Thessaloniki’s Thessalonikians will fill the city’s shops on Ash Wednesday as they started making reservations last week, according to voria.gr.

“People want to go out and have a good time. The occupancy right now is at 70%, but by Thursday, for sure, we’ll get to 100%. Temperatures are predicted to be low, so everyone is rushing to book indoors so they know they won’t be forced to look for a table available at the last minute by searching from shop to shop, which is what happened in previous years,” says Michalis Koucouidis, president of the Association of Grill and Cafe Bar Restaurant Owners of Thessaloniki Prefecture.

The taverns and restaurants undoubtedly have their place of honor, however, people, mainly young people, are also expected by bar owners, as it is a good excuse for entertainment. The reservations so far are from large groups of people who want to have a good time, and if the weather allows it, there will be chaos – as every year on this day – in Vassileos Heraklion and the surrounding alleys with the open-air barbecues carrying their chikna up to the sky.
At the same time, apart from the highly increased attendance of Thessaloniki residents at the catering outlets, the delivery service is also expected to be on fire.

How the shaking started

The origins of the custom of Tsiknopeptis are lost in the depths of time, but it seems to be linked to the Bacchic festivals of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who considered feasting and feasting a rite of passage for the good prosperity of the land in spring.

Tsikno Thursday is, in fact, the beginning of the Carnival celebrations, since the following week is followed by the three-day carnival events on Carnival Monday.