I know you!

Up until the 1980’s the old tradition of masked visiting was kept up by the women and children in Azogires. On the days immediately before the start of Lent, women would dress up, often as men, or cover themselves in white sheets in such a way as to disguise themselves completely – even from their husbands. They would then go from house to house in the village and round the kafenions in total silence other than approaching people and whispering the words,

“I know you.”

They would be given food and drink and then depart, still without having said any more than “I know you.”

The effect of encountering these disguised and almost mute creatures who claim to know you was, and is, very unnerving – as one person who saw this back in the old days said,

“You might even be drinking or playing backgammon with your own wife and never know it!”

Back then the children of the village would also go around in fancy dress immediately before lent and, like they do at Christmas, sing a song or ring a bell outside your door in the expectation of been given sweets or a few drachmas.

The traditions have almost died out in the village but down in Paleochora on the evenings before the carnival, you might still encounter a totally disguised character, possibly female, which will come up to you and whisper,

“I know you.”