Thousands of Greeks and Australians attended the “Bull Festival”, which was held in Melbourne for the 30th consecutive year, yesterday.
The president of the Cultural association of Agia Paraskevi, “O Taxiarchis”, Stefanos Petrellis, stated about the event: “It is one of the most popular cultural events of Agia Paraskevi of Lesvos, our town of origin. Our intention is to express our love for our island, by reviving customs that we brought from our homeland.
Every year on the last Sunday of May, the Bull Festival takes place in the honour of Agios Haralampos, a folklore tradition known in Greece that dates back to 1700. It lasts three days and holds strong folkloric and pagan features. It comprises of the procession of the bull decorated with flowers in the streets of the village, the gathering of the believers and the horse-riders at the country church of Agios Haralampos at the location called Tavros, the slaughter of the animal, the preparation of a traditional food with meat and wheat (kiskets), the distribution of the food to the people attending the festival, the horse-races and the three days feast.
The festival took place in the farm of the “Pallesviaki Enosi”. The Pegasus Academy of dance presented traditional dances from Lesvos island. The orchestra “Glenti” by Demetris Kavvadas entertained the audience.
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