Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
assembled disciples. Many young Greeks take advantage of
the long weekend, marking the start of summer, to head for the
islands.
June 29 & 30: SS Peter and Paul
(Áyios Pétros and Áyios
Pávlos) The joint feast of two of the more widely celebrated name days is
on June 29. Celebrations often run together with those for the Holy
Apostles (Áyii Apóstoli), the following day.
Prodhrómou) Popular pilgrimages and celebrations at Vrykoúnda on
Kárpathos.
SEPTEMBER
September 8: Birth of the Virgin Mary
(Yénnisis tís
Panayías) Sees special services in churches dedicated to the event, and a
double cause for rejoicing on Spétses where they also celebrate the
anniversary of the battle of the straits of Spétses. Elsewhere, there's a
pilgrimage of childless women to the monastery at Tsambíka, Rhodes.
September 14: Exaltation of the Cross
(Ípsosis toú Stavroú)
A last major summer festival, keenly observed on Hálki.
September 24: Feast of St John the Divine
(Áyios Ioánnis
Theológos) Observed on Níssyros and Pátmos, where at the saint's
monastery there are solemn, beautiful liturgies the night before and early
in the morning.
JULY
July 17: Feast of St Margaret
(Ayía Marína) A big event in rural
areas, as she's an important protector of crops.
July 20: Feast of the Prophet Elijah
(Profítis Ilías) Widely
celebrated at the countless hilltop shrines of Profítis Ilías. The most famous
is on Mount Taïyetos, near Spárti, with an overnight vigil.
July 26: St Paraskevi
(Ayía Paraskeví)
Celebrated in parishes or
villages bearing that name, especially in Epirus.
OCTOBER
October 26: Feast of St Demetrios
(Áyios Dhimítrios) Another
popular name day, particularly celebrated in Thessaloníki, of which he is
the patron saint. In rural areas the new wine is traditionally broached on
this day, a good excuse for general inebriation.
October 28: Óhi Day
A national holiday with parades, folk dancing
and speeches to commemorate prime minister Metaxas' one-word reply
to Mussolini's 1940 ultimatum: Ohi! (“No!”).
AUGUST
August 6: Transfiguration of the Saviour
(Metamórfosis toú
Sotíros) Another excuse for celebrations, particularly at Khristós Ráhon
village on Ikaría, and at Plátanos on Léros. On Hálki the date is marked by
messy food fights with flour, eggs and squid ink.
August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Apokímisis tís Panayías) This is the day when people traditionally
return to their home village, and the heart of the holiday season, so in
many places there will be no accommodation available on any terms.
Even some Greeks will resort to sleeping in the streets at the great
pilgrimage to Tínos; also major festivities at Páros, at Ayiássos on Lésvos,
and at Ólymbos on Kárpathos.
August 29: Beheading of John the Baptist
(Apokefálisis toú
NOVEMBER
November 8: Feast of the Archangels Michael and
Gabriel
(Mihaïl and Gavriïl, or tón Taxiárhon) Marked by rites at the
numerous churches named after them, particularly at the rural monastery
of Taxiárhis on Sými, and the big monastery of Mandamádhos, Lésvos.
CULTURAL FESTIVALS
Throughout the summer you'll find
festivals
of music, dance and theatre at venues across
Greece, with many of the events taking place at atmospheric outdoor venues. Some, in the
resorts and islands, are unashamedly aimed at drawing tourists, others more seriously artistic.
The granddaddy of them all is the Athens and Epiduarus
Festival
(
W
greekfestival.gr, see
p.110), which has been running every summer for over fifty years, incorporating everything
from open-air performances of Classical drama in ancient theatres to jazz and contemporary
art. Others include:
Dhimitría Cultural Festival, Thessaloníki
Sept-Nov
W
dimitriathess.gr
Domus Festival, Náxos
July-early Sept
W
naxos
festival.com
Ioánnina Folk Festival
July
Ippokrateia Festival, Kos
July
Iráklion Festival
July-Aug
Kalamáta Dance Festival
July
W
kalamatadance
festival.gr
Kassándhra Festival, Halkidhikí
(held jointly in Síviri and
Áfytos) July-Aug
W
festivalkassandras.com
Lefkádha Arts and Folklore festivals
Aug
W
lefkasculturalcenter.gr
Olympus Festival, Dhíon, Mt Olympus
July-Aug
W
festivalolympou.gr
Pátra International Festival
July-Sept
Pátra Film Festival
Oct
W
independent.gr
Philippi Festival, Thássos
July-Aug
W
philippifestival.gr
Réthymnon Wine Festival
July
W
rethymnowinefestival.gr
Sáni Jazz Festival, Halkidhikí
July-Aug
W
sanifestival.gr
Sými Festival
July-Aug
W
symifestival.com
Thessaloníki International Film Festival
Nov
W
ilmfestival.gr
Thíra Music Festival
Aug-Sept
Vólos Festival
Aug
W
festivalvolos.gr
