On the other side of the world, where sounds are strangers But the hearts open, a Greek village found a way to speak worldwide. There were no words – only songs and dances that carry centuries of history. From July 23 to August 4, a group of children, teenagers and people with deep love for tradition traveled thousands of kilometers carrying the soul of a place with them. Greece gave the “present” to a traditional festival in Taiwan and did it in a moving and authentic way: with the educational cultural movement of youth Melissochori, which did not just go to Taiwan to participate in yet another festival. He went with luggage full of tradition, went to tell the customs and customs like old – every song, every verse, every dance and every step had a soul.
Greece participated For the first time at the International Children’s Festival Game in Taiwan and her participation showed that cultural heritage is not a museum – it is a vibrant experience. Not just dancers, but guardians of a custom that unites generations were on the scene.
“We were the first Greek participation in the festival, and that filled us with responsibility and emotion,” Barbara Pikoula, a professor of Physical Education and the Chorus of the Association, told the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, explaining how the mission of the Association. “Not just to show a dance, but to tell a story,” he says.
This story began with the song “All the Birds”, which was sung three days before the wedding. The women caught the breaths and created the clicks, symbolically calling the fellow villagers to joy. A special long -suffering sound – the characteristic “IIIIII” – resonated in the village: for others, to hear in every neighborhood; for others, as imitation of the audio of the bagpipe that accompanied the ceremonies. This was followed by “Maroudia”, a dance dedicated to women, full of power and melancholy. Although a wedding dance, the song tells the tragic story of a girl, the marriage, who goes with her mother to gather soil for the floor of the house. An accident costs her life, and through her words, shortly before she dies, she demands that her dowry be washed – the one she did not wear. A song about life and death, the bride that permeates the Greek tradition.
The mission from Melissochori did not go unnoticed. At the Museum of the Natives, in the city of Yilan, Greek participants discovered culturally “yarn” that unite peoples: as they dance and gain, so do our ancestors offered wine with the cloak during the dance (cloak = clay kick). Traditional costumes became admiration, the public was photographing and listened to their story, which the organizers had made to translate into Chinese, as Ms Pikoula explains.
In the gaze of the organizers, in the smile of the spectators, in the applause that spread from the Yilan stage, our culture was recognized, loved and applauded. The costume of Melissochori, the clergyman, the traditional dance moves – everything became the subject of admiration and respect for people who, until recently, had never heard the name of the village. “We did not expect, leaving here, that the customs of a small village, such as Melissochori, would be interested in so many people not only from Taiwan, but also from all the missions that participated,” Mrs Pikoula confessed with emotion.
And yet, that happened. This trip was not just a participation. It was a bridge between Greece and the world, a proof that our culture can travel, move, unite. It was a life experience for the children of the club. “The experience in Taiwan was unforgettable. We were even more connected as a group. Our culture I think was unforgettable for both them and us, “says 17 -year -old Maria. “We were tied to other countries, but also between us. I wish other clubs to live something similar, “adds 15 -year -old Liana. “We are very proud to have spread our culture to another continent,” says Basil. “It was unprecedented. We all feel proud to have shown something so Greek so far away, ”Moscow points out.
The participation of the Educational Cultural Movement of Young Melissochori in Taiwan was not just successful. It was a story written with love, with deep roots and a look at the future. A reminder that, no matter how small a village is, when it carries with it its tradition, it is capable of enlightening the world.
The traditional costume of Melissochori: a woven monument of culture
In Melissochori, Thessaloniki, a community with long history and deep cultural roots is preserved and proudly honored one of the most special and symbolized traditional female costumes in Macedonia. It is the costume named “Rentoudi”, from the characteristic red ribbon of the head – Renta – that completes the female appearance with grace, sound and shine.
The traditional costume of Melissochori is not just a garment; it is a multifaceted work of art, woven on the loom, embroidered in hand and loaded with memories, sacredness and cultural identity.
Its basic composition includes:
* Woolly jersey: The first layer, for warmth.
* Strong shirt, specially woven on the loom: a clothing-based clothing of daily clothing.
* Alatzas: Sleeveless, cotton everyday dress.
* Kamouchas: The festive, silk version of Alaja, which is worn for the first time in marriage and accompanies the woman at important moments of her life.
* Sagia: The most sacred and most recognizable part of the costume. Woven, cotton, decorated with strikingly colorful embroidery in the “Scouts” – the rear openings of the dress that folds to highlight the rich decoration. Often, the embroidery forms a triangle, in the center of which dominates the bow of Alexander the Great, and often encounters patterns with flowers, pots and Greek flags.
As Mrs Pikoula points out, “the women of Melissochori made sure that the Scouts were” pinched “with each other, to make the embroidery properly and to show the costume in the dance.”
A costume with social semantics
The costume not only changes with the seasons, but also with the phases of life. In cases of mourning, the scoops of sack are folded inward so that the embroidered decoration does not appear, and if the mourning is heavy, the whole chop is black.
In winter, the ostar, a woolen outer dress, is added. In the autumn and spring, richest women wear yenella, a kimbar garment with bought fabric from Thessaloniki, thinner, embroidered with silk threads.
Futa (the red apron with fringes), the socks – woolen or cotton – and the belt, woolen and woven, complement the look. In the official occasions, the socks are red, hand -braided with details – boldwaves.
The head -on is a separate chapter. The birds, a shopping scarf from Istanbul, dominates, with a characteristic crimson and stamped flowers. Above, Reda or Redoudi – Red Ribbon with Archbishop falling back to the back. On it, it adapts to the tumult, a flower of silver leaves that tremble discreetly on walking or dancing, exuding elegance.
“When the woman had no money for Sorgucci, she was replacing it with a mush, a flower from her backyard,” says Ms Pikoula, underlining the deep relationship of costume with nature and creativity.
In weddings and religious ceremonies, the drink was also used (red silk scarf covering the bride’s face) and Piskiri, the bridal veil.
The midfielder, with a characteristic red, green and black stripe, reaches the ankles and is made of different fabrics: wool at the top and bottom, cotton in between.
On the back, we come across the parks, reminiscent of long hair adorned with papcas – a reference to female beauty and natural beauty.
Melissochori’s costume remains alive not only through museums and photos, but also on local festivals and dances. It is a clothing symbol of identity, but also a cultural tool that unites generations and highlights female craftsmanship, imagination and taste.
From the hands of grandmothers in the hands of grandchildren, “Rentoudi” continues to testify to a story of pride, tradition and feminine elegance.
The Educational Cultural Movement of Young Melissochori: Since 1977 Court of Justice of Tradition
The Educational Cultural Movement of Young Melissochori was founded in 1977 with a clear and deeply meaningful goal: the cultural awakening and enhancement of the local identity of the Melissochori community. In its first steps, the action of the club focused mainly on the recording and preservation of the oral and intangible cultural heritage, with an emphasis on local songs, customs and dances.
Today, almost five decades later, the Association remains a living core of culture and active cradle of young people who not only honor the traditions of their ancestors, but transcend them enthusiastically to future generations.
The president of the Association, Zacharoula Nakoutis, with over 20 years of offering, stresses with emotion:
“I started as a dancer and for the last five years I have been president of the club. Together with the children, with the Council, we continue and I hope the club will stay for many years because we love it. “
This love is clearly evident from the involvement of children:
“This year we had many young children, who came with such joy that it is not described,” she adds.
Athena Kouloumbatsani, secretary of the club over the last five years, explains how the initial objective of community cultural empowerment has evolved over the years. Today, the role of the Association is twofold: on the one hand, to keep the local tradition alive and on the other, to get to know and integrate the new inhabitants of Melissochori, who come from different areas or countries, through culture.
“We focus on showing these customs that may have been born here, in Thessaloniki or elsewhere, so that everyone can get to know them and love them,” he says.
With active dance departments, participation in festivals and cultural events, as well as systematic engagement with folklore, the Educational Cultural Movement of Young Melissochori proves that tradition is not the past – it is a future.
** Photos from Taiwan were given by the Educational Cultural Movement of Young Melissochori