In February the children in the kindergarten learned a lot about the carnival in Greece which is called “Apokries“. For us volunteers was it a great possibility to experience a new kind of celebrating carnival. The preparations in the kindergarten started in the second week of the carnival time with the name “Kreatini” – Meat Week. In the lessons the children learned new songs, talked about different costumes and masks and watched pictures from the carnival in Patras, where the biggest celebration takes place. Together with us volunteers the children crafted many colourful things like portraits of a clown or funny faces out of a CD.
Especially the Indians dress was very interesting for the children. So they heard some traditional music of the Native Americans and watched a movie about them. On the “Tsiknopempti”, the Burned Thursday, every child made an own Indian head and enjoyed his Souvlaki with a coloured face.
In the Cheese Week – “Tyrofagou“, the children talked about different dishes, which are popular in the fasting period starting after the carnival celebrations. Also, they learned more about the Arlecchino, a native Italian theatre figure, which likes to costume and makes jokes. For this the teachers prepared a great puzzle for the children. The carnival period ends with the Clean Monday or “Kathara Deftera”. At this day it is a Greece tradition to go outside with the family and to fly a kite. After we volunteers heard about this nice custom, we crafted spontaneously own simple kites with the children.
At Friday the 16th of February the children had their own carnival celebration in the kindergarten. Every child and of course also we volunteers wear creative costumes. The room was full of paper streamers, and we liked to dance together. Later we played Musical chairs. Also, the parents of the children prepared a beautiful buffet with a lot of sweet and tasty things, which we enjoyed at the end of the celebration. It was a very funny, crazy and colourful day, and we loved it very much.
To see all the pictures go into our gallery!
