Extensive research
During its 21 years of existence, the Museum has documented significant parts of civilization in wider Thrace such as: traditional professions about to become extinct, customs and rituals that are still alive. 350 subjects and over 200 recording hours, have created 22 documentaries with the aim to project the civilization and primeval charm of Thrace.
Documented subjects were as follows:
A) Customs of worship
B) Personal testimonies, documenting different personal and social life paths, that have been –up to a certain degree- defined by regional geography and common, human fate.
C) Customary activities and everyday life in wider Thrace, where anyone can trace the basic elements of cultural identity of Thrace, as well as the communication networks and cultural osmosis from the coexistence of various ethnic groups.
Documentaries
History of Thrace
The history of Thrace through maps. The film was projected in the Greek parlιament building in 2000.
The mirror bride
Pomacs live in the mountain scenery of Rodopi in Greece and Bulgaria.Through the pages of history, Pomacs became an object of violence with an ultimate purpose to change their language religion and physiognomy.
Thrace perpetual light
With the light as a guide we discover the ancient land of Thrace.This is a documentary where the cinematographic lens is waiting to capture the special light of Thracian landscapes and gives the viewer to travel through time, land and sounds.
Thrace brings music
Legend has it that music was born in Thrace. Sounds of deep tradition, accompany the Thracians in all the great moments of their lives. In Western Thrace, the geography of the place and the people internally formed an interesting polymorphic music.
Moments & Stills
If you feel you can support the work and mission of the Museum with your presence, we are waiting to hear from you and talk to you in person about how your knowledge and skills could benefit the Museum. The Ethnological Museum of Thrace offers the opportunity to anyone who could contribute in any way they can (technical knowledge, physical presence, skills, aptitudes etc.) to help fulfill the Museum mission and goals and witness the work we do through acting as a volunteer.
Headscarves and head ornaments
Deeply rooted in their country, women decorated their heads in a variety of ways; with barboules (scarves), tsevredes, paper flowers and any kind of ornament, according to the aesthetics of the regions in Thrace.
Lyra
Thracian traditional instruments construction
The Lyra and the dauli are the only instruments that accompany the music of the Anestanaris (fire walkers).
Gaida (backpipe)
Thracian traditional instruments construction
The Bagpipe, the ancient askaulos, (aski-avlos). One of the most basic instruments of Thracian music.
Kavali
Thracian traditional instruments construction
Kavali, kaval or kavala is the name given to the wooden wind instrument that mainly marks the music of the Pomaks in the mountains of the Rhodopes.
Rituals: The Passion of Christ and human pain
The Passion of Christ and human pain, the death of material, death impregnated with life.
Rituals: Kourbani (animal sacrifice)
The ancient ritual of animal sacrifice survives today through the custom of kourbani in Thrace; it’s an offering to a saint aiming to rebuke the evil and promise health, land fertility and prosperity for the people and their community.
Rituals: Celebrations and rites
In animal disguise, the spirit of fertility is incarnated throughout the important turnings of time longing for land fertility.
Rituals: Spring in Thrace
Christian spring rituals that are dedicated to St. George, the dragon killer; these rituals are known to Muslims as Hıdrellez or Hıdırellez.
Crafts: Wool, Cotton & Silk
In Asvestades, but also in other villages of Evros you can still see women carding the wool in the garden of their house. You can still hear the rhythmic music of the loom while ladies softly sing Thracian songs.
Fishermen and fishing in the river Evros
In the heavenly place called the Evros Delta, the varieties of plants, birds and fish abound. Ancient ways of fishing – some only done in this place – are presented in this documentary.
Wine
Documentary about the cultivation of the vine and the traditional way of exporting wine and tsipouro.
Traditional livestock occupations
The traditional occupations were displaced. The human artisans, creators passed away, taking this beauty with them. Today there are few left as a living memory of the past life alone as monuments. Alone in place, space and time.
About nutrition
Wheat and its products, kavourmas, preserved meat in various ways, vegetables, fruits and nuts that are made into sweet preserves as well as ritseli (local traditional conserve) are the core of the Thracian cuisine.
Natural environment and traditional farming in Thrace
Starting 5.000.000 years ago with the oldest samples of flora and fauna up to the early 1960’s we get informed about the argiculture ways.
The secrets of the Delta
In this documentary the story of a special friendship is recorded. A couple from Delta and a Turkish couple from Ainos. Everyday they meet in the riverls border line and they help each other out.
Places of worship in Evros perfecture
In cooperation with Magia Tsokli and the architect professor Alkis Prepis we discover the living history and memory of the places of worship.
Copper and Coppersmiths
The extended use of copper objects to serve domestic needs led to the flourishing of copper art mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Memory lace
A journey of the painter Nikis Kanangini in the ancestral home its birthplace is Ortakioi, today’s Ivailovgrand, Bulgaria.
Water and worship in Thrace
Alexandroupoli, Light on History
Alexandroupoli new city, but with history, as it is recorded through the memories of its people.
Nutrition and Ritual in Thrace
The wheat, the wine, the oil, the fruits, the primary materials of the earth they took all the weight of symbolism in rituals, offerings in the dreaded shooting of time, the cycle, the cycle, of sowing and fruit, but also life.