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The Epiphany
It is the feast of Aya Theofnia, or Fta, which celebrates the day when the kalikntzarior hobgoblins that appeared during the period of Christmas are re-banished to the netherworld by the churchs rites. During Epiphany, waters are blessed and evil spirits are banished. At lakeside, seaside or riverside locations, the priests throw a cross into the water and young locals dive to compete for the privilege and blessing of finding it.
The Yinekokratia:
The feast of the Yinekokratia takes place in some villages of Thrace, a north region, where Saint Domenica is celebrated. It is a day where men and women reverse their daily roles for the day.
The Carnivals
The Carnival is called Apokries and is expressed by three weeks of feasting and dancing for three weeks before the Lenten Monday (Kathar Dheftera). Important celebrations take place in Patra, Xanthi and Cephalonia with a wonderful chariot parade and costumes parties.
Feast of Annunciation
It is a feast which celebrates the day the angel Gabriel announced Mary the incarnation of the Christ.
Easter:
Easter is the most important festival of Greece and of the Orthodox Church, and it really worth to be seen. The first ceremony takes place on Good Friday where the Epitafios, an imitation of the Christs funeral bier, is beautifully decorated with many flowers by the women of the parish. The Epitafios is then paraded through the streets of the villages or the neighbours of the cities. In some regions of Greece such as Crete, this ceremony is accompanied by the burning of effigies of Judas Iscariot.
The Feast of Agios Georgios (St George):
The feast is celebrating the knight who killed the Dragon. Saint George is the patron of the shepherds and celebrations are organised thorough the country. Great festivities also take place in Arahova and Skyros, where St George is the patron saint.
Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary:
This feast celebrates Marys ascent to Heaven. Great pilgrimages take place to Tinos and festivities are organised in Pros, Lesvos, Olymbos or Karpathos.
Greek Independence Day:
It is the day of the celebration of the beginning of the Greek revolution against the Turkish occupants in 1821. It is celebrated with military parades all over Greece. |
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Evia:
The second largest island after Crete, and has a lot to offer. It is excellent for driving around on, since there are many villages and interesting places worth visiting. Of course, there are nice beaches as well, and depending on where you stay, you can enjoy some real peace and quiet, or a hectic nightlife.Evia can be visited both in the winter and the summer. It has a ski center which is very popular amongst the Greeks, as well as places for water-sports.
Crete:
"Crete is the largest island of Greece, and because of its size and the fact that it is far away from the mainland, it is quite different from the rest of the country. The people speak a very distinctive dialect, have many customs nowhere else to be found, and often refer to themselves as Cretan, not Greek. In Greece, the Cretan people are known to be the toughest. Family vendettas still occur, and authorities are desperately trying to stop the custom to fire guns at weddings.
Crete has everything: beaches, hidden villages, big cities, snow-clad mountains, archaeological sites, medieval fortresses, museums and beautiful surroundings."
Rhodes:
Rhodes was an important port through much of history. As you approach the island, you will be amazed by the medieval walled town created by the Knights of Saint John. The island offers great scenery, pleasant people, good shopping, and lots to do. Be sure to visit Lindos to see the ruins of the Temple of Athena. As you ascend the hill to the temple, examine the fine linens for sale by trail-side "grannies".
Monemvasia:
An interesting walled city on the sea, Monemvasia offers a pleasant afternoon's diversion. The city is entered through a narrow gate followed by walkways that climb slowly around its hill. Filled with stone walks, small houses, and good restaurants and shops, Monemvasia is a place where you could loose a lot of time. Take a walk up the hill to see the town's fortifications, an old church, and a wonderful view of town and its setting on the water. Follow this with lunch at one of the many fine restaurants and, then, head for your next stop. |
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Time Zone
GMT + 1 Hour.
Language Spoken
Italian, Neapolitan, Piemontese, Venetian, Ligurian.
Passport/ VISA
British passport holders, endorsed British Citizen, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen, or British Subject do not need a visa to visit Italy for up to 90 days. Other passport holders require a visa
Climate
"The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the Alpine barrier from the cold north winds join to bless Italy with a temperate climate. Nevertheless, the weather varies considerably according to how far one is from the sea or the mountains. The winter is very cold in the Alps, cold and foggy in the Po Plain and the central Apennines; mild and even warm on the Ligurian coast, the Neapolitan coast and in Sicilia.
The summer is hot and dry, but the temperature is mitigated on the coast by sea breezes and in the Apennines and Alps it is pleasantly cool. In mountain areas, winter is ideal for skiing, and summer for excursions, hiking, etc. Seaside and lake resorts, with their excellent hotel facilities, have an intense tourist season in the summer, while the cities that are rich in art treasures are ideal in spring and autumn." |
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