Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

A YEAR IN

THE GREEK ISLANDS

APRIL
MARCH △ Easter Week (Apr/May). A huge Orthodox
religious festival – the most important of the
△ Independence Uprising Celebrations (25 Mar). year – continues for a week.
The anniversary of the start of the War of Megáli Pémpti/Maundy Thursday (Thu before
Independence is celebrated with military Easter Sun). The abbot of the Monastery of
parades across the country.. St John on Pátmos washes his monks’ feet in
Evangelismós/Annunciation (25 Mar). imitation of Christ and his disciples.
Orthodox Catholics rejoice the angel Gabriel Megáli Paraskeví/Good Friday (Fri before
appearing to Mary with the news that she Easter Sun). Women of each parish decorate
was the Theotókos, or God-Bearer. an Epitáfios (Bier of Christ), which is paraded
around before a solemn evening service
marking the crucifixion of Jesus.

JULY AUGUST
△ Agía Marína (17 Jul); Profíti Ilía/Prophet Varkaróla Festival (2nd weekend). Fireworks light
Elijah (20 Jul); Agía Paraskeví/St Paraskevi up the sky over Paleokastrítsa on Corfu as part of
(26 Jul). Festivals for saints’ days. a weekend-long cultural festival.
Paxos Festival (Jul–Sep). The island △ Kímisi tis Theotókou/Dormition of the
celebrates summer with a variety of Mother of God (14–15 Aug). It’s home time as
cultural events hosted all over the Greeks return to their ancestral villages for a week.
island, including in historic sites. Lefkáda International Folklore Festival (3rd
week). Folk-dance groups from around the world
perform across the island.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER
ton Taxiarhón Mihaíl ke Gavriíl/Taxiarch Christoúgenna (throughout). A special time for
Angels Michael and Gabriel (8 Nov). The angel’s tradition and family, Christmas is celebrated in
feast day is celebrated with a large mass and unique style across the islands, like on Kefaloniá,
a procession of the icon, and is attended by where women burn incense outside their front
many pilgrims. doors to scare away hobgoblins.
△ Isódia tis Theotókou/Presentation of △ Paramoní tis Protochroniás/New Year’s Eve
the Mother of God (21 Nov). Pilgrims visit the (31 Dec). Adults play cards for money and divide
Hozoviótissa, Amorgós, to celebrate Virgin Mary. the vasilópita with a lucky coin baked into it.
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