Sarakatsani

The Karakatschanen (Bulgarian: каракачани Karakatschani, Greek Σαρακατσάνοι Sarakatsani ) are a small Greek-speaking ethnic group in Greece, Bulgaria and Macedonia. Others, the Greek borrowed names are Tsarakatsanis or Sarakatsani. The Karakatschanen are an ethically Greek community lives mainly in the mountains of Pindos in Greece and the eastern Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria. In the past they were transhumant nomads who were concerned with the sheep. The Karakatschanen understand even today as an independent Greek community, with its own dialect, belonging to the Orthodox Church.

Name

There are different theories about the origin of the name Karakatschanen; one of the most popular theories derives its name from the Turkish word karakaçan ( kara = ' black' and Kaçan = ' fleeing '), people who, during the Ottoman occupation of Greece took refuge in "black dresses " in the mountains. According to another theory, the name of the village comes from Sakaretsi, which is considered as the home of Karakatschanen.

History and origin

A popular Therorie after, which is based on linguistics and material culture that Karakatschanen descended from the Dorians. The dialect of Karakatschanen is classified as one of the most ancient Greek dialects, which directly from the language of the Dorians, who settled the region of present-day Greece in ancient times, is derived.

Culture

The Karakatschanen speak a modern northern Greek accent, which contains a variety of antique archaic elements not found their way into modern Greek. Their diverse folk art includes songs, dance, poetry, ancient Greek sculpture and elements in their traditional costumes.

Religion

The Karakatschanen are Greek Orthodox Christians.

Demography

Until the 20th century, survived the Karakatschanen distributed in different regions of Greece, while those in the northern regions covered regularly in the summer months in neighboring countries, such as Albania, South Yugoslavia, Bulgaria. After the borders were closed in the 40s, remained a minority of Karakatschanen outside Greece. Currently, its majority lives in Greece, some of them live in Bulgaria, while no sources of Albania and Macedonia are present.