Burning Cedar Traditions in Litochoro – A Ritual of Fire, Memory & Community

On February 26, 2023, the gathering, guarding, and burning of cedar wood filled Litochoro’s neighborhoods with firelight and tradition. This custom — deeply rooted in the Municipality of Dion-Olympus, Pieria, Greece — continues to unite generations around the sacred flames.

Origins & Symbolism

Cedars were sacred to the ancient Greeks, often used in rituals, prayers, and even Dionysian ceremonies. Burning cedar is seen as an offering — a way to purify the community, drive away misfortune, and welcome positive energy.
The tradition is tied to Orpheus, who was worshiped in the Pierian mountains, and to the Nine Muses, who, according to myth, listened to his song.

Preparations in the “Bairia” Neighborhoods

The ritual begins a week before Carnival Sunday. Each neighborhood — called Bairia — organizes teams to gather cedar branches. These are guarded every night, with youths and elders taking shifts to prevent rival neighborhoods from “stealing” their wood.
This friendly rivalry ends with a single goal: who will light the biggest and longest-lasting fire on Carnival night.

An elder usually guides the younger generation — teaching them the safe way to throw branches into the fire and sharing stories of how the tradition was kept alive. This passing of knowledge keeps the ritual authentic and deeply rooted in local identity.

The Night of Fire

On Carnival Sunday, each neighborhood lights its fire. Locals sing, tease passers-by, and perform dances around the flames. The atmosphere is charged with energy, music, and laughter — a communal catharsis before Lent begins.
In some years, the fires keep burning until the morning of Clean Monday, turning night into day.

Clean Monday Celebrations

The festivities continue at Xirokambi, where families fly kites, a symbolic act representing the soul’s ascent and purification. Traditional fasting foods — lagana bread, taramosalata, octopus, mussels, and beans — complete the celebration.

Why Travelers Should Witness It

• See a living tradition blending ancient ritual and modern community spirit.
• Experience the playful rivalry between neighborhoods and the dramatic fire lighting.
• Photograph one of the most atmospheric winter events in Northern Greece.
• Join locals in singing, dancing, and kite-flying on Clean Monday.

➤ Discover more about Apokries & Triodion traditions in Pieria.

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