Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
busy with Greeks hopping on planes and boats and booking out hotels; be
sure to reserve well in advance.
Orthodox Easter
Communities joyously celebrate Jesus' resurrection beginning with candlelit processions
on Good Friday. One of the most impressive of these processions climbs Lykavittos Hill
in Athens. The Lenten fast ends after 40 days on Easter Sunday with the cracking of red-
dyed Easter eggs, fire-crackers, feasting and dancing. The Monastery of St John the
Theologian on Patmos is a great place to witness it.
Festival of Agios Georgios (St George)
The feast day of St George, the country's patron saint and the patron saint of shepherds,
falls on 23 April or the first Tuesday following Easter. It's celebrated with particular ex-
uberance in Arahova, near Delphi. Expect dancing, feasting and a general party atmo-
sphere.
May
If you're planning to head out on hiking trails, May is a great time to visit.
Temperatures are still relatively mild and wildflowers create a huge splash
of colour. Local greens, vegies and produce fill Greek kitchens.
May Day
The first of May is marked by a mass exodus from towns for picnics in the country.
Wildflowers are gathered and made into wreaths to decorate houses. As a day associated
with workers' rights, recent years have also seen mass walkouts and strikes on this day.
June
For festival-goers looking for contemporary acts rather than traditional vil-
lage parties, June is hopping on the mainland. Top national and interna-
tional performers fill atmospheric stages with dance, music and drama.
