Building the 'Koukoura'
Posted
by Christos on Saturday, May 07, 2005
Every year, on the Saturday before Easter, the boys of Skala Kallonis in Lesvos build an enormous bonfire in the Square in front of the Church. This is the Koukoura, on which they burn the effigy of Judas Iscariot later that night. They have been collecting wood for weeks before: huge logs and fallen trees that have been washed down into the Gulf by the winter rains. It is a matter of local pride that their Koukoura in Skala should be better than any others in the villages round about.
The main workers are 14-17-year-olds, directed by older boys of 17-20. On the fringe of the operation are younger boys, watching, hoping to be asked to help, sometimes offering to help, though they are too small to be able to make a useful contribution, and their offers are usually rejected. One or two adults act in a supervisory role, especially with regard to safety, and adults with special skills or equipment - a power-saw, ropes, a trailer or a tractor (this year even a JCB!) may be persuaded to make a specialist contribution to the boys' operation. The girls watch from further away, for this is a strictly boys-only activity, as the decoration of the Epitaphios, two days before, was strictly for girls only.
Over the years, the roles change. Last year's workers become this year's leaders, the little boys who were watching last year become this year's workers, and the older boys (usually after their National Service in the Army) become spectators again.
In this way the tradition is handed down, and indeed, the 'Koukoura' is bigger and better every year, as a new generation takes it over and brings their own talents to it.