Οι Αναστενάρηδες στην Αγία Ελένη Σερρών στις 21/5/2022 · Nikos Tsar · Watch on YouTube(opens in a new tab)

Anastenaria

Αναστενάρια

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Rhythm: Medium
Formation: The anastenarides dance individually, circling the fire and then crossing the coals, holding icons.
Difficulty: Hard
Instruments: Daouli (drum), Gaida (bagpipe), Lyra
Occasion: Feast day

Character

Who dances it: Everyone

A ritual of ecstatic dancing and fire-walking brought by refugees from Kosti in Northern Thrace and nearby villages. It is held mainly on 21 May, the feast of Saints Constantine and Helen, at Agia Eleni and Kerkini (Serres), Langadas, Meliki (Imathia) and Mavrolefki (Drama). The anastenarides dance to Thracian lyra, daouli and gaida and, in a trance, walk barefoot over glowing coals holding the saints' icons. It is a ritual, not a social dance.

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