Nikos Aliagas put on a fustanella, the traditional pleated kilt, and joined a line of dancers to perform the tsamiko at the Saint Agatha festival in Stamna, near Messolonghi, the village his father's family comes from.
The journalist and television presenter took part in the festival as part of a custom repeated there every year. He did not just watch the celebrations but took his place in the dance and joined the traditional event as a full participant.
The moment was filmed on mobile phones by people in the village square, and Aliagas later posted video of his participation on social media.
From Paris to Stamna in a fustanella
Stamna, in the Messolonghi area, is one of the places Aliagas has kept a close bond with over the years. Although his career has been based in France for years, he returns to Greece every summer and visits the region his family comes from.
Tradition holds a special place at the Saint Agatha festival. The celebrations take place every year from 21 to 24 August, reaching their peak on 23 August, and are tied to the historical memory of the area.
Aliagas's presence has become part of this summer homecoming in recent years. Wearing the traditional costume known as the "armatomenos," he joins the group of fustanella-wearing dancers and takes part in the dance in the village's central square.
This time, those at the festival got to see him dance the tsamiko in front of the crowd, with mobile phones capturing the moment.
The festival and Stamna's history
The Saint Agatha custom is a fixed point of reference for Stamna and the wider Messolonghi region. The celebrations are linked to local tradition and the historical memory of Stamna and Aitoliko, with references to the Greek War of Independence of 1821.
For Aliagas, taking part also carries a personal dimension, since Stamna is his father's home village. His summer presence in the area is combined with participation in one of the village's traditional events.
