Greeks love festivals! On major holidays, they do not work, they go to parades, light bonfires and set off fireworks. Especially for you, the ZagraNitsa portal has studied the brightest holiday traditions of Greece
Every holiday in Greece is a spectacle! Having visited any of them at least once, you definitely will not confuse Hellas with another country. How can you forget, for example, a boat dressed up instead of a Christmas tree or No Day?!
Christmas
Orthodox Greeks celebrate Christmas on the Gregorian calendar on December 25, but towns and villages are transformed as early as November. Garlands are hung on the streets, illumination is installed. However, now you will not see anyone with lights with Christmas trees. But the ship ... Here they dress it up by analogy with a tree. During the Christmas and New Year holidays, residents build boats from illumination or decorate real ships. Install them, of course, in the city center. At home, almost every Greek also has a small boat, decorated with a shiny "rain". This is because the ship symbolizes happiness, and, of course, the sea. The Greeks are engaged in fishing, so a beautiful ship is in some way a sign of gratitude. Among other traditions: songs-analogues of our carols, themed street performances, services in temples, preparation of Lenten and festive Christmas dishes. On Christmas Eve, on the tables of the Greeks, there are always lahanosarmades - small lean cabbage rolls made from grape leaves. They symbolize Christ in swaddling clothes.
Photo: by luv80 
Photo: by Christina Cholidou
New Year
Compared to Christmas, this is a less grandiose holiday. Moreover, on January 1, the Greeks celebrate St. Basil's Memorial Day, so the beginning of the year fades into the background. Actually, St. Basil is considered Santa Claus here and is called "Agios Vasilis". This saint is greatly revered in the country, because many centuries ago he helped the poor and the sick in every possible way - in general, he did a lot of good for the Greek people. Therefore, the main dish New Year's table- not olivier, but vasilopita: St. Basil's pie. If you are in Athens for New Year, do not be lazy to find a place with a view of the Acropolis to see the fireworks at midnight.
Photo: by Alexandros Maragos
Gynaicracy
Very consonant and close to democracy! January 8 is akin to March 8 - International women's day. Greek women are idle on this day: washing, cleaning, cooking - all this is temporarily shifted to the non-fragile shoulders of men. However, the role reversal has nothing to do with the names of Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxembourg. Ginaikratia is a women's festival especially popular in northern Greece. True, the holiday has long been not associated with dancing or mass festivities. On January 8, women festival for themselves: they gather in cafes, at discos - in general, they have fun as they can. Therefore, very often Ginaikratia is called briefly and clearly: “Matriarchy Festival”.
Photo: by sbouboux Shall we fool around?
Midsummer Night is a holiday when you can and should do pranks. Although, more precisely, not quite the middle, because the holiday is celebrated on the night of June 23-24. What are the Greeks doing during these hours? They tear flowers, weave wreaths, make fires. A nighttime picnic. Plus fortune-telling and various rituals so that evil spirits go to hell. In a word, almost Slavic Ivan Kupala. The only pity is that the day, and the night of the middle of summer, is not a weekend.
Greek Independence Day, or Day of Liberation from the Turkish Yoke
The national holiday is celebrated on March 25 and is marked by numerous parades. You can talk about the 400-year-old enslavement of the Greeks by the Turks for a long time. The meaning of the holiday is that on March 25, 1821, the Greeks rebelled and, in the end, got rid of the yoke. True, the liberation dragged on for 10 years ... Pay attention: the Greeks do not celebrate the end of the war, but its beginning. Those are their rules! On March 25, the whole country goes to parades. The largest traditionally take place in Athens and Thessaloniki. Here you can see columns of military equipment (tanks, self-propelled artillery mounts, armored vehicles, etc.), firefighters, special forces, sailors and infantrymen, stepping foot in step to the accompaniment of the orchestra. School parades are organized almost everywhere - both in large and small towns. At the head of such a procession are veterans, and then - the Greeks in national costumes. Pupils of schools close the procession.
Photo: by Kostas Arvanitis 
Photo credit: Maximilien Nguyen
Easter
The Resurrection of Christ is celebrated with grandeur and jubilation. At midnight, when the cries of "Christ Anesti!" (“Christ is risen!”), the whole country explodes with fireworks. Huge Easter bonfires are lit in the squares in front of the temples. Then the solemn procession begins. All its participants sing and hold lighted candles in their hands. The procession heads to the central streets of the city, where a symbolic ritual takes place - the burning of Judas the traitor.
Photo: DeVisu/Shutterstock
Ohi Day, or No Day
Όχι means "no" in Greek. That was the answer to the Italian dictator Mussolini, who wanted to send his troops to Greece and thereby make it an ally of Nazi Germany. It happened on October 28, 1940. After the refusal, Greece entered the war against fascism. Now October 28 is a holiday in the country. Parades are held everywhere (the same as on Independence Day), as well as flower-laying ceremonies at the monuments to those who died during the war.
Photo: DeVisu/Shutterstock
The museum is free!
During public holidays Greek museums can be visited free of charge. But before the visit, you need to clarify whether the museum is open on a holiday, and if so, until what time (mainly until 15:00; Monday is almost always a day off). Also, admission to museums is free on April 18 (International Monument Day), May 18 (International Museum Day), June 5 (International environment), September 27 (International Tourism Day) and the last Sunday in September (European Heritage Day).
Greeks are southern people, passionate, temperamental, loving life, music, dancing and pleasures living for today. In Greece, both religious and public holidays are celebrated on a grand scale. Since the church and the state are one, they do not differ much, except that part of the public holidays is associated with tragic events.
Amazing people - the Greeks. They selflessly sing and dance in joy, but also behave in sorrow.
The Greek calendar is made up of many significant dates, and almost all of them are celebrated cheerfully, on a grand scale, in compliance with ancient traditions and the performance of all sorts of rituals. The Greeks are a very religious people, and, most likely, that is why the main part of the holidays is directly or indirectly connected with the church and religion. There are a little less folk and national holidays in the Greek calendar than religious ones. The Greeks profess Orthodoxy, but live according to the Gregorian calendar, so the dates of religious holidays coincide with Catholic dates (except for Easter).
In Greece 12 official holidays, these days are declared non-working. The Greeks have even more unofficial holidays, which, although they are not the reason for missing work, are celebrated just as cheerfully and violently as the official ones. Therefore, the Greeks are full of festivals, carnivals, noisy street festivities throughout the year. And if we take into account that even on a completely ordinary, unremarkable day, a Greek can afford to arrange a holiday, invite guests, then in general one gets the impression that the whole life of a Greek is pure fun.
State dates
These days are declared days off. The people are cooking festive table, goes to visit, and all sorts of festive events are held in public places.
Greece Independence Day
March 25 is Greek Independence Day. In 1821, on this day, an uprising began against the Turkish invaders. Today, on this day, elegant, cheerful and very patriotic Greeks march solemnly through the streets, sing songs and dance. Interestingly, the Greeks themselves love to make fun of themselves and their country, but they will never allow a foreigner to do this.
Ohi Day
On October 28, another, no less significant, day is celebrated in Greece - “Ohi Day”. In 1940, Mussolini offered the Greeks to surrender to the Nazis without a fight. The Greek government answered "no" ("oohs"). Then the Italians attacked the country and were defeated, German troops came to their aid, who were forced out of the country in 1944.
Feast of the Remembrance of the Dead
May 19 - Feast of the Remembrance of the dead. On this day, the Greeks solemnly remember their ancestors who died in 1916-1923. in battles with the Turks. And the music is pouring, and dancing in the streets. Such is the holiday, albeit a sad one.
Apokries
Apokries is not quite a state holiday, although it is celebrated everywhere in the form of numerous carnivals with dressing up, songs and dances. However, it can also be attributed to religious only conditionally. This is our Maslenitsa, which has remained with the Greeks since pagan times and is very disliked by Orthodox priests. But ordinary people are happy to have fun on February 12, the day before Clean Monday - the beginning of Lent. By this time, the ancient Greeks were eating up their meat reserves, and then they had to limit themselves in food. That is why the holiday is called "apo kreas" - "without meat." It is necessary to eat at least on the last day and rejoice!
Gynecocracy is a holiday similar to March 8 in our country, but with its own characteristics. No, it is not customary to give flowers to women on this day. And on this day they rest! On January 8, in Greece, men take over all women's duties - they sit at home with children, cook, wash, clean - in general, they do everything that women usually do. And women enjoy life on this day: they communicate with friends, go to cafes, cinemas, pamper themselves with manicures, pedicures, massages and indulge in other feminine joys. Like this! This is not to give you a bouquet of flowers on March 8, International Women's Day, but to allow you to enjoy complete freedom all day long!
Polytechneo
November 17 is celebrated Polytechneo - the state day of students. If in Russia such a holiday is cheerful and carefree (Tatiana's Day), then the Greeks celebrate sad anniversary the student uprisings of 1973 and the violent suppression of this uprising by the military authorities. By the way, the police are not allowed into universities throughout Greece because of this even today. The date is gloomy, but the optimistic Greeks do not lose heart. They know how to joyfully meet every day.
hellenic festival
In the summer months, the Greeks celebrate the Hellenic Festival on a grand scale, knowing full well that they are the descendants of all European, and indeed world, art. Performances are staged in ancient theaters, musical evenings of various directions are held.
Religious holidays
Easter
Easter - main holiday all Christians. Seven weeks before its onset, Kira Sarakosti begins - a pre-Easter custom - a kind of calendar, with which Lent goes faster. In every Greek family, an image of a woman with seven legs is hung on the wall (weeks before Easter), with her hands crossed in prayer and her mouth covered with a handkerchief (fasting after all). In different places in Greece, this Kira Sarakosti (or "Fourteen") had a different appearance - somewhere instead of a paper figurine of a woman it was made of dough, and somewhere an onion with seven chicken feathers ("Kukara") was hung from the ceiling. Every week, one leg was plucked off, and the last one (perhaps out of joy that Lent was finally over) was baked into an Easter cake - for the luck of whoever finds it.
Greeks celebrate Easter, in principle, in the same way as other Orthodox: they go to church, paint eggs (traditionally red), arrange feasts, invite guests. But here's the difference - the celebration of Easter is accompanied by amazing fireworks and noisy street festivities. In some cities of Greece, the celebration of Easter is even more magnificent than the celebration of the New Year. After the solemn Easter service on Holy Saturday, all of Greece rejoices, resounds with joyful cries, firecrackers and fireworks soar high into the sky, huge Easter bonfires light up in front of the churches. Fireworks do not stop all Bright Week. Greek children are especially happy about this bright holiday, because the Easter school holidays last for 15 days!
Assumption of the Virgin
Kimisi tis Feotoku - the Day of the Assumption of the Mother of God is celebrated on a grand scale and not as a sad holiday of death, but as a triumph of tranquility and peace.
Clean Monday
Clean Monday is celebrated 40 days before Easter by going out into nature and flying kites. By the way, it is not exactly established who was the first inventor of this light aircraft - the Chinese or the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, because its description is found in the works of the mathematician Architas in the 1st century BC, and an image of a girl with a kite was found on an antique vase.
Epiphany or Baptism
Theophany (Epiphany or Baptism) is celebrated on January 6th. The Greek Church has been living according to the Gregorian calendar for many years, which is why the difference with the Russian Orthodox is in those 13 days that allow us to celebrate the New Year twice. The holiday is celebrated exactly as in Russia. There are no twenty-degree frosts here, but the water in the sea is very cold. Sometimes a priest on a rope throws a silver cross into the water, and Greek brave (and hardened!) young men dive in the hope of grabbing it - for good luck and good luck.
“How you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it”- so the Russian people think, and in the same way - the Greeks. Therefore, the celebration of the New Year is prepared in advance and very carefully. However, this holiday among the Greeks has a more religious character than among the Russian people, since January 1, 379 AD. e. - the date of the death of St. Basil, in whose honor the holiday is named. On the eve of the New Year, children walk the streets, knock on neighbors' houses and sing carols that portend the prosperity of the house and the well-being of its owners in the new year. Per good wishes children receive a reward - money and sweets. In the New Year, the Greeks gather with the whole family at the same table, prepare a lot of delicious treats, set the table so that there is practically no free space on it - everything should be filled with dishes with snacks, salads and other goodies. As a hot dish, they usually serve a piglet or lamb and, of course, Vasilopita - a pie stuffed with berries and nuts and with a surprise in the form of a coin. After midnight, the head of the family cuts Vasilopita: the first piece goes to Christ, the second to Saint Basil, the third to the oldest member of the family, and so on. Whoever gets the coin will have a happy and prosperous year. If the coin ends up in a piece of cake destined for Christ or St. Basil, then with this money the Greeks buy candles in the church and put them near the iconostasis. Further, after dinner with the family, the Greeks go to visit, and the real fun begins! Flappers, firecrackers, fireworks, noise, roar, music, songs - crazy fun!
Christmas- a holiday loved by everyone and on all continents. In Greece, it is celebrated on December 25th.
On this day, it is customary to clean up the house, decorate it, bring a spruce into the house and decorate it. In ancient times, the Greeks, preparing for Christmas, went to the forest and looked for the largest and noblest spruce or olive tree, cut it down and brought it into the house. The felled tree was intended to be burned in the fireplace from Christmas until Epiphany (January 6). It was believed that while the tree was burning, Christ was warm in the cold Bethlehem cave. This ancient custom is observed today only in small Greek villages and villages, in large cities it has long been forgotten. But such an ancient Christmas custom as baking Christ's bread, which is called Christopsomo, is still observed by many Greeks. Bread is baked from the best flour with the addition of sesame seeds, fragrant spices and nuts, and most importantly, they do it with special care and love. The dough is kneaded reverently and reverently, so that the cooking process is similar to an important sacred ceremony.
Among the tables lined with all sorts of goodies, there are sure to be “lahanodolmades” (stuffed cabbage rolls, which the Greeks consider a symbol of the swaddled Christ).
Mummers and carols - that goes without saying.
Not far from Athens, in the main Greek harbor of Piraeus, on January 6, the main Greek prayer service is held in honor of the Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany). On this day, the waters of all seas, lakes and rivers are illuminated. In cities located near water expanses, a ceremony is still held, as in ancient times - priests throw a large cross into the water, thereby illuminating it, and especially brave young people dive and try to find it. The one who finds the cross receives a special blessing from the church.
In 1250, on one very unlucky night, a fire broke out in the church in the Greek village of Ayia Eleni. The noise of the flames and the crackling of the burning wood was now and then interrupted by weeping coming from the church engulfed in flames. It was the icons of St. Helena and her son Constantine who called for help. Hearing the cry, the villagers rushed into the fire to save the image, and after that they gained the ability to walk on hot coals without feeling pain. Since then, on the night of May 21-22, the Greeks celebrate Pyrovassia or Firewalking - this is a rite of worship for Christian icons. This is a holiday of a small people living in the north of Greece, they are called Anastenarians. In honor of the people, the holiday is also called Anastenaria. In some villages, Firewalking is celebrated from May 21 until May 23. These days people pray, repent of sins, cry, dance, some even go into a trance. There is also a sacrifice on this day: in honor of the gods and saints, the best lamb in the village is slaughtered.
On the night of May 21-22, people gather in one of the squares, make fairly large log huts and set them on fire. While the fire is burning, people perform some very strange dances with their eyes closed, some make long moans, scream - this is how they put themselves into a trance. After the fires have burned out, people walk on hot coals with an expression of joy, pleasure, and even, one might say, ecstasy on their faces. And after that they demonstrate that there is not a single burn on their feet. Greek Orthodox Church considers this holiday to be pagan, but the "fire walkers" sincerely believe that they are patronized by Saints Helena and Constantine during the ceremony.
It is also very interesting to be in Greece in mid-February, more precisely from February 12th. At this time begins three week carnival before the Greek Maslenitsa, which is called Apokries. Carnival processions usually take place in the outback, in small towns, villages, villages - so where people still appreciate and honor ancient traditions and customs. For three weeks, folk festivals take place on the streets, people dress up in beautiful costumes, have fun, drink wine, sing songs and dance to national music. In these three weeks, Greece is filled with bright colors, the noise of firecrackers and the roar of fireworks!
Personal holidays
The Greeks are cheerful, so personal holidays are celebrated sincerely and on a grand scale.
Baptism
The child does not have a name to this day. They usually baptize a year after birth, relatives gather, with gifts, congratulations. Godparents often donate not only money, but also bring a complete "dowry" to the baby.
name day
The Greeks traditionally choose the name in honor of their ancestors, and those were named after saints, so it is impossible to meet Cosmos or Vladilen here. The whole family gets together on the birthday. Fun and joy are in full swing, the birthday boy listens to a lot of wishes, and much more than on his birthday - name days in Greece are preferable.
betrothal
Greek brides and grooms are well aware that marriage is a responsible and very important matter, because betrothal is a holiday. With guests, a dowry agreement, mutual promises, often with a priest.
The process is long, very expensive and creates a lot of trouble for both families. But everyone is happy, they observe a lot of all sorts of large and small conventions and invite not only relatives and friends, but even strangers who have met on the road to celebrate. In the cities the scope modern wedding became smaller, and on the islands and in the villages folk traditions honor.
Local traditional holidays
Local traditions in Greece can be quite different - in the north and south, in the mainland and the island, and therefore the holidays are such that they are celebrated not throughout the country, but somewhere in a certain area. It would be interesting to be in this place on this day.
In the north, a few people - the Anastenarians - organize an amazing action - Pyrovassion- The festival of fire. In the morning they begin to pray, sing, dance tirelessly, kindling fires around. Many, having brought themselves almost to a frenzy, by night easily walk on coals, and their legs do not suffer at all. It is probably not worth experiencing such pleasure on yourself, but it is interesting to see.
May 26 on the island of Euboea is celebrated Ivan the Russian day- a saint from Russia, who did not retreat from the Christian faith before the Turks. At this time, many pilgrims come to the island, and throughout Greece they know this name.
Another saint - Dmitry Solunsky- is remembered by the Greeks on October 26 in his hometown Thessaloniki. On the same day, the city was liberated from the Turks, so the holiday is double.
She made an invaluable contribution to European culture. Literature, architecture, philosophy, history, other sciences, state system, laws, art and myths of ancient greece laid the foundation for modern European civilization. Greek gods known all over the world.
Greece today
Modern Greece little known to most of our compatriots. The country is located at the crossroads of West and East, connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. The length of the coastline is 15,000 km (including the islands)! Our map will help you find an original corner or Island which has not yet been. We offer a daily feed news. In addition, for many years we have been collecting a photo and reviews.Holidays in Greece
Correspondence acquaintance with the ancient Greeks will not only enrich you with the understanding that everything new is a well-forgotten old, but will also encourage you to go to the homeland of gods and heroes. Where our contemporaries live behind the ruins of temples and the ruins of history with the same joys and problems as their distant ancestors millennia ago. An unforgettable experience awaits you relaxation, thanks to the most modern infrastructure surrounded by virgin nature. On the site you will find tours to Greece, resorts and hotels, weather. In addition, here you will find out how and where it is issued visa and find Consulate in your country or Greek Visa Application Center.Property in Greece
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In Greece, as in any civilized country, there are several national holidays. In order not to underestimate the importance of any of them, we will talk about the holidays in chronological order.
The first holiday of the year falls on the first of January and is called the New Year. Children believe that on this day St. Basil comes through the chimney and leaves gifts for the children in their shoes. Going to visit, you need to take a stone with you, which should be thrown at the threshold. According to another custom, the head of the family must go out into the courtyard at exactly midnight and smash the grenade against the wall with all his might so that the grains scatter as far as possible. Epiphany is usually celebrated on January 6th. The holiday means the Epiphany of the Lord, the Day of the Three Magi Kings and Epiphany. The main celebrations take place in the harbor of Piraeus. You need to gather near the water, because on this day absolutely all the water is consecrated. Festivities are also held in other ports.
Independence Day is celebrated on March 25th. For any Greek, March 25, 1821 is considered the most important day in recent history Greece. Here, independence day is celebrated, as elsewhere, with processions, celebrations and concerts. If, having chosen a spring holiday in Greece, you happen to get to Easter, then you will understand how important religion is here. It is celebrated on Friday, and two days before that all flags are flown to half-staff, institutions are closed and it seems that no one is anywhere.
October 28th is Ohi Day. In Greek, "ochi" means "no." On the night of October 28, 1940, Greece refused to surrender to Italy, which led to the outbreak of war. The Greeks are glad that they did not give up and fought for their freedom. The Day of the Assumption of the Mother of God is celebrated on August 15. The festivities take place in famous monasteries: Panagia tis Tinou and Panagia Sumela. The miraculous icon of Panagia is a national relic. Now it is kept in the historical museum of Athens.
The Catholic day of St. Nicholas is celebrated on December 6 even by the Orthodox part of Greece. Nicholas is a very revered saint. He patronizes travelers, sailors, students, farmers, unjustly condemned and captives. On this day you can see a large number of processions to the sea. The last national holiday of the year is Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25th. It is celebrated, just like all over the world, but with its own small differences. There is one sure way to visit all these holidays and stay here to live.