A joint proposal for a European Programme with the Famagusta Carnival, the Carnival of Patras and the Putignano Carnival of Italy was submitted by the Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia. The proposal entitled "Mediterranean Exchange & Development Initiative for Carnival Arts, Rituals, Narratives And Vibrant Authentic Life" and acronym "MEDICARNAVAL" was submitted under the programme Creative Europe Culture Cooperation Small Scale Projects 2025. The proposal aims to create a network of Mediterranean carnival cities, with the aim of exchanging know-how, transnational cultural cooperation, joint creation of artistic content and promotion of carnival culture at European level.
Through this cooperation, cities will be able to strengthen their position on the European cultural map, adopt modern promotion and organisation tools, and develop common strategies for the management and promotion of their local traditions.
The partnership of the proposal that has been prepared and submitted for evaluation consists of the Community Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Patras - Carnival of Patras, the Fondazione Carnevale di Putignano Italy and the Municipality of Paralimni - Derniia - Carnival of Famagusta as well as Connections Culture & Communications.
The Carnival of Putignano
Putignano in Puglia hosts one of the oldest carnivals in the world. The first procession took place in 1394. The celebrations start on 26 December with a big party. There are then two months of celebrations, which conclude with a series of parades during the week before Lent. Each evening up to 10,000 spectators come to watch the procession of floats carrying oversized chariots. The grand finale takes place on Holy Monday night with a parade that ends with the 365 chimes of a bell.
Patras Carnival
The Patras Carnival or Carnival of Patras is both the largest and the oldest carnival event in Greece and one of the largest in the world in terms of participation of carnivalists and its history. The carnival of Patras is not a single event, but a set of events, including dances, parades, hidden treasure hunts, carnival of children, etc. The events start around 17 January and last until Carnival Monday. They culminate on the last weekend of Carnival with the Night Parade of crews on Saturday, the spectacular Grand Parade of chariots and crews on Sunday, and finally the ritual burning of the King Carnival at the pier of Agios Nikolaos Street, in the northern port of Patras. The carnival floats also parade on Friday evening before the Saturday parade in George I Square, in a central location that allows the public to take photos of them.
Famagusta Carnival
The Famagusta Carnival began to be organized in 2007 in the Municipality of Paralimni by volunteers and gradually developed into the largest event of Famagusta in terms of number of spectators and participants. In recent years more than 2 thousand carnivalists participate in the big parade held in Paralimni and more than ten thousand spectators flood the streets of the city. The events begin on Ash Wednesday with the crowning of the Carnival King or Queen, continue on the eve of the big parade and culminate on Carnival Sunday, while the programme of events includes other events for young and old alike. The events are organized and sponsored by the Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia.