Apokries on Crete!

Are you interested in volunteering in Greece? Well pack your bags for several weeks of service work AND good times if you opt to serve in February or March. The three weeks before lent, Greeks celebrate Apokries or Carnival. It is a celebration that offers:

"a chance to escape everyday monotony and enter into a world of party, fantasy, jinks and 'kefi' (high spirits) ... a feast of dance, wine and meat before the sacrifices and fasting of Lent."

The purpose and tradition of this celebration are as follows:

In Greece the Carnival started in Ancient times, believed to be as a worship to Dionysos, the God of Wine and Feast. In the Orthodox tradition Apokries is the preparation period before Lent. Apokries means literally saying goodbye to meat - Apoxh apo kreas - apo-kreas. In Latin the roots of the word Carnival has the same meaning - 'carne' is meat and 'vale' goodbye." ~ Quotes courtesy of www.livingincrete.net

If you would like to learn more about this festival, please visit the following link: http://www.livingincrete.net/apokries.html

If you would like more details about when you can volunteer on Crete with Global Volunteers in 2011/2011, please visit the following link: http://globalvolunteers.org/greece/greece_dates.aspx

We hope to hear from you soon, and our host communities and children are eager to welcome you to their home!!