Festivals and Celebration Days 2008
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1st January |
Agios Vassilios ( New Year or "Protochronia"). A celebration day everywhere in Greece, offering presents to each other,
similar to Christmas Eve in Europe. You wish to each other a good and healthy new year ("kali chronia"). |
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23rd April |
Pascha (Easter Sunday). The most important Celebration Day acc. to the Greek-Orthodox church agenda. Processions with
candles on Saturday at midnight take place, fireworks, the famous ‘Ovelias” (lamb on the spit) over the open grill-fire
and special ceremonies are taditional. |
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23rd April |
Special day dedicated to the St. George, Patron of the sheppers. It is supposed to be a significant celebration day, which
determines the beginning of the sheppers’ season. Nameday of Georgia and George. |
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1st May |
Protomagia ( 1st of May celebration). Everybody picks wild flowers braiding them together with garlic to a
wreath or garland, decorating doors, boats and cars, meaning to prevent any bad odds. Parades are also customable in order
to celebrate the Day of Labour. |
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21st May |
Agios Konstantinos and Eleni. It’s the nameday of Kostas and Eleni, dedicated to Konstantine and his mother Helen, who were
the first orthodox byzantine rulers. |
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24th June |
Agios Ioannis (St. John’s day). It’s the anniversary of St. John’s the baptizer’s birthday. The previous day they burn all
those braided garlands from the 1st May. Nameday of John and Joanne. |
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15th August |
Assumption Day. A very big celebration day all over Greece with lots of festivities. Nameday for Panagiotis, Panagiota
and Panos. |
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26th October |
Agios Dimitrios Day, who determines the end of the sheppers’ season. All sheeps and goats are taken in from the mountains.
Nameday for Dimitris and Dimitra. |
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28th October |
"Ochi" Day. A very relevant celebration, the National Day with patriotic parades to remember the day on which the
Greeks resisted against Mussolini’s ultimatum in 1940 by saying "Ochi" = "No". |
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6th December |
St. Nikolas. Protector of the children, travelers and marines. Nameday for Nikos and Nikoletta. |
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25th December |
Christougenna. Celebration Day all over Greece, Christmans Eve, however not so big and commercial as celebrated in
Germany or other rest of Europe. |
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