Community Events

Alonissos is a small community. Our community events celebrate traditional Greek life and culture.

Firstly we have Apokrias – carnival time. It’s in the period leading up to Lent. It is a time for letting the hair down, partying and socialising. The final Sunday of the carnival season is marked by a huge procession around Alonissos. Everyone dresses up, and there are lots of floats and lots of drinking and partying. It is a huge event throughout Greece.

Then we have Kathera Theftera – Clean Monday. This is the equivalent of Shrove Tuesday. It’s usually marked with a picnic down by the beach. It is a national holiday and is celebrated with parties and the eating of fish.

Kathera Theftera leads into Lent. The observant stick to a increasingly strict diet leading to Megali Paraskevi – Good Friday – when a very bland plain diet is eaten.

Easter is the main religious festival in Greece. It is taken very seriously with families making great efforts to be together. People travel from the mainland to their islands and villages.

On Good Friday the whole of Alonissos attends church. It is usually a quieter more subdued occasion with tavernas and bars closing earlier than usual. There is a candlelit procession around the village which is extremely atmospheric

On Easter Saturday we attend church at about 11.30pm, although the church service has been going on for quite a while and you are most welcome to join in. At midnight the light arrives from Jerusalem (this comes each year to us) and the priest declares that Christ is risen. This is the occasion for wild fireworks, lots of kissing and hugging, then home to break the fast and to party!

Easter Day is a long, enthusiastic party day with everyone wearing their best clothes and greeting each other with “Christos Anesti”: Christ is Risen. This is met with “He has truly risen”.

Around this time of year we also celebrate St George’s Day which is a big festival day. We also celebrate May Day, and Ag Konstantiniou, and Ag Eleni Day.

The sporting festival of Kaloyiannia (no relation!) usually takes place on the second weekend of May. The festival is the mini Olympics between the children from the three islands. It’s a popular event, and we have many visitors from the other islands.

In June there is an annual marathon and half-marathon. They attract runners from all over Greece and beyond. From this year, it will also be possible to walk the course.

We celebrate Alonissos’ name day in July. It’s also the name day of our village church, Agia Paraskeuvi. There is a party in the harbour area with music and dancing.

On 15 August, the Old Village hosts the Panayias celebrations. Panayias is the second biggest event of the Greek religious calendar – Assumption Day. It’s the name day of the Virgin Mary, Marias, Marios’ Panayotis and Panayota. There is live music, food and free wine with plenty of dancing. It is huge event, very popular and great fun.

Throughout the summer there are numerous Greek evenings, concerts and theatrical productions which are organised by the Council and visiting theatre groups. There are plenty of opportunities to join in the traditional Greek dancing and singing.