Looking at the forthcoming months holidays and events

The people of Greece certainly know how to celebrate and there are many opportunities throughout the year. Mostly religious festivals or ‘panighyri’ dominate the events calendar. Here is an overview of some of the bigger social occasions; several dates differ from year to year, for example Easter is a moveable feast because it is not fixed to any civil calendar but the lunisolar calendar.

January 1st
FEAST OF SAINT BASIL is naturally significant as the first day of the New Year. Basil cake called ‘Vassilopita’ containing a hidden coin is customarily eaten on this day. The lucky person finding the coin in their slice of cake expects to be blessed with good fortune for the coming year.

January 6th
EPIPHANY in Greek ‘epithaneia’ means appearance; it celebrates the birth of Jesus and his baptism by John the Baptist. It is represented by the Blessing of the Waters throughout Greece. Priests will throw a cross into a large body of water such as a river, lake or the sea. On Zakynthos, a pious crowd follows the priest to the harbour front across from Saint Marks Square. On calm days Zakynthian swimmers battle each other and the cold, in an effort to retrieve the cross qualifying the winner to a lucky year ahead.

CARNIVAL SEASON precedes the start of fasting for forty days leading up to Easter. It is a time of jollification; partying, eating and drinking. Street theatre and dances are a feature. Lasting two weeks, it culminates in a flamboyant costume parade on the last Sunday. For the purists it is an excuse for merriment right up until the last possible opportunity before fasting for lent. It is thought that origins of the carnival predate Christian times when the god Dionysus was celebrated in a large and raucous festival first recorded in 1268. Revellers would let loose their inhibitions and role reversal was common in the form of elaborate cross dressing and the lower-classes would mimic the gentry.

CLEAN MONDAY or ‘Katheri Deftera’ is the end of the pre-Lenten carnival. Animal and dairy products are forbidden during the six weeks of fasting while sacred tradition observes that the devout should abstain from sexual relations. Pure Monday, as it is also known heralds the start of spring. Family excursions and picnicking in the countryside make for an enjoyable holiday Monday. Weather permitting; kite flying is a favourite pastime specific to this day. The Zakynthian skyline dotted with a colourful array of kites is a sight to see.

March 25th
GREEK NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDANCE celebrates the country’s biggest historical event and could be compared to America’s 4th July. The islands school children parade in Saint Marks Square to commemorate victory in the war of independence against 400 years of Turkish rule. On this day it is claimed that Bishop Germanos of Patra blessed the Greek flag and proclaimed the national uprising, however Alexandros Ypsilantis had already declared war on February 21st. Ypsilantis became leader of the ‘Friendly Society’ a secret revolutionary order with its roots in freemasonry. In 1818 the society expanded to Zakynthos.

HOLY WEEK includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday. Fasting is very strict for this week. Various services are held in the churches across the island.

April (19th 2009)
EASTER SUNDAY marks the start of a new beginning. For the Orthodox Church this is their most important festival. Zakynthos paschal services are held on the eve of Easter Sunday, at midnight the churches are dramatically thrown into darkness as all lights are extinguished and the Service of Light begins. Proclaiming “Christ has risen”, the paschal candle is lit from the eternal flame that burns at the church alter. The priest shares the flame from his candle - lighting the candles of the congregation as they file out from the church to return home for a celebratory meal. Tradition dictates that he who manages to get home with their flame intact shall be blessed with good fortune. Householders use the candles flame to char the sign of a cross on the lintel above their front doors. Fasting is over and the family share a feast of ‘mageiritsa’, a type of lambs liver soup before going to bed.
Traditionally a goat or lamb is spit-roasted for the Sunday festivities and is usually prepared by the men of the house. Special breads are eaten and children play a game of cracking hard-boiled eggs (similar to conkers). As is the custom, the eggs are dyed red representing the spilt blood of Christ, the eggs also symbolise rebirth.

May 1st
LABOUR DAY is a national bank holiday. A traditional day for holding workers rallies and marches, for others it is marked by a trip into the countryside to collect spring flowers. Often the flowers are woven into a wreath to be hung above the front door until the feast of St. John on the 29th August.

May 2nd
UNION OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS with Greece in 1864 was ceded by the British. Though there had been many campaigners, to include William Gladstone for the unification of the islands, the election of Danish born George I as King of Hellenes was the deciding factor for the British government to transfer ownership.

June (7th 2009)
PENTACOST, falling fifty days after Easter Sunday is a three day holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is a powerful feast of salvation and is the second biggest religious celebration of the summer. Churches are decked in greenery and all-night vigils are held.

August 15th
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY or ‘panighia’ is second in importance after Easter. Celebrated in every village and town throughout Greece. Proceedings are particularly festive if the village has a Church dedicated the Virgin Mary.

August 24th
FEAST OF SAINT DIONYSIOS is a three day festival held in memory of the islands patron saint who was canonised in the 1700’s. The first day commences with the opening of the silver reliquary containing the preserved corpse of the saint. A series of religious ceremonies are held at the Church of Saint Dionysios leading up to the parade of his body through the town on the 24th before returning it to the repository inside the church. Pilgrims and islanders form en masse along the harbour road for the parade. A small fairground and plethora of market stalls are sited on the seafront for the event. A second celebration takes place on 17th December marking the death of Saint Dionysios.

October 28th

OCHI DAY literally translated as ‘Day of No’ recalls Greek dictator Ioannis metaxas refusal given in response to Benito Mussolini’s ultimatum to grant Italy occupancy of strategic locations in Greece or face war. metaxas’ reply led Greece into World War II on this day in 1940. Schools take part in local parades.

November 17th
This is the anniversary of the students killed in Athens for resisting the military dictatorship. On this day in 1973 the Greek military junta crashed a tank through the gates of Athens Polytechnic. Twenty four deaths were recorded, to include a five year old boy caught in the cross-fire, along with numerous casualties. Schools and universities across Greece close for the day.

December 17th
Saint Dionynsios death is commemorated

December 24th
CHRISTMAS EVE is a time for singing carols. Children go door to door singing usually with a triangle percussion instrument.