The Custom of Epiphany – Kastoria Ragkoutsaria

The “Customs of Epiphany” started at 2023 and is my personal work to record the customs and traditions of centuries still preserved unchanged in the cities and islands of Greece on the days of the Epiphany.

Ragoutsaria, as the carnivals are called, are celebrated from January 6 to 8 and are a revival of the ancient Dionysian rites, which have been held since ancient times. According to the locals, it is a celebration that aims to forget the problems of the year.

It is a three-day traditional carnival event during which the city of Kastoria acquires a festive atmosphere.

The name and origin of this custom are traced back to classical antiquity, from which it was transferred to the present day via Rome and Byzantium.