Holidays in ancient Greece. Greek Independence Day is the country's most important holiday

In Greece, as in any civilized country, There are a few 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 the right way to visit all these holidays and stay here to live.

She was generously rewarded with natural beauties and sights. The sun and the sea added brightness and richness to the fireworks of colors, and the appetizing Greek is a powerful final major chord in this symphony of optimism and joy.

Perhaps that is why the Greeks, endlessly caressed by the sea and the sun, are the best at celebrating, rejoicing themselves and giving joy to others. The population of Greece loves holidays, celebrates them noisily, brightly and generously. Fireworks, carnivals, songs, dances - all this is in the spirit of the temperamental Greeks. We can say that Greece is a paradise for tourists.

Holidays in Greece can be conditionally divided into state, religious, national and folk. Conventionally, because religion in Greece is not separated from the state and is officially enshrined in the country's Constitution. 98% of Orthodox Greeks live in the country and all important Christian holidays noted at the state level.

Thanks to church and local folk traditions The Greek calendar is full of holidays and anniversaries. Each region has its own local, especially revered saints, whose days of memory are also a reason for joy. And, of course, each locality has preserved its ancient rituals and, according to tradition, regularly reproduces them. Often these rites are pagan, so the Greek Orthodox Church is constantly fighting with them.

The Greeks celebrate their weddings, christenings and birthdays just as cheerfully and noisily. Many different carnivals, festivals and festivities are organized especially for tourists. We can say that in Greece the atmosphere of the holiday practically does not stop.

Public holidays in Greece

Weekends in Greece fall only on very important holidays, state, Orthodox and national. These holidays are celebrated at the state level - the most important of them are Christmas, Easter, Independence Day and OHI Day (NO Day). These days are celebrated on a special scale, they are sure to pass solemn events, processions and festivities. Also, these days are necessarily celebrated by all ethnic Greeks living outside their country.

Holidays and weekends in Greece 2018

Events calendar 2018

ALFREDO ROMANO Byzantine Museum
November 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018
Location — Athens

International dance festival "Sinies" on about. Corfu
from 19 to 22 July 2018
Location — O. Kerkyra (Corfu)

International folklore festival"Sun and Stone"
from 6 to 10 July 2018
Location — Xanfi

International Folklore Festival "Akritia"
from 4 to 7 July 2018
Location — Aridea

International Folklore Festival "Pierides Musses"
from 4 to 9 July 2018
Location — Pieria

National Children's Meeting
from 4 to 8 May 2018
Location -Karditsa

Greece is a country with a rich history and culture, picturesque nature and the cleanest sea. Visiting this amazing piece of the planet, any person has the opportunity not only to get a luxurious tan on the magnificent beaches (most of which, by the way, are owners of blue flags - symbols of the cleanliness of the beaches), but also to touch the ancient civilization, which undoubtedly had a huge impact on the formation of European civilization.

Holidays of modern Hellas

Greece (or Hellas) is located at the crossroads of West and East, connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. Its capital is the city of Athens, known to us since childhood as the city of the Gods. important place tourism occupies the country's economy (especially after joining the European Union, which closed many plants and factories there). For tourists, the most popular destinations are the Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Zakynthos, Karpathos and so on. Here you can not only enjoy the beaches and the cleanest air, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of unbridled fun, visit stylish boutiques and shops, enjoy delicious and healthy meals traditional Greek cuisine, but also touch the ancient civilization by visiting a lot of attractions. Holidays in Hellas will leave you with a lot of pleasant impressions.

The Greeks are very close to all Russians, no, not by the distance on the map (although a flight to the Dominican Republic, for example, will take you much more time), but by the way of thinking, by some customs, in addition, we are also united by the Orthodox faith. It is no coincidence that Greece is one of the most popular destinations for Russian pilgrims visiting majestic monasteries and cathedrals, cozy rock churches. The Greeks are very sensitive to their faith and regularly attend church services with the whole family. Therefore the Greeks Special attention devoted to religious holidays.

Orthodox holidays Greece

December 25 - Christmas. In Greece, of course, you will not see snow-covered roofs, reindeer, or ride snowmobiles, as, for example, in the Christmas fairy tale Roveniemi, but it has its own charm. On the eve of this holiday, the air is filled with the aromas of baked chestnuts and cinnamon, the counters of pastry shops are covered with mountains of "snowy" powdered sugar kurabye, and Christ's bread appears on the table in every house. Every housewife considers it her duty to bake it. It is prepared from the best flour, nuts, sesame seeds with the addition of fragrant spices with special love and special awe, because Christ's bread is considered sacred.

The traditional dish for the Christmas table is turkey. True, this custom appeared here only in the 19th century thanks to the Mexicans. Among the traditional Greek dishes on the festive table, you can notice, for example, pork with celery or brushwood (the sweetness of melomakarona). At Christmas, the streets are filled with fun and the sounds of songs - Kalanda (carols). Greek Christmas morning begins with a visit to the church, and then they gather with their families at the festive table, on which rivers of Greek wine flow. It is all the more appropriate because Christmas time begins the next day and continues until January 4th.

Immediately after the end of Christmas time, on January 6, Epiphany is celebrated. On this day Orthodox Church recalls the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan. After the festive Liturgy, a solemn rite of consecration of sea and river waters is performed, and after the end of the service, the priest throws the cross into the sea, where young men and men dive, trying to get it. The one who manages to do this becomes the hero of the holiday.

The beginning of Lent - Clean Monday - is also celebrated as a national holiday in Greece, this day is a day off. It is celebrated with festivities, fasting feasts with seafood and wine. Traditionally Greek families go out on picnics that day and let kites are symbols of the coming of spring.

On March 25, all of Greece celebrates the Annunciation, the day when Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior. All who fast on this day are allowed to eat fish.

Lent ends with Easter. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Paschal Liturgy is celebrated, at which, to the exclamation of the clergyman, “Christ anesti!” all those gathered answer “Alifos anesti!”. At this time, firecrackers and fireworks begin to fly up behind the walls of the temples. The Greeks break their fast not in the way that the inhabitants of our country are used to, but with Magiritsa soup (from mutton offal) or just chicken broth. This holiday is celebrated with families or large friendly companies. The feast is not complete without rich bread - churek, lambs cooked on skewers and, of course, wine.

In Greece, the memory of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helen is honored. The rites held on May 21 - the day of St. Constantine and Helena - are an example of the close interweaving of pagan and Christian traditions Greeks. All over the country on this day, religious processions and festive services are held, a bull and a ram are slaughtered, and the rite of "anastenarya" is performed, which culminates in barefoot dances on hot coals. The performers of this rite consider it Christian, prepare for it by observing fasting and reading prayers.

the largest autumn holiday considered to be a cover Holy Mother of God(Agia Skepi), which takes place on 28 October. This holiday has its roots in the Byzantine era. At that time Constantinople miraculously was saved from the Muslim siege.

Public holidays and carnivals

Among the traditional public holidays applies New Year. On January 31, dressed-up children walk through the streets of cities and villages and sing carols - folk songs that have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. The Greeks do not have Santa Claus, but there is St. Basil, whose death just fell on January 1, 379 and led to the association of this holiday with his name. In Hellas there is a sign by which you can judge how the next year: if you meet in the morning good man, then the year will be good for you and vice versa. Traditional for New Year's holiday table is Easter cake - vasilopita, in the middle of which a coin is placed during cooking. And the person who gets it, it will certainly bring happiness.

Starting from the New Year, colorful carnivals are held in Greece, ending in last sunday before Lent. Each region of Hellas has its own traditions and its own carnival processions. But, perhaps, the center of carnival celebrations is the city of Patras. Here, the carnival, which has a two-hundred-year history and opens on January 17, gathers tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Traditionally, a crier walks the streets of the city and announces the beginning of this event. Puppet theatre, children's parade, light shows, fundraisers for the poor and even blood donations are all activities within this carnival. At the end (on the day when the Russians celebrate Shrovetide) they burn the effigy of the Carnival King in the bay. By the way, it was the carnival in Patras that absorbed a lot from the carnivals of Venice.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, for most of our citizens, May 1 is just an excuse to go to nature with friends away from the city, nothing more, and demonstrations and the slogan “peace, labor, May” have long sunk into oblivion. Traditionally in Greece, May Day is celebrated as the Day of Flowers and Labor. On this day, trade unions arrange numerous peaceful demonstrations, defending their rights and showing dissatisfaction with the social policy of the state. But back to the Spring Festival. On the first of May, following the traditions, the Greeks also tend to get into nature. There they are engaged in weaving wreaths of wild flowers, and each region of Greece uses its own weaving, but as a result, everyone gets a work of art. The wreaths are kept until St. John's Day (August 29), when they are burned on a large fire.

National holidays of the Greeks

There are many national holidays in Greece. Its inhabitants honor their history and are proud of it. Traveling through the outback of Hellas, in taverns on the walls you can see old photographs that will tell you that partisans who fought against fascism once gathered in this village, for example.

The main national holidays include the following dates:

1919-1922 - the time of the Greco-Turkish war. It was during this period that the Turks staged ethnic cleansing of the Greek population of historical Pontus. According to various sources, from 350 thousand to 1.2 million people died during this period as a result of the Greek genocide. A whole nation perished, but against the backdrop of the terrible events of the early 20th century, this somehow passed unnoticed by most countries. But the pain of loss will remain in the hearts of every Greek and all his descendants.

Okha Day is held on the day of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. In Greek, "oh" means "no". This was the answer Mussolini received in 1940, after which Greece entered into a bloody war with fascism. On this day, military parades are held throughout the country, and thanksgiving services are held in churches. Greece honors its heroes and says no to fascism.

The Polytechnio is a day dedicated to the memory of students who died or were injured as a result of the suppression of the uprising at the Polytechnic Institute in Athens. It was the first mass protest of Greek students in response to the illegal actions of the pro-American military junta "black colonels". The military, in suppressing this protest, used weapons and military equipment, as a result of which 24 people died, 128 were seriously injured, more than a thousand were injured. After this uprising, the military junta tightened its regime, but the Greeks are not used to bowing down, because they are a very freedom-loving and proud people. A year after this event, the power of the "black colonels" was overthrown.

May is the beginning of the swimming season in Greece. The water temperature in the island resorts is approaching comfortable, and in southern Crete it is quite suitable for long swims. Wherever you go to May holidays, explore the mainland or relax on the islands, Greece will give you many unforgettable experiences. In 2019, non-working days will be from May 1 to May 5, as well as from May 9 to 12. Can

Greece is known for its natural beauty And fascinating history. Greece's sights and ancient archaeological sites, countless islands, sandy beaches and mild Mediterranean climate make it one of Europe's top tourist destinations. Acropolis, Athens Palace of Knossos, Crete Meteora Monasteries, Thessaly Navajo Beach, Zakynthos Delphi, Phokis Akrop

Photos of Greece amaze with bright colors. It seems that the sea here is all shades of blue: from pale blue to deep turquoise. This combination is especially beautiful in Crete. Balos Lagoon. Crete, Greece. Find out the prices for tours to Crete Look at the photo of the Balos lagoon - three seas meet at once on it, which makes the landscape fantastic. It's hard to imagine that such beauty exists.

Mobile communications in Greece are of excellent quality, there is a signal even in the Athens metro. The network covers the entire territory of the country, with the exception of very small islands. You can buy a local SIM card at the office of a mobile operator, a tourist center, a store or a periptero street kiosk, you must have a passport with you. There are prepaid tariffs (for 5, 10 euros and more), you can put it on your account

There are hotels in Greece for every taste: for families with children and for lovers of silence; luxurious palaces and modest villas; hotels by the sea and apartments in the mountains; spa hotels and even island hotels. Airotel Stratos Vassilikos Hotel, Athens, Greece. View tours to this hotel Greece is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, hosting more than 12

Greece is a country with a rich history and culture, picturesque nature and clear sea. Visiting this amazing piece of the planet, any person has the opportunity not only to get a luxurious tan on the magnificent beaches (most of which, by the way, are owners of blue flags - symbols of the cleanliness of the beaches), but also to touch the ancient civilization, which undoubtedly had a huge impact on the formation of European civilization.

Holidays of modern Hellas

Greece (or Hellas) is located at the crossroads of West and East, connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. Its capital is the city of Athens, known to us since childhood as the city of the Gods. An important place in the country's economy is occupied by tourism (especially after joining the European Union, which closed many plants and factories there). For tourists, the most popular destinations are the Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Zakynthos, Karpathos and so on. Here you can not only enjoy the beaches and the cleanest air, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of unbridled fun, visit stylish boutiques and shops, enjoy delicious and healthy traditional Greek cuisine, but also touch the ancient civilization by visiting a lot of attractions. will leave you with a lot of pleasant impressions.

The Greeks are very close to all Russians, no, not by the distance on the map (although, for example, it will take you much more time), but by the way of thinking, some customs, in addition, we are also united by the Orthodox faith. It is no coincidence that Greece is one of the most popular destinations for Russian pilgrims visiting majestic monasteries and cathedrals, cozy rock churches. The Greeks are very sensitive to their faith and regularly attend church services with the whole family. Therefore, the Greeks pay special attention to religious holidays.

Orthodox holidays in Greece

December 25 - Christmas. In Greece, of course, you will not see snow-covered roofs, deer, and you will not ride snowmobiles, as, for example, in, but it has its own charm. On the eve of this holiday, the air is filled with the aromas of baked chestnuts and cinnamon, the counters of pastry shops are covered with mountains of “snow-covered” kurabye powdered sugar, and Christ’s bread appears on the table in every house. Every housewife considers it her duty to bake it. It is prepared from the best flour, nuts, sesame seeds with the addition of fragrant spices with special love and special awe, because Christ's bread is considered sacred.

A traditional dish for the Christmas table is a turkey. True, this custom appeared here only in the 19th century thanks to the Mexicans. Among the traditional Greek dishes on the festive table, you can notice, for example, pork with celery or brushwood (the sweetness of melomakarona). At Christmas, the streets are filled with fun and the sounds of songs - Kalanda (carols). Greek Christmas morning begins with a visit to the church, and then they gather with their families at the festive table, on which rivers of Greek wine flow. It is all the more appropriate because Christmas time begins the next day and continues until January 4th.

Immediately after the end of Christmas time, January 6, Epiphany is celebrated. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan. After the festive Liturgy, a solemn rite of consecration of sea and river waters is performed, and after the end of the service, the priest throws the cross into the sea, where young men and men dive, trying to get it. The one who manages to do this becomes the hero of the holiday.

The beginning of Lent - Clean Monday - is also celebrated as a national holiday in Greece, this day is a day off. It is celebrated with festivities, fasting feasts with seafood and wine. Traditionally, Greek families go on picnics on this day and fly kites - symbols of the onset of spring.

On March 25, all of Greece celebrates the Annunciation, the day when Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior. All who fast on this day are allowed to eat fish.

Lent ends with Easter. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Paschal Liturgy is celebrated, at which, to the exclamation of the clergyman, “Christ anesti!” all those gathered answer “Alifos anesti!”. At this time, firecrackers and fireworks begin to fly up behind the walls of the temples. The Greeks break their fast not in the way that the inhabitants of our country are used to, but with “magiritsa” soup (from mutton offal) or just chicken broth. This holiday is celebrated with families or large friendly companies. The feast is not complete without rich bread - churek, lambs cooked on skewers and, of course, wine.

In Greece, the memory of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helen is honored. The rites held on May 21 - the day of St. Constantine and Helena - are an example of the close interweaving of pagan and Christian traditions of the Greeks. All over the country on this day, religious processions and festive services are held, a bull and a ram are slaughtered, and the rite of "anastenarya" is performed, which culminates in barefoot dances on hot coals. The performers of this rite consider it Christian, prepare for it by observing fasting and reading prayers.

The largest autumn holiday is considered to be the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (Agia Skepi), which takes place on October 28. This holiday has its roots in the Byzantine era. At that time, Constantinople was miraculously saved from a Muslim siege.

Public holidays and carnivals

New Year is one of the traditional public holidays. On January 31, dressed-up children walk through the streets of cities and villages and sing carols - folk songs that have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. The Greeks do not have Santa Claus, but there is St. Basil, whose death just fell on January 1, 379 and led to the association of this holiday with his name. In Hellas, there is a sign by which you can judge how the next year will go: if you meet a kind person in the morning, then the year will be good for you and vice versa. Traditional for the New Year's festive table is Easter cake - vasilopita, in the middle of which a coin is placed during cooking. And the person who gets it, it will certainly bring happiness.

Starting from the New Year, colorful carnivals are held in Greece, ending on the last Sunday before Lent. Each region of Hellas has its own traditions and its own carnival processions. But, perhaps, the center of carnival celebrations is the city of Patras. Here, the carnival, which has a two-hundred-year history and opens on January 17, gathers tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Traditionally, a crier walks the streets of the city and announces the beginning of this event. Puppet theatre, children's parade, light shows, fundraisers for the poor and even blood donations are all activities within this carnival. At the end (on the day when the Russians celebrate Shrovetide) they burn the effigy of the Carnival King in the bay. By the way, it was the carnival in Patras that absorbed a lot from.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, for most of our citizens, May 1 is just an excuse to go to nature with friends away from the city, nothing more, and demonstrations and the slogan "peace, work, May" have long sunk into oblivion. Traditionally in Greece, May Day is celebrated as the Day of Flowers and Labor. On this day, trade unions arrange numerous peaceful demonstrations, defending their rights and showing dissatisfaction with the social policy of the state. But back to the Spring Festival. On the first of May, following the traditions, the Greeks also tend to get into nature. There they are engaged in weaving wreaths of wild flowers, and each region of Greece uses its own weaving, but as a result, everyone gets a work of art. The wreaths are kept until St. John's Day (August 29), when they are burned on a large fire.

National holidays of the Greeks

There are many national holidays in Greece. Its inhabitants honor their history and are proud of it. Traveling through the outback of Hellas, in taverns on the walls you can see old photographs that will tell you that partisans who fought against fascism once gathered in this village, for example.

The main national holidays include the following dates:

• May 19 - Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Panthian Genocide
• October 28 - Ohi Day
• November 17 - Polytechnic

1919-1922 - the time of the Greco-Turkish war. It was during this period that the Turks staged ethnic cleansing of the Greek population of historical Pontus. According to various sources, from 350 thousand to 1.2 million people died during this period as a result of the Greek genocide. A whole nation perished, but against the backdrop of the terrible events of the early 20th century, this somehow passed unnoticed by most countries. But the pain of loss will remain in the hearts of every Greek and all his descendants.

Okha Day is held on the day of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. In Greek, "oh" means "no". This was the answer Mussolini received in 1940, after which Greece entered into a bloody war with fascism. On this day, military parades are held throughout the country, and thanksgiving services are held in churches. Greece honors its heroes and says no to fascism.

Politehnio is a day dedicated to the memory of students who died or were injured in the suppression of the uprising at the Polytechnic Institute in Athens. It was the first mass protest of Greek students in response to the illegal actions of the pro-American military junta "black colonels". The military, while suppressing this protest, used weapons and military equipment, as a result of which 24 people were killed, 128 were seriously injured, and more than a thousand were injured. After this uprising, the military junta tightened its regime, but the Greeks are not used to bowing down, because they are a very freedom-loving and proud people. A year after this event, the power of the "black colonels" was overthrown.