Momoeria is a common New Year’s tradition that is celebrated by many Greeks of Pontian (Black Sea) origin. Specifically, the Momoeria tradition is rooted in eight communities (villages) of Pontian origin in northern Greece, within Kozani-West Macedonia.
Throughout Ancient Greece, dance was not only a form of ritual but also a pastime. It was used in regard to war as a form of military training and as a form of mediation between the gods and humans.
Teams called "Momoeri", "Momoeria", "Momoer'", and "Kochamania" include both dance and theater groups. Momoeria has been moved from Matsouka (now the municipality of Maçka), which is located in mountainous Trabzon (Turkey) to northern Greece.
According to the Lausanne Treaty between Greece and Turkey, as the result of the Exchange of Populations in 1923, Christian Greeks from Anatolia (Anatolia) and Pontos (Black Sea) were forced to flee to Greece and seek refuge.
In Kozani, north-western Greece, dancers, actors, and musicians spend the week of December 25 to January 5 performing in village streets and visiting people's homes welcoming New Year celebrations.
This performance will feature the Momoeria dancers, a group of 30 male performers. The soldiers dance under the leader's command to convince the powers of nature not to endanger the livelihood of the villagers. They’re resembling priests of Momos (god of laughter and satire) or the commanders of Alexander the Great wearing helmets, pleated skirts, traditional shoes, and brandishing sticks.
To create a fun atmosphere, the audience is invited to tease characters such as an old man and the devil (this may vary by village) as actors encircle the dancers presenting a well-known satirical play. During the ceremony, instruments such as the bagpipe play in the background.
The practice was originally meant to wish the community prosperity in the year ahead, which included healthy offspring and good harvests but now emphasizes the sustainability of natural resources.
The town square is the focal point of all the festivities where everyone gathers to dance and sing around a fire until morning. This practice is an informally handed down tradition from older to younger generations that symbolizes part of a community's cultural identity and builds social connections.
Even so, the ethnic group from the Black Sea region has meticulously protected its culture and adapted it to Greece, the Momoeria tradition is particularly apparent in only eight of the villages in Kozani. Hopefully, the practice used to teach children about social norms and morals and to develop their physical and emotional skills.