The most complete informaton guide about Athens, Greece
Public
holidays in Greece
Although
there are a few national holidays in Greece where the whole
country takes a break, you should know that each island, village
and city has its own holidays as well. They usually have to
do with the patron saint. Some holidays are not always on the
same date every year. Shops, official services as well as public
services will be closed on public holidays or will have special
schedules and working hours.
Greek
holidays
01-01-09
New
Year. This is the beginning of the new year when people
wish each other 'Kali Chronia.'
06-01-09
Epiphany
25-03-09
National
Independence day. The day celebrating the revolt against
the Turkish occupation which started in 1821.
16-04-09
Easter
Thursday
17-04-09
Easter
Friday
19-04-09
Easter
20-04-09
Easter
Monday
01-05-09
1
May Day. The day when Greeks collect flowers and make
wreathes which they hang on their doors.
23-05-09
Agios
Giorgos / Saint George nameday.
08-06-09
Orthodox With Monday
29-06-09
Agios
Petros and Agios Pavlos day (Saint Paul and Peter Day).
18-07-09
19-07-09
Profitis
Ilias. A big festival commemorated on many mountain tops
where churches dedicated to Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elia)
are found.
15-08-09
Assumptions.
06-09-09
Metamorfosis.
08-09-09
Genesis
Panagias/Birth of Virgin Mary.
14-09-09
Tou
Stavrou/Of the Cross.
15-09-09
Agias
Panagias. Assumption of the Virgin Mary is widely celebrated,
especially on Tinos Island.
30-09-09
Agioi
Apostoli/ Holy Apostles.
26-10-09
Agios
Dimitrios
28-10-09
Ohi
day, when the Greeks told the Italians 'No' (Ohi) in 1940.
08-11-09
Mihail
and Gabriel day.
06-12-09
Agios
Nikolaos.
25-12-09
Christmas
26-12-09
Bxing Day
31-12-09
New
Year's eve when children go from house to house singing
carrols (kalanda).
New Year's Day (Protohronia): January 1. Following a morning church ceremony
presents are exchanged and there is singing, dancing and feasting.
A special cake, called a vasilopita, is baked with a coin inside.
The person who eats the piece with the coin will have a year
of good luck. The traditional New Year greeting is "Kali
Hronia."
Epiphany
(Agia Theofania): January 6. Epiphany is the celebration of
Jesus's baptism by John the Baptist (St. John). The day is marked
by blessing the waters. Around the country rivers, lakes and
seas are blessed and crosses immersed in them. The largest celebration
is in Piraeus where a cross is thrown into the sea and young
men dive to retrieve it.
Ash/Shrove/Clean Monday
(Koulouma): The first day of Lent, which is 40 days before Easter.
On Ash Monday, it is traditional to go to the countryside for
a picnic, fly kites and eat lenten food.
Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation
(Evagelismos): March 25. On March 25, 1821 the Bishop of Patra,
Germanos, began the uprising that started the War for Independence.
Today it is celebrated with military parades in most major cities.
Independence Day also coincides with the religious Feast of
the Annunciation, so it is also a religious festival.
Orthodox Easter
(Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter and Easter Monday): Easter
is the most important holiday in the Greek Orthodox religion.
In most years it is not celebrated at the same time as Easter
in the non-Orthodox Christian religions. If you are traveling
in Greece in April or May be sure to check the calendar to see
when Orthodox Easter falls. Most people travel home to be with
their families so ferries, buses and planes will be fully booked,
shops are closed and most businesses take several days holiday.
Good
Friday.
The festivities begin on Good Friday with "perifora
tou epitafiou", a candlelit procession of a shrouded
funeral bier that is carried through the city streets to the
local church. Every major city and tiny town in Greece has
their own procession, although the most impressive one takes
place in Athens where the procession climbs Lykavittos to
the Chapel of Agios Georgios.
Holy
Saturday/Resurection
(Anastasi): On Holy Saturday there is a Resurrection Mass
at 11pm. followed at midnight by darkness symbolizing Jesus
passing through the underworld and finally by fireworks and
a candle light procession through the streets symbolizing
Jesus's resurrection.
Easter
(Pascha). After the candle light procession through the street,
the Lent fast is broken by eating red-dyed eggs and mayiritsa
soup (made of lamb and greens). The day is spent with the
family, singing, dancing and feasting on roast lamb and red
eggs. The greeting for the day is Hristos Anesti (Christ is
risen) and the reply is Alithos Anesti (Truly he is risen).
Easter
Monday.
Easter Monday is a national holiday.
Greek
Orthodox Easter Sunday in.
2010
4
April
same
2011
15
April
same
2012
5
May
2013
20
April
same
2014
12
April
2015
1
May
2016
16
April
same
2017
8
April
2018
28
April
2019
28
April
2020
19
April
2021
2
May
2022
24
April
2023
16
April
Same
= Greek Orthodox Eaters is on the same date as Catholic
and Protestant Easter
Labor Day/May Day
(Protomayia): May 1. On this national holiday it is traditional
for people to go to the countryside, have picnics, gather flowers
and make them into wreaths for their homes. Many flower festivals
take place all over the country.
Whit Monday
(Agio Pnevma): Fifty days after Easter. This religious holiday
marks the descent of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. It is celebrated
with church services decorated with pennants.
Assumption of the Virgin
(Kimisis tis Theotokou): August 15. Assumption Day falls within
the traditional Greek vacation month when Greeks are normally
on the move. So typically crowded ferries and buses become even
more packed near the holiday as people travel to be near their
families. The island of Tinos is a major pilgrimage destination
for thousands who come to be blessed, healed, or baptized.
No Day (Ochi Day):
October 28. During World War II, Mussolini issued an ultimatum
to Prime Minister Metaxas demanding free Italian passage through
Greece. Metaxas' response was "Ochi" which led to the
subsequent battle and eventual defeat of the invading Italian
army in 1940. Today, Ochi Day is celebrated with remembrance services,
military parades, folk dancing and feasting.
Christmas (Hristouyenna):
December 25. Although less important than Easter in the Greek
Orthodox religion, Christmas is celebrated with religious services
and feasting. Today there is considerable western influence with
Christmas trees, decorations and presents. Throughout the Christmas
season children sing carols door-to-door for a small gratuity.
Gathering of the Virgin's Entourage
(Synaxis tis Panagias): December 26. Similar to Boxing Day in
England and Canada, the day following Christmas is a national
holiday.