Gaitanaki
Greece
The Gaitanaki came to Greece from Pontus and Asia Minor and comes from the Hellenistic word "gaitan", which means silk cord. It is danced throughout Greece accompanied by a local Syrto dance.
According to folklorists, the dance is based on the myth of the goddess Cybele, goddess of wild nature, vegetation and fertility, and Attis, who loved him, but when he wanted to marry another, she led him to self-castration and death. Repentant, Cybele asked Zeus to bring him back, and Attis was resurrected.
The Gaitanaki consists of a pole and 12 multi-colored ribbons, symbolizing the 12 gods, the 12 months, the 12 hours and the cycle of life, death-resurrection, winter-spring.
