A woman was left injured after a centuries-old tradition in Corfu took a painful turn. The Greek island is known for its Holy Saturday custom called ‘botides’, where locals throw large clay jugs filled with water from their balconies. However, on this occasion, the deputy mayor, Spyros Halikiopoulo, accidentally lobbed one of the jugs from the Town Hall window, hitting a woman on the head and shoulder. The incident occurred as two women were walking along the pavement below. Despite the precautions taken by the deputy mayors, who checked the area beforehand, the unexpected presence of the pedestrians led to the unfortunate accident.
The incident caused a commotion among the crowd, with spectators rushing to help the injured women. One of them was taken to the hospital as a precaution, while Halikiopoulo followed to ensure her well-being. In a statement from his office, Halikiopoulo expressed that such injuries are rare during the tradition, as everyone usually pays close attention. He assured the public of the safety of the custom but urged caution to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The botides tradition, whose origins remain uncertain, dates back to the Venetian rule of Corfu between the 14th and 18th centuries. It is believed that the Venetians, in their celebration of the new year, would throw their old belongings out of the window. The custom has since evolved into the annual event enjoyed by thousands of islanders and tourists, who gather to witness the spectacle and, on this occasion, to get splashed by the water.
