The Rocket-War Custom of Vrontados

The rocket war is an old custom of Vrontados that began since the time of the Turkish occupation and it still happens every year in the Easter. Firstly the residents of the two parishes, Panagia Erithiani and Saint Mark's, which are facing each other, made extempore little cannons. But all these by the time became extempore rockets, fireworks made from niter, sulphur and gun-powder.

The preparation of the rockets starts immediately after Easter, so everything to be ready for the next year. The amount of the rockets the last years happens to be large, almost few thousands in number and the view of the rockets and the fireworks burning in the air, at the night of the Christ's resurrection, really magnificent and fascinating.

And many people use to visit Chios Island this time of the year, so to enjoy this event that happens only here. It is a unique experience but dangerous and for this reason, the last few years has been taken measures for the protection of all the people that attempt this event, so the custom to be continued.

Chios and shipping are synonymous. It is only natural that the relationship that Chians have with the sea has affected their local customs. Hence, during Christmas, children would go round to houses to sing Christmas carols holding onto a boat that they had constructed and would show off with great pride. Instead of Christmas trees, a European custom that has been adopted over the last decades, Chians would decorate boats even inside their homes. After the island’s liberation from Turkish occupation, the construction and display of battleships by the young boys was established as a mark of honour and in memory of the fleet that liberated the island.

Over the years, young boys from the neighbourhoods or the parishes, mainly from Hora or Vrontado, began to work together constructing model ships that were much bigger and true replicas, usually of battleships, working on them for months until they finished. The outcome was so impressive and the competition –for the bigger and better boat- became tougher, so much so that on New Year’s Eve they would all go down to the town square with the accompaniment of music and penemata (verses that they would write themselves) and disply their ship to passers-by.

In recent years the custom has been turned into a competition with regulations and participations terms set by the Chios Sightseeing Club in co-operation with the Municipality of Chios. Hence, on the last day of the year children, representing districts and parishes, that have constructed model commercial ships or battleships, up to 5m, and singing penemata compete for the best boat and best presentation. The penemata and the melody are influenced by the Minor Asia carols.

Mostra of Thymiana

Mostra of Thymiana is an old custom since the medieval times, without any special date that started. The last Friday of Triodio the young men of the village masquerade. They wear old manly and woman's clothes and hide their faces with extempore masks.

Then, on Sunday they are gathered all together in the center of the village and accompanied with musical instruments, they dance the famous "Talimi". This dance is particularly fascinating and enacts with dancing movements the fights, face to face, between the locals and the pirates.

After that they head for the church of Agios Eustratios, singing a war-song, and there they tie on the church's railing the Chian standards and flags. In our days this old tradition has been enriched with new elements, satiric floats and opportune dresses.

Agas Custom

At the Carnival, in many of the island's villages revives the custom of "Agas".

Aga is a very strict judge, who is being assigned by the residents of the village. He judges and condemns the most of the people that are present. More over, they are obligated to buy off their sentence. The whole event is humorous and recreational.

It is one of the oldest and most interesting custom of Chios Island and is revived in Mesta, Pyrgi, Lithi, Olympi, Lagada and elsewhere. The first time we met this event was around 1830 to 1840.

The Custom "Diplo"

This custom is revived every year by the cultural club of Volissos in the homonymous village.

The last Sunday of the Carnival a series of people gathered on the village's square, singing the verses and dancing in the beat of the Volissian dance "Diplo". Then it follows a fast and furious festival, a great celebration on the square, with the people tasting souma (a drink made from figs) and eating roasted chickpeas and sweets.

The abundant traditional festivals…

Even if you don’t like the traditional celebrations, but want to see the local customs and locals up close all you have to do is choose one of the many festivals. Chians have always loved music and dance and that is why each village organises at least one festival in the village square, usually on the day that the church celebrates its name. The musical instruments that were traditionally played at festivals were the violin, the oud, the lute; the clarinet and the bouzouki were later added.

The close relationship Chios has with the east is obvious in its music and dances, although music, dancing and festivities were greatly influence by refugees.

Even to this day in many villages, music and dancing lasts two or even three nights. The types of dances that are performed at the festivals may differ from village to village, but you will mainly see the syrto, slow tsiftetelia and kasilamades, arapi sousta, aptalika and hasaposevika (all of Minor Asia influence) being performed.

Try going to a festival held in one of the smaller picturesque and poorer villages of northern Chios and the massif Amani, where tables are traditionally set for all the visitors, who are served traditionally-made goat stew (katsika kokkinisti) and pilaf (katsikopilafo) that is cooked on a wood fire in huge copper pots.

A truly unforgettable experience!