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The cats-Carnival Xanthin.
the Until the 1950s, carnival events were being organised in Xanthi were mainly folklore-based, with traditional Thracian elements strongly promoted. That time, dance groups and cultural associations of the three prefectures of Thrace, and some of the neighbouring areas, were participating. In the mid-1960s, certain residents of the town of Xanthi, promoted the idea of folklore celebrations through the period of Carnival. In 1965 Stergios Stathis, a doctor from the city of Kastoria, who was practising Medicine in Xanthi that time, influenced by “Ragkoutsaria”, a traditional custom from his hometown, proposed the establishment of similar festivities. He gained support for his initiative by Vassilis Asimomitis, a theologian, originally from Mykonos, who taught at the Ecclesiastical School of Xanthi. He was aware of the traditions and customs of Thrace, many of them which were derived from mythological Cult of Dionysus. Their main goal was the creation of a festival during the Carnival season, that would revive the traditions and folkway of the wider area of Thrace.[1]

Thus, in 1966, for the first time, were organised the Thracian Celebrations of Carnival.[2] The events of 1966 and 1967 were organised by the Regional Committee of Tourism. Also, it is known that the first years, the neighbouring cities were craving to get the organisation of the Event at any cost in their city. This was never achieved, as the event managed to solidify in the town and the local chiefs and professionals did their best to maintain it.[3]

From 1983 to 1986 the Festival was through critical times for its survival. The attendance of the people was already declined drastically and as a result it became insignificant, close to zero. Therefore, in 1986 the Mayor of that time, Konstantinos Benis, concerned about the future, assigned the organisation to Thracian Theatrical Scene, a local cultural association that was founded in 1975 and was quite popular. The association managed to revive and reshape the events with a plethora of changes and initiatives it took.[4] In 1986 the first exclusively carnival association was formed called “Οι Φίλοι”. In 1987 more associations did as well and the term “Xanthi Carnival” was added to the official name.[5] Thracian Theatrical Scene was the organiser until 1991.[4] It is still nowadays active and participates in the Carnival.

In the 1990s new Festivals were created in the city like Xanthi Old Town Festival, Youth Festival and Manos Hatzidakis Festival and the emphasis to the folklore character of the Festival was somehow reduced.[6]