Baklahorani Carnival
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Old Greek-Orthodox community residing in Istanbul were used to organizing a three-day carnival called “Apokries” before the 40-day long “Great Fast”.
The carnival was beginning on the streets of Galata and Pera and people dressed in colorful costumes and masks were parading, dancing, and drinking. The festival was used to end at Tatavla (now Kurtulus district in Istanbul) with a great fair. Although led by the Greek Orthodox community, the celebrations were public and inter-communal and Istanbulites called this day “Bakla Horani” (literally, "I eat beans," and eating beans is also a part of the ritual).
Following the carnival, the Greek-Orthodox community was spending their days with worshipping and fasting at home until Easter. The last public celebration of the carnival in Istanbul was held in 1941.
The 500-year old Tatavla Baklahorani Carnival will be celebrated in Istanbul on February 26, 2012. A crowd dressed in colorful traditional costumes and masts will parade from Galatasaray High School down to Istiklal Avenue at 20:00 and will reach Romeo & Juliet music hall around 20:30.
Masks are the main element of Baklahorani, like Rio and Venice carnivals. The evening will also include music from a variety of traditional and modern groups from Istanbul including Tatavla Keyfi, a band specializing in century old Greek music.
Baklahorani is a celebration of culture and heritage that is open to every community. Don’t miss the most colorful historical festival of Istanbul.
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