IT IS a well known fact - the Greeks like to party. In the month of August, traditionally the holiday season they really go to town. In our village it seems that there is something happening every week
Last night was the traditional Ladies" Night, when usually they all get together, plan what they will offer in the way of food and prepare and serve it - all for free.
In the current situation it was no surprise that they asked this year for a €5 donation, and when you see the quantity of food handed out there could be fee objections. The difference it was all prepared in advance and we got for our money - wait for it: fava, giant beans in sauce, dolmadias, salad, pork in sauce, hondros with snails and if that was not enough pork and potato from the oven. Local wine was just €3 a bottle and soft drinks a matter of cents.
Of course there was music, and dancing, of course everybody dressed up and that's when we spotted many killer heels, even on the dance floor! The music went on until at least 4.00 am, we retired a little earlier.
Not seen before the traditional lamb skin instrument, sounded like a bagpipe, very interesting.
| A musical instrument that you meet only rarely nowadays is the bagpipe - the askomantoura. | ||||
| The bagpipe, a member of the woodwind family, consists of three main parts: the mouthpiece, the bag and the pipe. The pipe is the most complicated part and consists of a wooden socket with two reeds and the melody pipe. | ||||
| For the mouthpiece or the blowpipe (fouskotari) a hollowed out bone is generally used, as it is considerably stronger than wood. | ||||
| The bag (askos) is made out of the skin of a kid or a lamb. An animal of approximately 7 kilos is preferred, as it gives the best size of the bag. The hairs are cut to the length of ½ cm to prevent the bag from bursting. The hairs will also catch the moisture when you blow, and thus prevent the wooden parts from being destroyed. Afterwards the holes from three of the legs are sewn up, while the hole from the throat and the fourth leg remain open for the wooden socket and the mouthpiece. Then the reverse side is turned out. | ||||
| The wooden socket, cut out of oleander or maple, is hollowed out in order to make room for the two reeds (kalami). Any leaks that may occur are sealed with beeswax. | ||||
| The fingerholes in the reeds are made by glowing pieces of wood in order to make them completely round. | ||||
