Costume of a Lazarina from Kozani, Macedonia, Greece. The Lazarines are a custom of ancient origin. It is speculated to have been popularized by the Romans after their conquest of Greece and the Balkans and it was named the “Rosalia” festival, which the Greeks called Ροδισμός (rhoðismós). During this celebration young girls and women sang, danced and gathered flowers in order to celebrate the spring.
The festival survived the establishment of Christianity and transformed into a celebration that takes place every Orthodox Lazarus Saturday in several south Slavic countries and northern Greece. Nowadays, it commemorates Lazarus’ resurrection by Jesus Christ, in an association of it with the rebirth of nature and life.
Photos by Dimitris Vavliaras.
