Feasts and Public Holidays

January 6th.
The feast for the three Three Holy Kings and the blessing of the seas, celebrated in the harbours around the island.

March 25th
Public holiday in remberance of the resistance against the Turks in 1821.
A carnival is held in many places around the island to celebrate that it is 40 days to Easter.

April 23rd
The feast for St.Georg, the Patron Saint of the sheperds, large feasts in the villages.

Easter
The dates vary and do not coincide with ours.Easter is the time for the largest feast in the Greek Orthodox religion. Widespread celebrations around the island.

May 1st
International workers day. A time to take a picnic and go out into the country.

May 20th.
Feast for the Saints Konstnin and Helena, celebrated in churches and monastrys named after them, the largest celebration is held at Moni Arkadiou.

June 24th
The feast for St.john the Baptist.

Late in June the Marine Week is held mainly in the Souda bay.

Summer
The Arts Festival is held in Heraklion throughout the summer months,from July to the middle of August there is a culture festival (Kornaria) held in Sitia. In August and September a International reneassance festival, with drama and music in Rethymnon.

July
Late in July the Rethymnon wine festival is held, two weeks of wine tasting with music and dancing.

August 6th
Metamorphosis consists of church services and feasts, mainly at Voukplies near Chania, Males and Zakros.

August 15th
Public holiday for Marias accension.

August 25th
Feast for Agios Titos, Cretes Patron Saint. Celebrated all over the island.

Middle of August.
The Sitia raisin festival is celebrated for the whole week, the celebrations are not just for the raisin but the grape and the wine distilled fom it. Lots of parties.

Late in August.
A traditional Cretan wedding is helded in Kritsa and all visitors are welcome.
Also in the Fort at Sitia on the night of the last full moon, there is an evening of culture.

September 14th.
The feast for Agios Stavros which is celebrated in the villages around Chania.

October.
In the middle of October the Chestnut feast is celebrated in Western Crete.

October 28th.
Ochi Day is celebrated in remberance of the Greek General Metaxas, who gave a resounding “Ochi” (No) to Mussolinis request to allow Italian troops into Greece in 1940.

November 7th. – 9th.
Remembers the women and children who died in the explosion at the Arkadi Monastry in 1866.

November 21st.
Local holy day in remberance of Gods mother, church service in the cathedral of Chaniá.

December 6th.
Feast for Agios Nikolaos Patron Saint of sailors, celebrated in the town of Agios Nikolaos and other villages with the same name.