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Sights of Interest in Greece
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Change of the Presidential Guard
18-02-2013 13:45The Change of the Presidential Guard takes place every Sunday morning in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which can be seen in front of the Greek Parliament across Syntagma Square. It is a ceremonial practice rich in folklore features like traditional costumes, music played by the band and army rituals which is worth watching.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument in memory of those who lost their lives fighting for the freedom of Greece. The names of the battlefields are carved on the marble façade of the monument which is guarded by the Presidential Guard, as well as the Presidential Mansion. The guard consists of men of the Greek Army who receive a special training to join this special guard.
The guards bear the name Evzones or in a more informal way they are called Tsoliades and they are dressed in the traditional Greek costume. They wear a kilt-like garment which is called fustanella, which is made of 30 metres of fabric with 400 pleats, symbolically resembling the years of the Ottoman Rule in Greece. The hats they wear are called fesia and the vests they wear are gilded with handmade embroidery following a unique technique. The rustic shoes are called tsarouhia and they are totally hand made of red painted leather with 60 nails on their soles, making a characteristic sound on the pavement when the guards march.
The guards have to be at least 1,88 metres tall and very disciplined. The Evzones stand totally still and motionless in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier regardless of the weather or the temperature and they are not allowed to talk or have facial expressions. A change of positions takes place every hour on the hour. The ceremonial Change of the Guard takes place at 11 am on Sunday mornings with the whole Guard marching and a band playing music in front of the Greek Parliament.
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