Serifos
Festivals
Serifos still maintains its traditions and
tries to keep its customs. The island’s
inhabitants keep the manners and customs
that they have inherited.
One of the
most special customs of the island is the
custom of Kapetania, which takes place on
the last Sunday of the Carnival and which
has its roots at the liberation struggle.
In
Serifos
as
well
as
in
most
of
the
islands
the
local
events
are
connected
with
the
religious
worship
of
the
place.
In most of the coutry churches and the
monasteries at least once a year there is a
traditional festival that takes place with
common dinners which remind us of the
ancient “estiasi” and the New Year’s “agapes”.
In Serifos,
tens of festivals take place every year.
Rich and well organized festivals not by the
cafes or the taverns, nor by the monasteries
or the priests but by simple citizens, the
“ktitores” (owners) as they are called in
Serifos, who are responsible for the
maintenance of the church. The
“ktitores”,
clean and neat, will serve you for free the
delicacies that they have been preparing all
day long such as boiled goat with spaghetti,
fava bean puree, salad and local wine. At
the festival you can usually find skewered
meat and beers; however you shall have to
pay for those.
The festival shall end late at night after
incessant eating, drinking, dancing and
singing.
The most important festival is the festival
of Xylopanagia which takes place around the
old olive-tree at the square, on the
fifteenth of August at the most ancient
church of the island, in the
village Panagia.
The name Xylopanagia comes from the
“tsakomata” (fighting) with wooden sticks
between men for the winning of the heart of
the most beautiful woman. According to the
tradition, the couple that would dance first
around the olive-tree in front of the church
would be married within a year. Today this
custom does not take place any more, however
the festival is still one of the most
important ones of the island, and all the
inhabitants come here every year to have a
good time and dance for three good days…
Another important festival is that of
Panagia of Liomantra,
near the small homonymous settlement,
which takes place four
(!)
times a year.
Some of the festivals that take place
during the summer are the following:
The festival of Agia Eirini in
Koutalas
on the
5th
of May
The festival of Agios Constantinos and
Agia Eleni on the
21st
of May
The festival of Agia Triada in Mavra
Voladia and in
Panagia tis Liomandras
on the day of the Holy Spirit
The festival of Agii Anargyri in
Kalavratsena and in
Galani
on the 1st of July
The festival of Agii Anargyri in
Kalavratsena and in
Galani
on the 1st of July
The
festival of Agia Paraskevi in Kato
Chora
and in Kountoura of
Galani
on the 26th
of July
The festival of Sotiras (the Saviour) in
Kalo Ampeli and in
Pyrgos
on the 6th of August
The
festival of Panagia in
Ramos
and in Skopoion the 15th of
August
The
festival of Panagia in
Pyrgos
on the 16th of August
The festival of Panagia Miliani on the
24th of August
The festival of Agios Ioannis Prodromos
in Sclavigiannis on the 29th
of August
The festival of Agios Mamas in Vouna on
the 2nd of September
The festival
of Agios
Sostis
at the homonymous beach on the 7th
of September
The festival of Panagia sto Vouno at the
old
Avessalos
on the 8th of September
The festival of Pano Stavros in Palia
Mitata on the 14th of
September
The festival of Agia Thekla in
Sclavigiannis on the 23rd of
September
The festival of Agia Anastasia in Pano
Dipotamata on the 29th of
October
The
festival of Taxiarhes at the
Monastery of Taxiarhes
on the 8th of November
In Serifos there are more than
116
country churches and monasteries!
Many days of the year there are festivals!
Do not miss the chance to visit them! Ask
the locals if there is any festival during
your stay on the island. You shall have a
unique
unforgettable
experience! |
