In Crete’s "economy of the mountains", sheep shearing and wool production for weaving has played an important role ever since the Minoan era. This can easily be seen on signs at the palace of Knossos. Breeders used to wait till summer to shear their sheep and obtain the precious wool, which was used to make the family’s clothes, coverlets and their daughters trousseau’s.

Requires lots of hands

Shearing is a difficult procedure, demanding lots of hands and good technique. This is whe every breeder invites friends and relatives to help him, offering a rich meal in exchange. Back in the day, villagers who had no sheep of their own used to beg to be invited to take part in the shearing process, not only for the great meal, but also to receive a "bokari" (the wool of one sheep). By helping the many sheep breeders, they could actually obtain the wool they would need to clothe their family for a year.  

Nowadays sheep shearing takes place the same way as it has in the past, with the only difference being that the wool is worthless in the market and the breeders throw it away. Even so, shearing serves its main purpose, which is the relief of the sheep from its winter ‘coat’ and removing bacteria and microbes.

Complete summer shearing is preceded by spring shearing. This is when breeders shear their tails and back legs.  During springtime, sheep roll on the ground and are more likely to get dirty.

People are bound together

Today's shearing of the sheep may not offer a financial profit to breeders, but it definitely contributes to the fellowship and friendship among the villagers. The climax of this fellowship is the rich meal at the end of this tiring procedure, a tradition preserved throughout the years. Relationships that have nothing to do with financial profit are common in Crete and help create a tight-knit community. 

Sheep shearing also contributes to the preservation of tradition and Cretan character, since it includes the participation of men only, men of all ages, even boys in elementary school. Perhaps breeders in Greece, but also in other countries, consider shearing as a troublesome and tiring job. Perhaps in central Europe this art is totally forgotten and is only done by Australian specialists called upon especially for this reason. Perhaps in mainland Greece all the customs connected to shearing is fading and often assigned to immigrants. In Crete however, this procedure is considered a ritual.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

MORE PHOTOS

Sheep waiting to be shorn.

Thousands of sheep graze on the Cretan mountains.

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