hand-made embroidery and knitting consist the traditional decoration of the karpathian house, especially the part of the house
which is called "soufas".
  In the karpathian house - which consists itself a small folklore museum with its embroidery, woodcarvings, the picture frames on the walls or shelves of parents, grandparents and members of family -occur all the family events, as well as rich dinners to "guests", to whom many
karpathian dishes, drinks and sweets are offered.
Keeping the Karpathian house and preserving this Karpathian wealth
is totally the housewife's responsibility.


Traditional Professions

  There is a number of people who follow with devotion traditional professions such as wood carvers, basket makers, weavers, instrument makers et al. and express in a special way the traditional karpathian art.
The visitor can find wood carvers who create the "soufas", picture frames, furniture, trunks, shoemakers who create handmade shoes
("stivania"(boots made from leather), slippers) which fortunately
are still preserved (mostly) in Olympos. Also, there are basket makers, weavers and others.

Another kind of folk art which is preserved is potting and designing plates and jugs with special traditional patterns.
These are used to decorate the shelves of the karpathian house.

  What makes the island special is the traditional dress (everyday dress
and dress for celebrations) of women in Olympos called "kavai"
and "sakofoustano". One can find remains of the traditional women's
dress in elder women in most villages of Karpathos,
especially in Mesochori and Spoa. Remainders of men's shoes
are the "stivania" which are worn by farmers and are made in Olympos.
         
  What is remarkable in Karpathos and cannot be found so much
in other places in Greece is the making of the karpathian musical instruments.

There is a great number of people of all ages in all the villages
of Karpathos who carve the "lyra", the "laouto", the "violi" and make
the "tsambouna" and most of them play these instruments.

The Karpathian Cuisine
         
  The sardine - the well-known in Spoa fish called "menoula"
which is put in salt - the small black olives, the karpathian goat cheese
called "manouli", the bread, "kouloures" and karpathian wine are
some of the dishes that are served in most karpathian houses
when having guests at the house.

As main dishes are offered "makarounes" (homemade pasta),
the fried or baked fish called "skaros" or the traditional dish of weddings called “stifado”. After the meal the sweet which is offered to people is the well-known karpathian "baklavas".

  Many kinds of pies (with onions, with herbs, with raisins called "zibilia"),
the "psilokouloura" are some of the everyday "goodies" karpathian women make and offer to their family and guests.

  It is well-known that karpathian people love their traditional music and dances and this is why there are over 70 types of songs.

Others believe the karpathian rhythms are over 100.
It seems that the people of Karpathos have inherited from Apollo,
the God of the Sun and Music who was one of the protector gods of the island, this passion for music.

  An old tradition says that the first people of the island -
who were believed to be descendants of the first Titan habitant
of the island Iapetos-  stole the Gods of Olympos and brought them to Karpathos.

This is why they were named ARPATHEOI (which in greek means
“abducting the gods”) and  then KARPATHEOI and at the end
KARPATHIOI.

Elias Emm. Vasilaras
April 2005
 
Continue... Karpathos today.