Flour Power

Reading about the festivals celebrated around the world makes the ones in the U.S. seem humdrum by comparison. All but a few in our country are about local products/business or the heritage of an area,but as with yesterday's Penis Festivals,Spain's tomato fight and Italy's orange fight other countries are more creative. In the small fishing village of Galaxidi,Greece people have been gathering annually since around 1801 on Ash Monday to throw colored flour bombs at each other. Villagers fill hundreds of bags with flour colored with food coloring then don goggles and plastic suits and at the ringing of the cow bell pound each other with colored flour. Spectators are welcome or can participate,they claim it is a great way to let off steam.