JANUARY 2012 – 1st: New Years Day, 6th: Epiphany (Ton Foton), 30th: Three Holy Heirachs.

FEB / MARCH – Tulip festival in Didima (depending on when these lovely scarlet flowers decide to bloom).

FEBRUARY 2012 – 14th: Valentines Day, 26th: THE Porto Heli Carnival 2012.

MARCH 2012 – 25th: Greek Independence Day.

APRIL 2012 – The week leading to Easter is the ‘Big Week’ ie: Big Monday, Big Tuesday etc..

MAY 2012 – 1st: May Day / Labour Day.

JULY 2012 – Porto Heli International Festival. Amazing classical music, singing, dancing and more at the Manessis estate – entry is free and it’s an excellent introduction to classical music for the uninitiated and a great experience for the classics lover.

AUGUST 2012 – 15th: The Assumption of the Virgin. This is THE most important holiday of the summer so everything is packed and everyone (practically) is having their summer holidays. If you want to be doing anything around this period, make sure you book early (transport, rooms, meals etc).

SEPTEMBER 2012 – The Bouboulina festival is held on Spetses island to commemorate her role in the war against the Turks. Speeches, exploding boats, fireworks – GOOD STUFF!

OCTOBER 2012 – 28th: Ochi Day, the top students are flagbearers in parades all over the country, great national pride, stirring speeches, loud anthems, an all round good show.

DECEMBER 2012 – 25th: Christmas day, 26th: Boxing day.

I’ve got an article on Local holidays (celebrations in and around Porto Heli) and also Greek National holidays (official days off) for you if you need more info and I’ll also post updates in my Events category as and when the details come in.

A word about holidays in Greece – Regional festivals, art exhibitions, cultural events, musical and theatrical performances are plentiful during the summer months – we love any excuse to celebrate! Notices are usually posted in public places – bakeries, bus shelters, hotel reception areas, telephone poles etc. The Greek Orthodox Calendar is different to the Catholic (hence different dates for Easter) and some of the holidays I’ve mentioned are moveable which is why I’ve not given fixed dates. Name Days/Saints Days are mostly celebrated by family and friends gathering for a meal together although some of the more important ones are also national holidays. Everyone in Greece has a ‘Name Day’ or Saint’s Day as well as their birthday (unless their folks named them after the Saint on whose day they were born) and there are too many to list one by one. So that no one misses out there is a sort of ‘All Saints Day’ too!