Things to know about Greece
Country name: Hellenic Republic - Elleniki Dimokratia
• Residents: approx. 10.5 million
• Currency: Euro
• Climate: Mediterranean climate with strong seasonal fluctuations, (+ 45 ° summer, -5,5 ° winter in Athens)
• Location: peninsula and island state in southeastern Europe
• Land surface: 132,000 km² (107,000 km² mainland and approx. 25,000 km² island area), coastline approx. 15,000 km
• Capital: Athens, Greater Athens / Piraeus approx. 4.5 million inhabitants
• National language: Modern Greek
• National Holiday: 25th March (beginning of the freedom fight against the Ottoman Empire on 25.03.1821)
National holidays and festivals in Greece
• 25.03., National Day commemorating the fight for freedom in 1821 against the Turks. Big parades - partly in national costumes.
• Greek Easter: Easter is the festival of festivals in Greece. Highlights at Easter are the processions on Good Friday evening and the service in the night from Saturday to Easter Sunday (followed by Easter fireworks). On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday is then extensively celebrated.
•1. May Day: Doors, windows and cars are decorated with flower wreaths and many Greeks go out for a picnic or a barbecue.
• 15th August, Dormition: After Easter the second most important religious festival in Greece. Almost every island and every region has a place where this festival is celebrated (church festivals).
• 28th October, national holiday: Ochi day commemorating the resistance against the Italian occupiers during World War II. A big parade takes place e.g. in Thessaloniki.
Holidays in Greece
Rhodes
• 23.04. - Name day of Saint George (Kirchweihfest) is u.a. celebrated in Agios Issidoros, Afandou and Kritinia (Easter is after 23.04., the feast falls on Easter Monday).
• 5.5. - Dedication in Koskinou
• 29.06. - Dedication in honor of Saints Peter and Paul in Lindos
• 17.07. - Monastic festivals in Asgourou and Koskinou
• 27.07. - Dedication in Siana
• 29.07. - Donkey race near Soroni
• 08.15. - Church celebration in Kremasti and Embona
• 8.9. - Dedication at the new monastery of Tsambika and Psinthos
• 09.14. - Church celebration in Kalithies
• 10.18. - Dedication in Afandou Crete
• 08.15. - Assumption - in many places in Crete
• 25.08. - big procession in Heraklion
• 29.08. - Two-day festival on the Rodopou peninsula - west of Chania
• 09.14. - Festivals in the villages around the Ida Mountains Santorini Early September - international music festival
Lesbos
• Beginning of August - ouzo festival in Mytilini Paros
• second half of August - Cultural Festival in Lefkes Chios
• 22.07. - Dedication in the monastery Agia Markella Paros
• Beginning of July - Feast of fishermen in Naoussa
Naxos
• August - wine festival in the Chora
Athens
• Early June to late September - Athens Festival at the foot of the Acropolis in the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
• July - Lykavittos Festival - modern music
• At the Athens Festival Box Office you can get more information about the different festivals. The office is located in Odos Stadiou 4
Peloponnese
• 3.5. - Dedication in Argos
• End of June to end of August - Theater Festival of Epidaurus
• 7.7. - Kirchweihfest in Dimitsana
• End of July - folk dance festival in Kalamata
• 23.08. - Dedication at Elonas Monastery near Leonidio
• last weekend of August - wine festival in Nemea
• End of August - Wine Festival in Patras
• 09.23. - Fair in Tripoli
Chalkidiki
•02.05. - Dedication in Nea Olynthos
• 21.05. - Dedication in Ouranopolis
• 25.06. - Kirchweihfest at the gates of Arnea
• End of June to end of August - Kassandra Festival at the village of Siviri
• 20.07. - Kirchweihfest in Ierissos
• 08.15. - Kirchweihfest in many villages
• 1.9. - Dedication at Agios Mamas