KOZANI, Greece 2025
This year, the traditional parade of Lazarines in Kozani, Greece, was influenced by a special initiative. InteractionSeeds was a guest in Western Macedonia and took part in the festival alongside several women and girls, focusing on the impact of climate change. The exciting conclusion was that cultural and artistic traditions are evolving in response to contemporary challenges.
The Lazarines are a unique local tradition in Kozani, Greece, which celebrates both Greek Orthodox Easter and the renewal of spring. It is a festival associated with nature’s rebirth and life’s renewal. The Lazarines, especially in Aiani, are known for their lively ceremonies led by young girls and women through music, dance, and ritual. Rooted in nature’s cycles, this celebration play an important role in the cultural identity of the region.
The Interaction
The interaction that took place in Krokos, Kozani, was part of a two-day initiative aiming to connect the traditional Lazarines celebration with contemporary issues such as climate change and community resilience. Organised by CluBE, a diverse range of local stakeholders have been brought together to ensure a well-rounded and impactful interaction: the Cultural Association of Krokos, the University of Western Macedonia, the Chamber of Commerce of Kozani, the Geotechnical Chamber of Western Macedonia, the Saffron Producers’ Cooperative.
The interaction was designed to explore how intangible cultural heritage – such as the age-old celebration of Lazarines – can become a vehicle for community resilience and environmental awareness, particularly in the context of the climate crisis. It engaged the women and girls who traditionally lead the ritual—treating them not only as cultural bearers but also as artists and agents of change. Through storytelling, experiential activities, collective reflection, and symbolic acts like planting flowers, the workshop created a space to explore how rituals can evolve and become tools for expressing ecological consciousness and building community resilience.
The aim was also to foster inclusive participation, bringing together older and younger women – who are both bearers of cultural memory and agents of social change – to share experiences and knowledge. Beyond raising awareness, scientists, local businesspeople, and cooperative members were invited to participate—not as distant experts, but as part of a community-wide conversation. Their input helped ground the dialogue in lived realities of the rural community, such as the effects of climate change on agriculture, water systems, and livelihoods —thereby linking local voices with broader policy conversations.
The interaction had a multifaceted impact on the local community, the participating artists, and the collaborating stakeholders. It strengthened the role of intangible cultural heritage as a living platform for dialogue and awareness. It empowered local women and girls to see their traditional practices as meaningful contributions to today’s environmental and social challenges.
The Impact
Culturally, the event reinforced the value of artistic expression rooted in ritual, enabling performers to reflect on and reinterpret the Lazarines tradition in the context of climate change. The songs and dances, traditionally seen as folklore, were reactivated as contemporary acts of artistic and ecological storytelling.
How to Replicate the Idea?
1. Start from the local community and treat cultural participants as artists
Work with people who are already involved in keeping local traditions alive—like cultural associations, older women, or local groups. In Krokos, the local cultural association helped bring together women and girls who perform the Lazarines. It’s important to treat them as artists, not just as cultural bearers, because their singing, dancing, and costume-making are creative acts with strong meaning.
2. Use traditional rituals to start conversations and connect generations
The Lazarines tradition became a way to talk about bigger issues like climate change and caring for nature. Because it’s familiar and meaningful, it helped people feel comfortable joining the discussion. The involvement of both young girls and older women allowed for sharing knowledge and experiences between generations—something very valuable that should be repeated in other places.
3. Combine creative activities with reflection and participation
Simple activities like writing on whiteboards and planting flowers helped participants express their thoughts and feelings about climate change in their own way. These activities made the experience more engaging and helped link tradition to today’s problems in a hands-on, visual way.
4. Include local experts, businesses, and cooperatives as part of the discussion
Scientists, local businesspeople, and members of the saffron cooperative joined the event and shared useful information about how climate change is already affecting farming, water, and daily life in the region. They were not just “guest speakers”—they were part of the community conversation. This made the exchange more balanced and relevant to real local challenges.
5. Adjust the method to fit the local context
Each place is different. What worked in Krokos might look different elsewhere. The goal isn’t to copy the event exactly but to use the same process—work with the community, support collaboration, and link culture with social and environmental issues. It’s important to be flexible and respect local customs, rhythms, and people.
