Masks of Imathia: A Macedonian Tradition

the song is called μαύρο κυπαρίσσι (Black Cypress), and the singer is the wonderful Eleftheria Arvanitaki (ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ ΑΡΒΑΝΙΤΑΚΗ).

The paintings are from the 19th century Greek painter Nikolaos Gyzis.

Imathia (Ημαθία), sometimes written Emathia, has some of the richest cultural elements of modern Macedonia. One of them is the celebration of masked dancers in Naoussa.

There are three origins of this tradition. The first is that in 1705, Turks came to Naoussa to get boys to make them Janissaries. The Greeks there refused, and lead a revolution against the Turkish oppresors, which failed. The year after, the young unmarried men of Naoussa dressed up like this to honour the martyrs who fought for the freedom of Greece.

The second origin is a story told the tradition dates from the time of Alexander the Great. When the Greek king died, his body was taken to a secret burial ground. The dance the masked warriors make is an indication of how to find the body that buried in Alexandria.

The third origin is that it is rooted in the Anthesteria, the ancient Greek festivals that were celebrated from 1500 BC - 500 AD, in honour of Dionisus.

It is possible that the tradition evolved throughout the centuries and incorporates all of these origins, but the last one is the most certain, and it is a 300 year old tradition that has not changed.

The point of the video was to answer some confused Slavs of FYROM, who believe that there were no Greeks in Macedonia until 1913.

All comments are welcome!

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[Princesshayuhi]

added to my favorites ;)

[Princesshayuhi]

Great Yani, keep going my bro, the song is so nice and peaceful 5/5

[illyrianalbanian100]

Ps ktm is my little brother,,He is just pissed that all propaganda from others of his people.He closed his account because of insults to his people,,So you dont have to worrie about him you have to worrie about myself,I guess he was to scared to tell you how upset he is towards use,,We were brought up not to hate greeks,But we were also brought up to protect our culture like use would have to at one point in your arbantie lives,,

[illyrianalbanian100]

@illyrianalbanian100 Than would be a feeling iu may never have but that is not our choice but yours,Arbanties are albanians and there language is slowly going,,,AT 1 point we all were called arber arnantie,arbreshe,,so sad to see the anger from us,,Albanians will never let use go in there hearts it kills them to see what has become of use,,god bless.

[illyrianalbanian100]

hahah that is so funny how you make lies up..Ktm is so right,there is documents of this,Greeks killed arbanties not just SOME albanians,,You are not our kin you are our blood,our language,our tradition,our people and I as a cathlioc albanian never ever fell to the flour to the turks nor did my ancestors we had the CANUN LEKE DUKAGJINI TO THANK an i wouldnt want anything else than to walk up to a arbantie and say you are my brother and to say forgive my lost brothers for doing what they did,

[Yanitsaros]

@ktm066, first of all, this video does not celebrate Janissaries. The ritual and dance are for mourning the loss of Greek youth to be taken away by Turks. The costume and mask are tragic reminders, and the actual janissaries in turkey did not wear these clothes.

secondly, Albanians are very proud of their Pashas that served the Turks. They make videos about Albanian achievements featuring Ali Pasha. You are a lost and hopeless tribal nation jealous of Arvanites, who actually won great glory

[Yanitsaros]

@ktm066, when Ali Pasha exiled the Souliotes from Epirus, why did they join the arvanites, vlahs, Greeks, in the peloponnese instead of going to Albania? Like your ancestors who came to do the Turks's bidding, modern Albanians make claims on Greek history. You will find Arvanites at the border ready to crush you.

[Yanitsaros]

@ktm066 , did you hear about the Dance of Zalongo? Souliote women jumped to their deaths so that they won't be raped by Albanians. All arvanites remind their kids that Albanians raped Arvanite women. As for the arvanite language, Greeks don't forbid it, since the language is still spoken in all arvanite villages. You have been convinced by Albanians that we are your kin and that Arvanites are oppressed by Greeks. Stay in Albania and leave us in peace

[Yanitsaros]

@ktm066, you seem too caught up with your Albanian jingoist tribalism. First of all, the Turks took janissaries from everyone, including Albanians, who actually became Pashas. Albanians, then and now, fight only for themselves. If you pay money, the Albanian can kill his own family. When Albanians had the souliotes surrounded, it was the Greek Maniates who came to rescue them. Now Albanians want to rewrite history and give themselves a purpose.If that were so, you wuoldn't have raped Arvanites