1. 1. New Year and the feast of Ágios Vassélis (or St. Vasil)

As a beginning, a glimpse into the future, it represents the principle of restoration, the establishment of order and good relations. Therefore, people exchange gifts and wishes with each other: men and women, parents and children, godparents and godchildren. But the New Year is also a time of good deeds, of trying to help the poor, the sick and the orphans. Children go round households, singing (similar to our carols) and whipping the household green wand as they do so. They also go for holy water. Strangers are presented with a sprig of basil.

6. 1. Epiphany - Epiphany (Three Kings)

Celebration of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. A cross is thrown into the water, whether sea, river or lake, and the young boys have the task of jumping in, fishing it out and bringing it back. The baptism of Christ begins a new year for Orthodox Christians, ringing the bells to drive evil spirits back to the underworld. Godparents give gifts to their godchildren.

7. 1. John the Baptist

A religious holiday and celebration of the anniversary of the day the Dodecanese archipelago was annexed to Greece (1948).

30. 1. Trion Hierarchon

Each city has its own patron saint, and on the day of the patron saint's feast, pupils and students in that city or district have the day off.

14. 2. Valentine's Day

Love has its roots in Greece since ancient times... Greece is the land of the goddess Aphrodite - the goddess of love, desire and beauty. Valentine's Day is considered in Greece as a day of forgiveness and forgetting the wrong. It is a day to celebrate the marriage of Hera and the god Zeus. Based on this myth, the Greeks began to celebrate St. Valentine's Day in great revelry. In Greek mythology, Zeus is more famous for his infidelities, although the Greek people honor the union of their god and goddess. The tradition of St. Valentine's Day is no different from other countries, with women usually receiving flowers, chocolates, teddy bears, perfume, rings or jewelry. Men prefer gifts that are useful. Young men consider this day as the ideal day to propose to their partner.

25. 3. Greek Independence Day and Feast of the Annunciation

On this day in 1821, the national liberation struggle against Turkish rule began.

1. 5. Labour Day and Spring Festival

All entrance doors are decorated with freshly picked flowers.

21. 5. Feast of Constantine the Great and his mother Helena

Constantine straightened out Christianity and Helena discovered the cross of Christ. On this day, people walk on hot coals and dance with icons of Constantine and Helena.

25. 5. Ionian Day

Celebration of the anniversary of the annexation of the Ionian Islands to Greece (1864).

30. 6. Feast of the Holy Apostles

15. 8. Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The most important and most popular Greek holiday. If you are planning to visit Greece during the summer holidays, try to arrange your holiday on this day. Preparations for the evening celebrations take place all day, with the towns decorated with garlands of flags and wreaths. In the afternoon, a religious procession begins, which is attended by most of the townspeople. At the beginning, priests walk carrying a stretcher with an icon or statue of the Virgin Mary, garlanded with flowers and wreaths. At the sides, young boys and girls carry monstrances. Behind them follow the leaders of the community and then a long crowd of people. This procession bypasses all the churches in the village, as the last main church. In each church a prayer is led, or the baptism of children from the neighbourhood. Finally, everyone goes to the main square where a great feast is held with fireworks, lamb and dancing. Everyone is welcome and food prices are symbolic. In smaller villages, sometimes the food is free from a previous public collection.

14. 9. Feast of the Finding of the True Cross

A feast celebrating the finding of the Holy Cross. According to legend, two crosses were found. The villagers had no second thoughts and took one of the crosses to the local church. However, bad things began to happen. One woman had been sick for a long time and decided to go to the church to ask Christ for help. When she touched the cross, however, she only felt worse. She remembered the other cross and went to it. When she touched it, she was healed. Thus the true cross was found. In honor of this event, candles are lit and people bathe in rivers or the sea, where they kiss their amulets and crosses.

27. 10. National Flag Day

The current flag was adopted in 1822 to symbolize God's wisdom, freedom and country. It consists of 9 blue and white stripes and a white cross in a blue field in the upper left corner.

28. 10. Ochi Day (Day of No)

On this day, all Greeks celebrate the anniversary of the rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1941. Prime Minister Metaxas decided then, without the prior approval of the Greek government, to refuse Mussolini's request for permission for Italian troops to enter Greek territory. This marked the beginning of Greece's struggle against occupation.

8. 11. Archangels Michael and Gabriel

On this day, the feast of the archangels Michael and Gabriel is celebrated in Greece. The Greek people love and trust them, as they have helped them many times in times of trouble. At the same time, they are feared because they are the archangels who take souls. Especially Michael. On their feast day, he writes down all the ones he will take away in the coming year. There's a saying: He appeared before me as the archangel Michael (like the Grim Reaper or the Greek Charos). There are also various customs associated with this. For example, in some villages in Thrace, people do not leave their shoes outside the door on this day, as is the custom, but put them inside so that the Archangel Michael will not see them, remember them and put them on his list. Archangel Michael has good qualities too. He is the patron saint of the Greek Air Force and on the island of Symi he is considered the patron saint of sailors. And it is said that if you write the location of a monastery dedicated to him on a piece of paper, put it in a bottle and throw it into the sea, it will always float out near the monastery.

6. 12. Saint Nicholas

In Greece, he is the patron saint of sailors. The people throw into the sea a hut (porridge) to feed those who perished in the sea.

31. 12. Silvester

A special dish on this day is the so-called Vasilopita with a baked coin. Whoever finds it will be lucky the following year.