The "Horse dance" part of the "Feast of the Bull", that lasts 3 days, in Pigi village, Lesvos island, Greece
Photo from the "Feast of the Bull" that lasts 3 days in Pigi village, Lesvos island. The people of Lesvos, have a deep love for horses that dates back many centuries ago. One of the spectacles that you can see in the feast is the "Horse Dance" that takes place on the first day! The program contains a horse parade, with participants from all over Lesvos (even some from outside the island) and then a dance of the rider and the horse, with traditional music. They pass in front of a committee and they mark the performance. This years winner was a young man from Samos island (the one in the photo) whose performance was really spectacular! Short info about the "program" of the feast (more info will follow in some future posts): 1st DAY Horse parade and horse dance 2nd DAY (Morning) Procession of the Bull around the village. People offer "gifts" to the bull, children touch the bull and his horns, to take some of his power and "fecundity". (Evening)People gather at a mountain called "Tavros" (means "Bull" in greek), and start eating and singing with traditional music bands in the heart of the forest. That lasts till next morning. Meanwhile, throughout the night, hundreds of horses and riders, take the narrow stone path that goes to the top of mountain, where there is a small chapel and a priest that blesses the riders and the horses. (Midnight). Sacrifice of the bull. Then the animal is cut to pieces and goes to more than 15 huge cauldrons where it boils all night long. More than 20 men are supervising the cauldrons. around sunrise, they throw into the cauldrons wheat and barley and the men start pounding with big piles the cauldrons for a couple of hours, until this "blend" of bull meat, wheat and barley, becomes fibrous. This traditional food is called "kisketch" 3rd DAY (Morning)The priest comes down from the chapel and blesses the "kisketch", which later is distributed to the believers and visitors. (Afternoon). Horseraces at a local "hippodrome.
Size: 3367px × 4965px
Location: Pigi village, Lesvos island, Northern Aegean, Greece, Europe
Photo credit: © Hercules Milas / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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