The “Fasolada Festival ’’ (Bean Soup festival) takes place in the village of Plataea, near Thebes, on Ash Monday in the context of the Vlach wedding event. The cooking pots are lit early in the morning to begin boiling the traditional bean soup, which is distributed to the visitors and participants along with local wine and other Lenten dishes.
The Vlach wedding of Thebes is a custom that has its roots in Dionysian worship and is revived every year on Shrove Monday and it was integrated into the national index of intangible cultural heritage supported by UNESCO. Thousands of visitors are flooding the venue to experience this event from up close. This festival is for the inhabitants of the area, and especially the Vlachs, an important part of their cultural heritage.
It is about a satire, in which a traditional wedding is presented through a wedding ritual. These rituals follow specific rules, in which mainly men participate wearing the traditional costume of the Vlachs and all the tools used at the event come from the traditional Vlach handicrafts.
This event has a history of 150 years and takes place in the city of Thebes every year on Carnival Sunday and Shrove Monday.
*We recommend that you get access instructions at the center of the town.
Photo: dothivas.blogspot.com