Boules is the oldest carnival custom of Naousa, Imathia. It is difficult today to find its roots, as it happens with most of our customs. But all its elements lead us to old times. In our Carnival custom, the definition of “dance action” has been very successful given because the action of the people involved in it is a dance action, and without it the representation of the custom is impossible. The main elements of the custom that are brought to us by a very strict oral tradition are:
The formation of the mpoulouki, which premises the strict acceptance and observance of certain rules, for the performance of the custom to participate in it. The gender of the performers is only young men. The female figure (bride-mpoula) is always performed by a man.
The dressing, disguise and behavior of the performers are governed by traditional rules. The musical instruments, the dances, the itinerary, are predetermined by the ritual, followed unchanged over the years.
The custom has its roots in ancient times and is probably related to racial initiation ceremonies such as the adulthood ceremony in which the young man, dressed in feminine clothes and leaded by unmarried men of the race, will be initiated in her secrets, will be undressed the female costume and will be transformed into a man. Today we can observe that in the long history the custom transforms and at the same time incorporates into its elements, the local tradition, the myths, the legends, the songs and the heroic struggles of Naoussa. The operators were and are always young men. Their number in the past years seems to have been from six to twelve, while today more can be involved. In the mpoulouki, since the old years, young boys were also taking part.
