| Fixed
public holidays and celebration days on Aegina |
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| 01 January |
New
Year's Day -
Agios Vasilis
Agios (Saint) Vasilis is Greece's Santa Claus, and gifts are exchanged
on this day rather than on Christmas. At midnight, the
vassilopita,
or Agios Vasilis cake, is served. The person who finds the hidden
coin in the vassilopita can look forward to a year of
luck. |
| 06 January |
Epiphany
The blessing of the waters. A religious custom, where
the local priest throws a cross in the sea. Young boys then
retrieve the cross and return it to the church. |
| 25 March |
Greek Independence Day
The army and schoolchildren parade in many villages on
this day, to celebrate the anniversary of the War of Independence
of 1821. |
| 01 May |
Protomayou -
Labour day and flower festival
A holiday and feast of the flowers. Wreaths are hung above
doors and on balconies for good luck and to ward off the evil eye. |
| 17 July |
Aghia Marina
Name Day
Celebration
day of the village of Aghia Marina. Special services in the little
church next to the beach, special market, fireworks and music. |
| 15 August |
Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Panagia)
On this holiday, a pilgrimage (to
the Monastery of Chrysoleonitissa),
pays homage to the Virgin Mary. In the Greek Orthodox religion,
this holiday is celebrated in all churches that carry the name
of Mary. |
| 07 September |
Celebration
Day in the village of Perdika
The big church on the headland in Perdika is called Agios
Sozon. Agios Sozon is the patron saint of Perdika. The name day
is the 7th of September, however, the actual procession with the
icon is on the evening of the 6th. For 2 or 3 days before the celebration,
there is the "panagyri" with many market stalls etc. After
the procession, there is a fireworks display, some of
the tavernas have live music, traditionally, "paidakia" ( lamb
chops ) are grilled and the " panagyri" lasts well into the
small hours. |
| 28 October |
Ochi Day
Parades and other celebrations commemorating Ochi Day, the anniversary
of General Ioannis Metaxas' flat denial to the Italians' request
for free passage to invade Greece. |
| 09 November |
Aghios
Nektarios Day
Aghios Nektarios is the most recent Saint of the Orthodox Church.
He died in 1920 and after his death a lot
of miracles
happened - they all were ascribed to him. The 9th of November
is dedicated to him. The impressive cathedral in the centre of
Aegina island has been erected in the honour of Aghios Nektarios
and is one of the largest in the Balkan. |
| 17 December |
Dionysios Day
Celebration day of patrion saint of the island. |
| 25 December |
Christmas
Day
On Christmas, a less important celebration than Easter, traditional
foods such as Kourabiedes, butter and white sugar cookies, and
Christopsomo bread decorated with a cross, are served. |
| 26 December |
2nd day of Christmas - Boxing Day |
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2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
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Shrove Monday/ Clean Monday
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25 February |
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| Good Friday * |
25 April |
17 April |
02 April |
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| Easter |
27 April |
19 April |
04 April |
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| Easter Monday |
28 April |
20 April |
05 April |
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| Easter Tuesday ** |
29 April |
21 April |
06 April |
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| Pentecost |
15 June |
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| Holy Ghost *** |
16 June |
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except shops
which open after 2pm |
| ** |
1/2 day
for shops only |
| *** |
Monday
after Pentecost - Government & banks only
(Many larger offices also take this holiday -
shops and smaller
businesses tend to be open) |
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| Apokries |
Three
weeks before lent. Masked and costumed people walk in the streets
during carnival, just before lent. |
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| Clean Monday |
The first day of
Lent is known as Clean Monday. It is called "clean" because
it marks the start of the lenten period during which our bodies
and spirits are "cleansed" to prepare for accepting the Resurrection.
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece, a day of great
celebration and traditions. Families take to the beach or countryside
for picnics and kite-flying. Children make "Kyra Sarakosti," (Lady
Lent), a paper doll with seven legs to represent the seven
weeks of Lent. Every week, a leg is cut off to show how many
weeks remain until Easter.
Foods during the seven weeks of Lent are fixed according to lenten
restrictions. This generally (there are a few exceptions)
means no meat or fish (nothing with blood) and nothing from animals
with blood (no milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, etc.). However, Clean
Monday has its own traditions, and all over Greece, tables will
be laid (and restaurants stocked) with dishes that have been
customary for generations. |
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| Good Friday |
Colourful religious
processions with representations of the body of Christ covered
with flowers take place in the streets of most of the villages. |
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| Easter |
The
Greek Ortohodox Easter, which is not at the same time as the
Roman Catholic Easter, marks the Resurrection of Christ and
is the most important religious event of the year. Real and
artificial eggs, dyed red to signify the blood of Christ, decorate
the shops and houses.
The Orthodox Easter dates are based on the original calculation
using the Julian calendar, converted to the equivalent date in
the Gregorian calendar now in use.
Easter-calculator (Western + Greek Easter) until 4099! Click
here
Do you want to know how the Easter date is determed? Click
here.
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picture on top of page:
Aghios Nectarios day on Aegina
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