UNIFORMS
2025
PROGRAM
2025
ARCHIVE
THEME 2025
Come into the light!
Rethymno Carnival 2025
The times we live in are interesting, multidimensional, but they also hide their little darknesses. Cities are growing, modern societies are becoming more complex, human relationships are becoming more difficult and somewhere, within modern everyday life, the black color of loneliness and negative emotions finds ample space to spread. After all, black has a natural quality of absorbing all other colors…
Rethymno is a city that is bathed in light almost all year round. The unique architecture of the Old Town, with its narrow alleys leading to bright squares, is a magical journey into past civilizations. In the dim modern life, Rethymno responds with the light of the Cretan Renaissance, with the light of human relationships and with the light of artistic and literary creation.
After all, the entire history of the city is a continuous sequence of darkness and light. The darkness of the conquerors, the light of the Cretan Renaissance, the darkness of the challenging Ottoman period, the strong light of hope, the darkness of destruction, the light of unique architectural monuments, of musical and artistic creation.
This miraculous light endured through time and when the darkness faded it was the same light that many different cultures have spread and continue to spread generously throughout the city, from antiquity to the present day.
Rethymno Carnival is closely linked to this creative light. With more than a century of recorded history, deeply rooted in traditional events and rituals, with a close cultural affinity with Venetian theater and the Comedia Del’ Arte, it has always expressed the light and optimism of the creative momentum of an entire city.
Moreover, the city is the ideal setting to explore, to get close to other people, to have fun in every alley, to become a hero/heroine of classic fairy tales and to come to the light of a unique experience. Rethymno Carnival has always been the brightest moment in time, with thousands of people eagerly awaiting it, to feel the joy of entertainment away from negative emotions and sad thoughts.
This year's Rethymno Carnival campaign once again borrows elements from Comedia Del Arte, and tries, through the dipole of darkness and light, to explore aspects of the city and the emotions that make the experience of Carnival Events in Rethymno unforgettable.
Through the Rethymno Carnival, we will try to bring positive emotions to the surface like a Renaissance chiaroscuro painting where bright forms emerge from the dark background.
Leave behind the dark side of life!
Come into the light!
HISTORY
In Rethymno, the first elements of humorous events date back to 1914. Carnivals of another era, which have left their nostalgic scent still lingering, with romantic dances and the people of Rethymno welcoming with due honors “His Excellency King Carnival amidst the disorder of unrestrained laughter!”
The first organized Carnival took place in the early 1960s. It was organized by the Rethymno Touring Club, which, with its historic floats, impressive costumes and the famous “Kefales”, would keep the Rethymno Carnival high for more than twenty years.
In the early 1990s, the “Hidden Treasure Hunt” became the occasion for the creation of the “Groups”, which later, in 1993, were invited by the Municipality of Rethymno, as a helper and financier, to undertake, support and give creative impetus to the Rethymno Carnival. A Carnival that has deservedly been established as the “Carnival of Crete”!
1993 to present
1993-PresentSince 1993, the Municipality of Rethymno has been responsible for the organization. The top event remains the Treasure Hunt, the teams of which formed the backbone for the restart…
1980s
1980The Carnival continues to be organized by the Explorers Club but is discontinued in the mid-‘80s, due to lack of financial support.
1960 & 1970
1960 – 1970The Rethymno Explorers Club, founded in 1958, was also the pioneer of the post-war Rethymnian Carnival.
…1914 and a little earlier
1914Since 1883, we have had carnival dances in a family circle, while on the last Sunday of Apokries, costumed Rethymno residents took to the streets to have fun.
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