Last night Wegg and I were one of 5 teams asked to take part in the A.K.A. Watermelon Mashing Ritual. We missed it last year as we came over in May. Some say "mashing" and some say "bashing" It's bad English that the Greeks have picked up from us!
They say A.K.A. because it involves Arillas , Kavvadades and Avliotes. The official term is watermelon treading and it's a very old tradition, which is interesting because I think that's where England got the term for a "Water Tread Mill" which eventually got shortened to a Watermill and of course Tread Mill. Mill also being the shortened version of melon. We were told, that many years ago, it involved treading on the melon. But like everything else "Health and Safety" probably got involved and stopped the practice of standing on the table, stomping away. Too many ouzos and I suppose people fell off.
5 teams of two compete. Five really mushy watermelons are placed on a long table and one member of each team has a 3 metre long bamboo cane.
This is what happened - the local Mayor shouted "Ανοητοζ για Απριληζ " ( Aneetos yia Aprilis ) and we started whacking the melons. When the melon was sufficiently whacked or mashed the other member of the team has to pick 40 seeds from the pulp. The first one to do this is the winner.
They are very strict though and count the seeds. Our local Mon Amour Taverna owner shouted first but when they counted his seeds he had 42 and was disqualified.
(these seeds have a habit of sticking together) And we won! – thanks to a methodical Wegg, who was crowned "Τι μερα ινε σιμερα"
(Ti mera ine simera)
First prize was an instant invite to compete next year and the freedom of the village, but only where watermelons are concerned. Any time we want a watermelon we can just go to any plot and pick one – how nice is that?
This is me, duly kitted out, before the big event.
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Who wants to see any more pictures? If I can persuade Wegg to post any, that is!
Sorry - Trying the pic again.
(http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8048/010408aoq1.jpg)
Negg
Eggy
That sounds like a great night, and please post more photos.
Is there any chance that you could have a chat with the organisers and see if they could arrange a melon mashing competition for the naturist beach in the summer. That could be good fun and no protective clothing would be required. Just think of the fun counting the seeds!!!!!!!!
TerryW
You Lucky Mr Eggy,
Sorry I could not make it last evening ... Too late fro Bebis,
I just found a picture from some previous years ( sorry for the bad quality)
(http://arillas.com/watermellon.jpg)
What a laugh! You are so funny Eggy... what on earth will you be doing next! Beats welly throwing in Surrey I think!
Looks like a lot of Fun Eggy.
How do you pick the seeds up with them gloves on. lol
riggers...
:D *LOL* sounds and looks like a lot of fun! And well done Mrs Wegg! And yes please more pictures separakalo!
Riggers - you will note from Neggs original post that I was reponsible for collecting and counting the melon seeds. That is why it is so important to have a multi talented team because those pesky seeds really cling together and you need small, nimble fingers like mine. As you say, Neggs gloves would heave been useless. Equally the thought of me wielding a 3 metre bamboo cane doesn't bear thinking about.
Currently having a nice day basking in the glory. (you shurely mean sun? Ed)
Mrs Egg
Looks like lots of fun. More photos would be definately appreciated!
Of Course Wegg Sorry i can see Negg is dressed for the occasion of Melon Mashing, bashing. Looks great fun and as requested already More photos please.. :)
riggers...
Sounds great fun, add my plea for more pictures please Mr & Mrs Negg
Sharon x
Sorry no more pictures at the moment. After last night's excitement Negg and I managed to lock ourselves out of our house this morning. Gaining access involved Negg sMashing in our downstairs toilet window and me climbing through it to open the door. We are both to old for this sort of caper (although clearly not too old for melon mashing) and are currently lying down in a darkened room recovering. I'm sure Negg will be back online soon.
Mrs Egg
(Sorry Mr Administrator - we have clearly gone off thread of Arillas General Information here. Please accept our profuse apologies. We will try to make amends at a later date!)
What a fantastic thread. Totally cheered up my day!
Congratulations to Mrs Egg on your stunning victory as chief seed counter. But I bet Eggy can wield a hefty mash too........
Loved the kit Negg - Jen asked are there any pictures of Wendy in mashing kit about to be posted? (I bet I can hear her saying "not on your life!!!")
And Dimtris - your pic captures it all. Wish we'd been there too - maybe next year we'll challenge Negg and Wegg for their title!
Full of April foolery -
phil and jenny
You dont seem to have time to be bored do you!! What a high old life you are having out there... Breaking and entering as well as melon bashing! I do love reading your daily escapades! Cant wait to see what you get up to when its the Wine Festival! Hopefully we will be in Arillas at that time if its September.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading about that - what a riot!
What do they do with the left-over bits? I guess there's not an awful lot to salvage eh?!?
Well All,
Now we've got a double glazed unit to pay for I guess we'll be chewing on those mashed melons for the next week as we won't be able to afford any alcohol!
( I think we ought to get a spare key cut as well ! )
Perhaps we should hold a forum members Watermelon Mashing contest?
I went to Arillas today but couldn't get on the beach on account of those pesky easyjet planes. And..... poor ole Vassilis ( Armourada ) ,fishing on the end of the jetty, had to keep ducking as they took off.
He said he didn't mind that but objected to them frightening the fish!
Cheers
Negg
ps - Those two Greek phrases from the post are " Fool for April " and " What day is it tomorrow? " - But then ! - You all guessed that - DIDN'T YOU ?
Livin the high life again Eggy!! you and Mrs Wegg what a cpl you are..
Ang
shame those ickle planes dont fly from here
Hi Eggy. How many forum members would it take to mash a watermelon? Answers invited...
phil
Have you ever had frozen watermelon mashed and topped with vodka ...it makes a gorgeous cocktail!
That's the idea BG - a forum member and a bottle of vodka!
lol
phil
Quote from: philandjen on April 01, 2008, 11:46:08 PM
Hi Eggy. How many forum members would it take to mash a watermelon? Answers invited...
phil
Phil - I can see it now.
Terry holding the melon steady and, six of us all lined up.
Terry says: " Right - When I nod my head - you hit it! " - Fun for us. Headache for him!
It would certainly "beat" taking the wheels off his hire car.
Negg
Forgot to say.
If you enjoyed, or even thought "watermelon mashing" was a possible then make a big note in your diary for April 1st 2009.
I have something lined up which you will beleive.
Negg
QuoteTerry says: " Right - When I nod my head - you hit it! " - Fun for us. Headache for him!
Is that so? I actually had a very bad nightmare last night.
The
Welly
Wearing
Watermelon
Warrior was chasing me and I can't get the image out of my head
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n179/terrylwarner/warrior2.jpg)
For heaven's sake Terry, get a grip. You think you're scared. I live with the bloke so please spare me a thought!!
Mrs Egg
Awww Mrs Egg, we know you don't mean it.
He can't help it, its the Ouzo.!!!!!!
Quote from: blondegirl on April 02, 2008, 12:16:31 AM
Have you ever had frozen watermelon mashed and topped with vodka ...it makes a gorgeous cocktail!
BG - I bought a bottle of Vodka and cut the melon and mashed the ice but then realised that the only way to get them in the bottle was to empty half the bottle first. I only know one way of emptying a bottle so did my duty!
Now I find I can't focus properly to drop these pieces of ice/melon in the bottle!
Am I doing something wrong here or am I just allergic to Vodka?
Terry - Sleep well tonight
BOB used to be the name of a goldfish - Now it stands for
Beware
of
Bamboo!
Cheers
Negg
I always thought it stood for Best of Breed Eggy. lol. Viv
Eggy, what are you like!
You have to derind & cut up the melon, throw the pips away (there will be more than 40 lol!). when it is in managable chunks freeze it. I put it in bags, kept for ages in the freezer. then when I wanted to make a cocktail, took a couple of cubes out mashed it in the whizzer poured the melon in a glass and added as much vodka as you like. If you want to add some sugar you might like that, I used cocktail syrup.
Just spotted this on youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dofQsMujM&feature=dir
thought it might be a laugh - lol
Hummmmffff.
Ask her not me (but had a good laugh about smashing watermelons...)
lol
phil
Why .... would you want to do that? Would rather do it Eggys way!