导语：Speech by Emmanuel Stantzos, Greek Minister of Commerce, at the 34th Weifang International Kite Festival
Speech by Emmanuel Stantzos, Greek Minister of Commerce, at the 34th Weifang International Kite Festival
It is with great pleasure that my wife and myself are attending the 34th Weifang KiteFestival, as this event reminds us of our country.
Yes! In Greece we have kites events too but not as an organised event but as a culturalevent.
Two times a year we have a religious or custom to go for kites launching!
1-"CleanMonday" is the first one!
Clean Monday or in greek"kathara deftera", is considered to be one of the most importantfeasts all over Greece, each year commencing the 40-day period of the Great Lent for the Eastern Greek Orthodox Church, which iscalled “Sarakosti.” The feast begins on the first day of the 7th week beforethe Orthodox Easter which is this Sunday. But the kites were launched onclean Monday which was on the 27 th of February!
Clean Monday also puts an end to thepreceding Carnival celebrations, inviting all Orthodox Christians to leavebehind the sinful attitudes associated with Carnival festivities and non-fasting foods, which were largely consumedduring the three weeks of the Carnival. That period we eat a lot of sea food asmeat, dairy products and eggs are not consumed till Easter
When is the Clean Monday (not) andhow we calculate it? First we calculate the date of Easter. As we all know theChinese New year is a movable date, so is the Greek orthodox Easter. It isbased on the seasons and the lunar calendar and the way it is calculated hasbeen settled since the year 325 a.d.Summer is 21st March, Easter is taking place the firstSunday after the first Full moon of the summer. Those dates were according tothe old calendar! Now we have to add 13 days and Easter falls always between4th of April and 8 of May. After we have the date we calculate the cleanmonday!
But where are the kites in thatstory?
Here the kites is representing thecleaning of your soul were your sins are taken away with the wind, and yoursoul elevates to the skies
2-"May Day" is the second.
May 1st is International Labour Dayand in Greece it is called ‘Protomagia’ (literally meaning the first day ofMay). It is an urban holiday when people traditionally go to the countryside forpicnics, to fly kites and to gather wild flowers.
GreekProtomagia & Folklore:
The custom of Protomagia has itsroots in ancient Greece - it is a celebration of spring, nature, and flowers.Flower wreaths, typically made from hand picked wild flowers, will be hung onthe doors of many homes in a way to welcome nature and all things good.
Maios (May) the last month of Springtook its name from the Goddess Maja, a goddess who took her name from theancient word Maia, the nurse and mother. May, according to Greekfolklore, has two meanings: The good and the bad, rebirth and death. Thecustom celebrates the final victory of the summer against winter as the victoryof the life against death go back to the ancient years and culminate at thefirst day of May.
As a result, the feast, which is apublic holiday in Greece and Cyprus, is celebrated with outdoor excursions, theconsumption of shellfish and other fasting foods, as well as the widespreadcustom of building and flying kites.
Traditionally, as Clean Monday isconsidered to mark the beginning of the spring season, kite flying is also partof the tradition. Young people and adults organize excursions to open areas, soas to fill the skies with their kites. Many traditional workshops are involvedin making kites for over 70 years now. Although the wooden kites have beenreplaced by plastic ones, the kite-making handcraft still has its own secrets.A light wooden frame on a paper body, cords on the balances and a single cordon the tail make up for the perfect kite, ready to carry children and grown-upsoff their feet. -
But Kites are not limited to those expressions today!
Strong winds prevail in Greece eight months per year. The sea andthe winds are a reason for new sports.
Beginners and experienced kite surfers alike are sure tofind the place that meets their expectations, at any one of the country’s 11 kite-friendly destinations.
Greece’s natural environment and winds satisfy all kitesurfing preferences; from a sandy beach with turquoise waters and strong windsfor speed to large waves to pull off various fancy kite-surfing maneuvers, or acombination of both.
Conditions in the country, one of Europe’s most popular kite surfing havens,combine to create a kite surfer’s paradise; whether for beginners looking topractice in a safe bay with steady winds, advanced kite surfers seekingsomething beyond elementary standards, or just anyone interested in engaging inthis water sport during the winter season Greece’s best kite surfing locations.
So my dear friends, I invite you all to visit my country！
Thank all!
Emmanuel Stantzos、
Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs
