Cultural Society of Pelekas
(POLITISTIKOS SULLOGOS PELEKA)

The Pelekas Cultural Society was founded in 1979 and presently has around 100 members. It is funded by members' annual subscriptions, by selling a calendar each year, by money collected carol singing and by a subsidy from the local municipality. All members are eligible to vote every two years for a seven-person committee consisting of a president, treasurer, secretary, vice-president, and three others. The current president is Stella Bizis.

Besides promoting "cultural awareness" the society maintains and observes "local tradition", organises lectures; coordinates festivals (both religious and secular); hosts a Festival of Culture every August featuring drama, concerts, folklore, choirs, and shadow theatre. The society and its members also participate in festivals that take place in other villages during the year.

The Cultural Society boasts three choirs - Men's, Women's and Children's.

The Pelekas dance group has been in existence as long as the Cultural Society. Its members, mostly women, perform traditional Corfiot dances as well as a selection from other parts of Greece. The costumes (which are very expensive to make and which include a lot of gold thread) are owned both by the society and its members. Costumes used in dances from outside Corfu are rented.

Below are some pictures taken recently at three of the events in Pelekas that Cultural Society organises. Top row - choral festival; middle row - Easter; bottom row - St George's Day celebration. (Click on the images to enlarge.)