While Greece will still be under a strict lockdown for the holidays, with a 10 PM to 5 AM curfew in effect, Greek citizens will be able to celebrate together in … All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way. So there’s a whole month of festivities to enjoy. Attend customs influenced by ancient ceremonies held in honour of Demeter: The re-enactment of a local wedding ceremony takes place in the village of Volakas, in Drama, on the 8th of January, a day also dedicated to the midwives. Christmas in the UK isn't for everyone, so for those looking to jet off for a sunny holiday, Express.co.uk has gathered together a list of the best options for 2020. Basil), … Traditional culinary delights symbolise good luck in the New Year and adorn our white-clothed tables. In some places mothers sprinkle holy water in every room of the house to scare the “kallikantzari” away. The Orthodox Church recognises January 7th as the day that Jesus was born. Have the meal of brotherhood in Tinos: A custom that takes place every year on the 25th of December. Please check with event organizers for details. © Time and Date AS 1995–2021. Both “kremmida” and pomegranate carry heavy symbolic meanings from ancient times representing prosperity, abundance in the family, and also bring good luck to one's descendants. Being extremely naughty, the “kallikantzari” do things to frighten people, like overturning furniture, devouring Christmas foods, or contaminating the water. Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more! Greece Public Holidays Churches large and small, are magnificently lit and echo with the joyful melodies of bells. It’s time for the “kallikantzari” to leave the surface of the Earth: The Greek Christmas celebrations conclude with the festival of “Ta Phota” (the Lights) as Epiphany is called, a feast as important as the baptism of Christ. National holiday: Sep 22: Tuesday: September Equinox: Season: Oct 28: Wednesday: The Ochi day: De facto holiday: Nov 17: Tuesday: Polytechneio: Observance: Nov 21: Saturday: Armed Forces Day: Observance: Dec 21: Monday: December Solstice: Season: Dec 25: Friday: Christmas Day Please check at least one of the boxes. Corfu’s a lush, green paradise, while Rhodes comes up trumps in the sun stakes, and Kefalonia’s all about picture-perfect scenery. In Greece, political spat over lockdown turns personal Greece’s prime minister and his main political rival are involved in a spat over competing claims that they broke the spirit of … Greece Holidays. The next day is dedicated to the great feast of St. John the Baptist, when the numerous Johns, Joans or Joannas celebrate their name day. Mon January 06, 2020. Mon March 02, 2020. In the table below, you will find the details of the holidays and when they are observed. Public holidays and school vacations are key to predicting crowds and are used in all our prediction models. Before you start searching for your lucky coin, the head of the house must first cross the cake with his knife and then cut the first slice for God, then the next for the baby Christ, followed by the “Panayia” (Virgin Mary), then the next slice for the house and after a slice for each member of the family starting with the eldest. If you find an error, please let us know. The “kallikantzari” disappear on the day of Epiphany when all the waters are blessed, and they return to the earth’s core. Find out why, and explore the rest of the list here. Traditionally, New Year is when Agios Vasilis (St. Thassos, Paros and Samos like to stay out of the spotlight – the beaches here are footprint-free and cypress trees are the only high … Basil's bread), and is actually identical in form to the “Christopsomo” (Christ bread) served on Christmas Day. Santa and his reindeer will be waiting for children to pose with for photos; cheeky hobgoblins will guide them through Earth’s Christmas forest, while a visit to the zoo will fill the whole family with excitement! Whoever finds the cross returns it to the priest, who then delivers a special blessing to the swimmer and their household. Events and observations associated with the holidays we list may be canceled or otherwise affected due to measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In this mosaic of Christmas sensations, holiday experiences are rendered even more colourful by the deep blue of our seas, the green forest of our mountains, the red coral of our sunsets, and the rich violet of our night sky. Epiphany Monday January 06, 2020. Throughout Greece the Epiphany is celebrated in Byzantine splendour and religious awe. If you find the “flouri” in your piece of cake good luck will follow all the forthcoming year. Christmas Day celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which according to tradition took place on December 25th 1 BC. If you have suggestions for other places to go to see holiday lights (or if you have some yourself that you'd like listed), please email Debra Ross at … Savour a piece of St. In the village of Agios Panteleimonas in Florina, on the 23rd of December, the locals divide into groups and light bonfires at midnight. Basil. Scroll down for 2020 public holidays in Greece. December 11, 2020 CORONAVIRUS, Economy, FEATURED 1 Comment Most retail shops will remain closed over the Christmas season but hairdressers and bookshops will open under strict safety rules, Greek authorities announced on Friday morning. Clean Monday Monday March 02, 2020. Also allowed to operate as of … The country is home to a number of exclusive resorts on its mainland and its dozens of secluded islands on the Aegean Sea. On this day, over two billion people (over a third of the world's population) will celebrate the birth of Christ. New Year's Day Wednesday January 01, 2020. A specially decorated bread also adorns the festive table; it is called “Vasilopsomo” (St. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates or sign up for … That's because you didn't select any holiday types. Churches will open for the faithful only twice on December 25th and January 6th. Christmas holidays in Greece Tweet Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Greece is like finding yourself in an expressionist work of art : decorated Christmas trees, shiny bright ornaments, and “karavakia” (small Christmas ships) decked with blue and white lights illuminate our streets; harmonious bells and children’s carols echo through our cities and villages. Greece extends key lockdown measures over Christmas holidays They must also take a rapid Covid-19 test on arrival. Follow a Dionysiac rite: In Kastoria, people recreate a three-day Dionyssian custom (6th-8th January), called “ragoutsaria” (from the Latin verb “rogo” meaning “to ask”). Shopping in stores remains banned. Greece has a total of 24 holidays in 2020. No holidays shown? Greece is in our list of this year's top 10 summer holiday destinations. Elsewhere in the world, Christmas is … How many days until Christmas 2020? Basil because he is Father Christmas, and everyone called Vassilis (boy's name) or Vassiliki (girl's name) celebrates his/her name day. Fifty years ago almost every household in Greece featured a Christmas boat at this festive time of year, and one can still see it lit up today, but mainly in island village homes. Christmas 2020 falls on Friday, December 25. Valentine’s Day is a special time to celebrate love, romance and friendship. The Christmas season in Athens kicks off on December 6 for the feast day of St. Nicholas, and continues until Epiphany on January 6. During the ceremony, a cross is thrown in the waters –sea, lakes or rivers– in a ritual that revolves around the Great Blessing of the Waters. Go from house to house, from village to village, and ask people to reward you for protecting them from evil entities. Wed March 25, 2020. Greece and Italy enforce strict quarantine-on-arrival rules for Christmas and New Year holidays. 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