REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Greece
YEAR PRINTED: 1959
VALUE: 50 leptas

This stamp, issued by the Greek government in 1959, celebrates a mask used in the ancient drama of the Greek city-states. This specific mask is made of terra cotta and dates to the 1st or 2nd century BCE. It probably represents a male god or hero. Masks of this type intended for actual use would probably have been made of leather; this one was probably a votive offering.

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REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Greece
YEAR PRINTED: 1966
VALUE: 1 drachma

This stamp, issued by the Greek government in 1966, celebrates a mask used in the ancient drama of the Greek city-states. This specific mask is made of bronze and dates to the 4th century BCE. It probably represents a god and is kept in the Archeological Museum of Piraeus, near its place of discovery. Masks of this type intended for actual use would probably have been made of leather; this one was probably a votive offering.

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TITLE: Boules Janissary Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Greece
SUBREGION: Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia
ETHNICITY: Hellenic
DESCRIPTION: Yianitsaros (Janissary) Mask
CATALOG ID: EUGR002
MAKER: Alexandros Karydas (Naoussa, 1985- )
CEREMONY: Carnival
AGE: 2009
MAIN MATERIAL: beeswax
OTHER MATERIALS: oil-based paint; cotton cloth; horse hair; metal foil; cotton stitching; metal and plastic ornament

The origin of the Boules (Brides) Festival in the town of Naoussa, in Macedonia, Greece, is obscured by history.  It probably has its origins in ancient Dionysian celebrations of fertility during the spring (Anthestiria). The modern festival is held during Carnival, but its origin was the Turkish occupation of Naoussa.  The Ottoman Empire controlled much of Greece from 1537 until 1829.  According to legend, in 1705, the Turks renounced the principle of peaceful coexistence and Turkish soldiers came to the village of Naoussa to recruit forcibly children for their Christian military unit. Those families that resisted were slaughtered.  The following year, around Carnival time, the villagers of Naoussa put on masks and costumes, and paraded in tribute to the dead. To deceive the Turks, the ritual was framed as a wedding, but in reality the bride was a masked man, and the wedding feast was really a means to surreptitiously collect money and food for rebels living in the mountains.

Today, the tradition is still rigorously followed, with masked brides and “janissaries” (Greek soldiers fighting for the Turks) performing specific dances. Only unmarried young males are allowed to masquerade, and all wear the same costume.  In the case of the bride, she wears a black, embroidered skirt, and dark long-sleeved blouse, and a wedding veil. They parade through the town to the music of traditional bands, until they reach the City Hall, and the leader of the boulouki asks permission from the Mayor to begin the ceremony. They then go to the main square, where the dancing begins. After the dances, the boules go from house to house collecting donations.

This specific mask was danced by Gregory Tararas (Naoussa, 1985- ) for four years, from 2009-2012.

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TITLE: Boules Bride Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Greece
SUBREGION: Naoussa, Imathia, Macedonia
ETHNICITY: Hellenic
DESCRIPTION: Bride (Nifi) Mask
CATALOG ID: EUGR001
MAKER: Alexandros Karydas (Naoussa, 1985- )
CEREMONY: Carnival
AGE: 2020
MAIN MATERIAL: beeswax
OTHER MATERIALS: oil-based paint; cotton cloth; polyester cloth and ribbons; synthetic flowers; cotton stitching

The origin of the Boules Festival in the town of Naoussa, in Macedonia, Greece, is obscured by history.  It probably has its origins in ancient Dionysian celebrations of fertility during the spring (Anthestiria). The modern festival is held during Carnival, but its origin was the Turkish occupation of Naoussa.  The Ottoman Empire controlled much of Greece from 1537 until 1829.  According to legend, in 1705, the Turks renounced the principle of peaceful coexistence and Turkish soldiers came to the village of Naoussa to recruit forcibly children for their Christian military unit. Those families that resisted were slaughtered, and resisters hid in the mountains to stage attacks on the Turkish forces. The following year, around Carnival time, the villagers of Naoussa put on masks and costumes, and paraded in tribute to the dead. To deceive the Turks, the ritual was framed as a wedding, but in reality the bride was a masked man, and the wedding feast was really a means to surreptitiously collect money and food for rebels living in the mountains.

Today, the tradition is still rigorously followed, with masked nifi (bride) and boules (council of men), today called yenitsari (“janissaries,” or Christian soldiers fighting for the Turks) performing specific dances. Only unmarried young males are allowed to masquerade as part of the group (boulouki), and all yenitsari wear identical costumes. The bride is also played by a young man. In the case of the bride, she wears an embroidered skirt, and colorful long-sleeved blouse, and a wedding veil. They parade through the town to the traditional music (called Zalistos) of a band playing drum and clarinet (zournas), until they reach the City Hall, and the leader of the boulouki asks permission from the Mayor to begin the ceremony. They then go to the main square, where the dancing begins. After the dances, the boules go to the Alonia region to ceremonially remove their masks.

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REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Greece
YEAR PRINTED: 2014
VALUE: 3 euros

This stamp, issued by the Greek government in 2014, celebrates the boules of the small town of Naoussa in Macedonia. The boules dress as Turkish Janissaries in remembrance of the 1705 invasion of Greece by Muslim Turks, who kidnapped Greek children for recruitment into the Christian military unit. The boules dance 40 days prior to Orthodox Lent, ridiculing the invaders, memorializing the Greek resisters, and celebrating mock weddings.

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