Paros Events
Paros Events
See the full list of events as they are publicized in the Paros Community and Subscribe to the Paros Events Newsletter to receive in your mailbox a regular update of events.
Throughout the year locals and tourists alike celebrate the island's traditional festivals. Some are religious, others commemorate historical events, while others still are celebrations of everyday life. Each and every church on the island has a name day celebration to honour its' patron saint from the smallest to the biggest. These festivals combine religious elements with more secular themes as after the liturgy, dancing, eating, and drinking are the order of the day.
Don't miss the opportunity to join in and celebrate with traditional food and song.
Calendar of Annual Events
- 1st January:
- New Years Day or Proto Chronia
- Traditionally a time to exchange presents. A special cake or Vassilopita is baked containing a coin. Whoever receives the coin is due a year of good luck, hopefully not starting with a trip to the dentist.
- 6th January:
- Epiphany – “Theophania or Phota”
- A celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Rivers, lakes, and seas are blessed across the country, by immersing a cross in them. At many ports, including Parikia and Naoussa, a cross is thrown into the sea and young men dive in to retrieve it.
- 13th February:
- Start of Carnival Period – “Apokries”
- At any time during this period, but especially in the last week, fancy dress, (or masked) parties are held, privately and publicly. A good bet if you want to join in, is always the last weekend of Carnival when just about every bar or cafe will host a “masked party”.
- 24th Feb:
- “Tsiknopemti”
- This roughly translates as Smokey Thursday. The second Thursday of Carnival, or ten days before Lent, is the last day that red meat is supposed to be eaten before Easter. Barbecues and over indulgence in grilled meats is the order of the day. Don't be surprised if you are invited to join in with an impromptu street barbecue and help in the creation of the creation of the clouds of delicious smelling smoke that hang over the island on this day – hence the name. Wavering vegetarians though would be best advised to stay indoors.
- 7th March:
- “Kathari Deftera” or Clean Monday
- It is similar in theme to the western “Ash Wednesday” and traditionally a day to eat octopus, calamari, taramosalata and the special Clean Monday bread or “Lagana”.
- This day is also a day for kite flying and the skies, depending upon the wind, across the island but especially in Aliki, are full of home-made kites. Although you can also buy them in shops if you are feeling lazy.
- Children make “Kyria Sarakosti”, a seven legged doll to represent the seven weeks of Lent. Every week a leg is cut off until Easter arrives.
- During the Lenten Period, nothing with red blood, meat or fish is supposed to be consumed, and similarly nothing derived from creatures with red blood, i.e. dairy or eggs. Halva, a semolina based sweet – available in many different flavours – is traditionally eaten during this time, although it can nowadays be found throughout the year.
- 25 March:
- Greek Independence Day and the feast of Annunciation or “Evagelismos”
- This day commemorates the day in 1821 when the Bishop of Patras began the uprising that started the War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. A Parade is held along the seafront of Parikia.
- 17th April:
- Palm Sunday – “Ton Vaïon”
- A week before Easter and the start of “Megali Evdomada” or Holy Week.
- 22 April:
- Good Friday or “Megali Paraskevi”
- Throughout the country candlelit processions are held with icons and shrouded biers carried through the streets. The procession in Parika is particularly impressive as thousands of people follow the sacred icons through the tiny streets as it moves from Zoodocho Pigi Church back to The Ekatontapyliani.
- 23 April:
- Festival of Saint George, Aliki.
- 23 April:
- Holy Saturday – “Megalo Savato”
- Holy Mass followed at Midnight by darkness to symbolise Jesus’ journey through the underworld. This is followed by fireworks and the distribution of the one true flame, symbolising Jesus' resurrection. Candles are lit from the holy flame and carried back through the streets where they are used to mark a burnt cross above the front door which is supposed to ward off evil spirits. People greet each other with the phrase “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen), to which the reply “Alithos Anesti” (truly he is ), is given. The Lenten feast is then broken with dyed red eggs and the special Easter Soup of “Magiritsa” traditionally made from lamb offal. Surprisingly this lung and lettuce soup actually tastes quite good and should you have the opportunity, at least give it a try.
- 24 April:
- Easter Sunday or “Kyriaki tou Pascha”
- PARTY time! Traditionally a whole lamb or goat is roasted on a spit over an open fire. The day is dedicated to feasting, drinking and dancing.
- 1st May:
- May Day or Labour Day
- A time for picnicking and the making of decorative wreaths from wild flowers.
- 8th May:
- Festival of Saint John the Theologian, Drios.
- 13 June:
- Whit Monday – “Agio Pnevma”
- 50 days after Easter, a public holiday, making a long weekend and generally regarded as the start of summer.
- 23 June:
- Festival of Klidonas or Agios Yanis (summer solstice)
- A day to burn the mayday wreathes and bonfire jumping, celebrated as the Festival of Klidonas, in Naoussa, Aliki (festival of Agios Gianis) and Prodromos.
- 30 June:
- Eve of “Agii Anargiri”
- celebration in Parikia.
- 2 July:
- Festival of Fish and Wine
- in Naoussa.
- 16 & 17 July:
- Agia Marina – Saint Marina
- day with festivities, fireworks and a big feast in Antiparos.
- 17 July:
- Revival of “Tsabouna” (the bag pipe)
- in Naoussa.
- 24 July:
- Agia Anna – Saint Anna Eve
- in Parikia.
- 6 August:
- Tou Sotira – Festival of Sotiras
- in Aliki and Marpissa.
- 15 August:
- Analipsi tis Panagias – Assumption of Mary
- The most important festival on the island which marks the Ascension of the Virgin Mary to Heaven. Pilgrims make their way to Paros from all over Greece to pray at the shrine of the Virgin in The Church of a Hundred Doors (Ekatontapyliani). A parade which starts at the Church, pauses at the port where a short speech is given, before the procession makes its way to the towns second biggest church, Zodocho Pigi, halfway down the seafront. Thousands of people then follow the bishops, priests, marching band, civil dignitaries, and generally just about everyone else, back up the tiny market street, passing on the way the three tiny churches of the Agora before ending up at Ekatontapyliani where blessings are given.
- Then the party really starts. Fishing boats, motor boats, and anyone armed with anything vaguely seaworthy head out into the bay for an altogether more secular kind of celebration. Flares are lit and waved, creating vast clouds of red smoke that drift over towards the assembled hordes of onlookers patiently waiting for the firework display that in recent years has just got better and better. The fireworks are launched from a ferry in the bay and no expense is spared in lighting up the skies in one of the most spectacular firework shows throughout Greece. Be warned though, seafront tables tend to be occupied from very early on so if you are planning on watching from a cafe, bar or restaurant, stake your seat out well ahead of time.
- With the fireworks out of the way celebrations continue well into the (very) early hours. Packing aspirin may well be advised.
- 23 August:
- Pirate festival in Naoussa
- Naoussa's turn for a firework display and whilst not on the same scale as the extravaganza in Parikia nine days earlier, well worth a visit, as thousands pack the town’s small harbour and twisty little streets on a day that “celebrates” the invasion, in 1537 of the pirate Barbarossa. After the re-enactment of the invasion with a fleet of torch lit fishing boats, almost needless to say, much eating, drinking and dancing follows.
- 27 August:
- Agios Fanourios – Saint Fanourios Holiday
- celebrations in Ambelas
- 28 & 29 August:
- Agios Yanis o Detis – Saint John Detis Holiday
- Naoussa and Lefkes
- Beginning of September:
- Celebration of “Trata” (a type of fishing boat)
- in Parikia.
- 8 September:
- Panagia tis Faneromenis – Celebration of Our Lady of Faneromeni
- in Antiparos; Holiday of Pera Panagia in Marmara.
- 28 October:
- Ochi Day
- On this day in 1940 Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Greece's prime minister Metaxas, demanding the free movement of Italian troops within Greece. Metaxas famously responded 'Ochi” or no. His reply led to battle and the subsequent defeat of the Italian army in 1940.
- Ochi Day is celebrated with remembrance services, military parades, folk dancing, and this being Greece, feasting.
- 17 November:
- Polytechnio
- The anniversary of the 1973 Athenian Polytechnic sit-in which eventually led to the uprising which brought down the hated 1967-74 dictatorship of The Generals. Try to avoid Athens and Salonika if it all possible on this day as commemorations can be quite spirited.
- 25 November:
- Antistaseos – Resistance
- Remembrance Day for the National resistance movement during World war Two.
- 25 December:
- Christougena – Christmas Day
- Whilst less important than Easter in Greece this is still a day for religious services and feasting. Nowadays Christmas in Greece has been influenced heavily by Western traditions and everywhere you will find strings of lights and Christmas decorations, although, no doubt due to Greece's close relationship with the sea, often boats, not trees are the centrepoint of Christmas decorations.
- During the Christmas period children sing carols and are rewarded with small gifts of money. Plus it makes them go away.
In addition various cultural events such as fairs, concerts, art exhibitions, displays of local dancing etc, are held in villages all over the island, especially during the summer months.
See the full list of events as they are publicized in the Paros Community and Subscribe to the Paros Events Newsletter to receive by email an update of all events.