#panigiria

[elladastinkardiamou]

Let’s go back in time a bit – to Crete in 1930 – to a village in the Sfakia highlands in the northwest of the island. There’s been a wedding and the party (the glendi or glendia in the plural) is in full swing and shows no sign of winding down, as the hours turn into days. Two bleary-eyed musicians struggle to stay awake and yet continue to play: for two days, three days, four days… a week. A few people are dancing, some are singing, others are pouring out wine and passing around platters of roasted goat. Further away, others still are getting a spot of sleep; soon they will wake up to do it all again. This is what a Cretan village looks like in festive mode.

I was fortunate enough to meet almost all of the leading protagonists of Crete’s legendary glendia, those musicians who left such an indelible mark on the island’s heritage of music and dance. The words of two very prominent musicians – Iraklis Stavroulakis, an incredible fiddle player from the village of Episkopi in Irakleio, and the multi-instrumentalist and composer Stelios Foustalieris, from Rethymno – who spoke to me in the mid-1980s are especially memorable. Both died a few years later.

Iraklis Stavroulakis: “Back in the day, people would look for any excuse for a party – on the feast days of small churches, at the kafeneio (coffee house), at people’s houses, anywhere. There was no electricity, of course. They’d place two lyra players on two chairs in the middle of a space, gather around them, and the dancing would begin. Starting the party was easy; ending it was the hard part…”

[divinum-pacis]

A pilgrim attends a church service at a Greek Orthodox temple in Hasia, northwestern Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary is celebrated Aug. 15, coupled with midsummer festivities, known as Panigiria, that include music, culinary feasts and, in many cases, flea markets. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

[athenshouseofphotography-blog]

Last day of John Demos' "Shadows of Silence" at the Leica Store in Washington, DC. If you haven't already done so, pass by today to see this classic body of work and purchase a print or catalogue. For more information or to order prints and books, info@ahop.gr. #greekphotography #greekphotographer #papingo #dance #blackandwhitephotography #artphotography #artbuyer #artcollector #ilovegreece #buyart #buyphotography #dcinteriors #leicacamera #leica #dcgallery #dcarts #leicastoredc #dcinteriors #motionphotography #dancing #dcexhibition #dcphotography #panigiri #panigiria (at Leica Store DC)

[pastellarts]

The Sunday Song – August 19th, 2018

Kale sy Panagia mou / Καλέ συ Παναγιά μου – Traditional song from the Aegean Sea

The song “Kale sy Panagia mou” is traditional in both lyrics and music from the area of Smyrna, Asia Minor and the surrounding Aegean Sea.

It is one of the most characteristic samples of the organic mixture between rhythms from the musical tradition from Smyrna and the islands of the Aegean Sea. It is a song where an orphan girl from Tsamadia, an area of Smyrna, pleads for the help of the Virgin Mary and Saint Foteini, the patron Saint of Smyrna. The rhythm is Balos from Smyrna.

The song became very famous in all areas from Greece when Giannis Parios recorded it in his Album “Ta nisiotika/Τα νησιώτικα (the island songs)” (1982). The album is considered to be the second best-selling album with Greek songs of all time, with sales estimated at 800.000.

It was also performed by the same artist in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

Today’s song is related to the Holiday of August 15th. On that day, the Greek Christian Orthodox church celebrates the Assumption of Mary. This day, dedicated to the Virgin Mary (latin: Madonna, Greek: Παναγία/ Panagia, means the most holy of all), is not a day of mourning for her loss, but a celebration of joy for the union of the Mother with her beloved Son, the blossoming of nature, the flood of emotions, and the return of people to their native land.

If you are looking for the liveliest time to be in Greece, Δεκαπενταύγουστος/ Dekapentavgoustos (August 15th) should definitely be on top of your list. But that is just the religious “excuse” for villages to be decorated, folklore festivals to be held, shows of traditional dances to be staged, and a festive atmosphere to be impatiently expected by Greeks and foreigners alike. This period hosts some of the greatest Panigiria (festivals).

Panigiria are set in town squares or next to a celebrating church. Each festivity includes tables of guests who partake in the local revelry. Every village serves up their local wine/drinks and delicacies to the sounds of live bands, which have most locals up and dancing from the time they arrive.

The formal religious ceremony is held with mass and prayers in the morning and in the evening focus shifts to food, wine, music and dancing. The essence of this celebration is that “all are welcome” and treated like family- participating body and soul in the commemoration.

What is 100% certain is that wherever you are in Greece on this national holiday, there will be a Panigiri somewhere nearby.

The island of Ikaria is regarded as the ‘Queen of Panigiria’. On August 15th, Lagkada hosts the biggest pangiri, where more than 3000 people, most of them young, are attending the festival that starts in midday and ends in the morning of the next day.

Here is a video of the preparations and the celebration for a Panigiri that took place in the small island of Thimena on August 11th.

@bustedflipflop FYI

[wecocogg-blog]

Religion in Greece is quite important, in comparison to most other European countries. It is tied to every aspect of the culture. Read on to find out more!

In comparison to most other European countries, religion is quite important in Greece. It is tied to every aspect of the culture, and the percentage of self-identified religious people is among the highest in Europe. The official religion in Greece is Eastern Orthodoxy, known also as Greek Orthodoxy. Reference to Greek Orthodox religion on Greek ID cards was mandatory until 2001.

Religion in Greece – Churches around Greece

If you are driving around Greece, the number of churches that seem to be everywhere will surprise you. Wherever you are, chances are that if you look around you will be able to see at least one church. Given our long and varied history, many of those churches are over 500 years old, not to mention the Ancient Greek temples that exist in several parts of Greece. The church of Agia Fotini near Tripoli, uniquely combines several elements in one church!

Apart from the official churches and chapels, you will definitely notice several tiny churches on the roadside, all around the country. Unfortunately, many of those little shrines were built in the memory of someone who died at a car accident. Sometimes, however, they were built by those who survived an accident, thanking the saint who protected them.

Religion in Greece – How are names chosen?

In Greece, children are baptised Christian Orthodox in church, when they are a few months old. They are traditionally named after their grandparents, who were typically named after a Christian Orthodox saint. During the ceremony, the baby is immersed in a large tub of water. Babies are typically 6-12 months old when they are baptised. As you can imagine this ceremony is not all that pleasant for the baby – there is normally a lot of crying going on!

Quite often, people choose to shorten their names – so for example, Konstantinos can be called Kostas, and Vassiliki can be Vasso, Vickey or Vanessa. These days, many couples choose to give their children a name they like rather than name them after their grandparent. Nevertheless, baptisms in church still take place for most children.

Religion in Greece – Namedays

If you are Greek, chances are that you have a nameday. A nameday is the day when we celebrate the Orthodox Saint whose name we have, and it was traditionally more important than a birthday.

Some of the most important Greek namedays are the following:

Giannis – St. John (January 7)

Giorgos – St. George (April 23, or the first Monday after Easter)

Kostas and Eleni – St. Konstantine and St. Helen (21 May)

Maria (the Assumption of Mary on 15 August and the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 21 November)

Dimitris – St. Dimitrios (26 October).

On their nameday, people traditionally receive friends and relatives at home, though this is becoming less common these days.

Religion in Greece – Fasting

For most religions, fasting is a custom related to cleansing, and there are several fasting periods throughout a year. The Greek Orthodox church follows a rather strict fasting regime. It consists of a vegan diet on about 180 days in total throughout the year. Confusingly, seafood (but not fish) is also allowed. The fasting regime also includes abstinence from “anything pleasurable”, which makes one wonder how religious Greeks make babies.

The longest periods of fasting are the weeks before Easter, before Christmas and before the Dormition of Virgin Mary on 15th August. Also, Wednesdays and Fridays are days of fasting. A few foods like olive oil and wine have their own special place in the fasting regime, so they are not allowed on all fasting days.

Confused? So are we. However, there are several people in Greece who follow a strict fast throughout the whole year!

Religion in Greece – Easter

In most countries where Christianity is a major religion, Christmas is the most important religious holiday. In Greece, however, Easter is a lot bigger than Christmas. On the week before Easter, fasting becomes extra strict, and there is a daily ceremony in churches all around the country. One of the highlights of those ceremonies is the Perifora tou Epitaphiou, on the evening of Good Friday. This consists of a flower-adorned cubicle, the Epitaphios, representing the grave of Jesus Christ, which is carried around the church.

Unlike Christmas, Greek Easter is not really commercialised. There is no tree to decorate, no stocking fillers, no socks over the fireplace. The only things bought for the Easter holiday are candles, to be lit up in the church on Holy Saturday. These are traditionally bought by a person’s godfather or godmother.

Greek Easter traditions include LOTS of food. Tiropita, spanakopita, and various types of salads. Local meat delicacies with weird names, such as kokoretsi and gardoumpa. A tasty, hearty meat soup called magiritsa, made out of animal parts that are not even allowed in some countries. Red hard-boiled eggs, which are meant to be crushed into each other.

Finally, the star of the day, lamb on the spit, which means the WHOLE lamb on the spit.

  Easter is a big day and an even bigger feast, and it’s celebrated in traditional style all around Greece. In some places it is celebrated for several days. Schools remain closed throughout the Good Week and the week after Easter. Watch out for our upcoming article on Greek Easter!

Religion in Greece – Going to church

Although attending church on Sundays is not extremely important in big cities in Greece, it is quite common in rural areas and smaller towns. In many areas, the church is not only a place to worship God, but also a place to meet like-minded people and to socialise.

Religion in Greece – Panigiria

A panigiri is a feast in celebration of a saint. Since there are several saints in Greece, there is an abundance  of panigiria throughout the year. Apart from the religious element, there is live music, and lots of food and drink.If you are on a Greek island, make sure you ask around. If you are lucky, you will witness one of the best examples of religion meeting Greek culture. Our favourite choice for panigiria? Ikaria!

Religion in Greece – The evil eye

The evil eye is a common idea around the Mediterranean, and not only. It is a curse, believed to be given to a person by someone looking at them. Although the evil eye tradition is arguable of a pagan nature, the Orthodox church accepts it nevertheless.

If you walk around any of the touristy areas in Greece, you are likely to come across several pieces of jewellery or decoration that will keep the evil eye away. The resemblance to the Eye of Horus might not be entirely a coincidence!

Religion in Greece – Monasteries

Last, but definitely not least, religion in Greece is tied with the hundreds of monasteries. The Meteora monasteries, as well as the peninsula of Agion Oros / Athos, are world famous. But there are plenty more monasteries and nunneries throughout Greece.

You can visit most of the Greek monasteries and nunneries at specified times. Just remember to be modestly dressed and behave accordingly.

                        Do you have any questions about Greek Orthodox religion? Let us know in the comments!

The post Religion in Greece – Churches, Greek Easter and Christian names appeared first on .

[kampanianews]

Επίσημο:Τέλος τα πανηγύρια

Τη ματαίωση των πανηγυριών σε όλη τη χώρα μέχρι το τέλος Ιουλίου, την εντατικοποίηση των ελέγχων στα χερσαία σύνορά μας, και την επέκταση των ελέγχων και στους εποχικούς εργάτες που προέρχονται από όμορες χώρες αποφάσισε να εισηγηθεί στην Κυβέρνηση η Επιτροπή Εμπειρογνωμόνων του Υπουργείου Υγείας.

Η επιτροπή συνεδρίασε σήμερα στις 12:00, υπό τον υπουργό Υγείας Βασίλη Κικίλια, ενώ νωρίτερα…

[ypaithros-blog]

Τα πανηγύρια στην εποχή του Facebook

http://www.ypaithros.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ta-panigiria-stin-epoxi-tou-Facebook.jpg

[hotelsmarket]

Folegandros Invites All to its Summer ‘Panigiria’

[divinum-pacis]

Pilgrims carry the Icon of Virgin Mary during a procession at Panagia Kastriani monastery on the Aegean island of Tzia or Kea, Greece, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary, celebrated Aug. 15, is coupled with midsummer festivities, known as Panigiria, that include music, culinary feasts and, in many cases, flea markets. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

[ypaithros-blog]

Τα πανηγύρια του Αυγούστου: Από τα θρυλικά after γλέντια της Ικαρίας έως τα κλαρίνα της Πίνδου

http://www.ypaithros.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/panigiria-august-thrilika-after-glentia-ikarias-eos-klarina-pindou.jpg