Panegyria
Panegyria or πανηγύρια,
the traditional festivals,
are taking place yearly
in all Zagori villages.
Most of the panegyries are still keeping on the old time’s celebration customs. Such as the morning hour mass at the church or chapel celebrating the saint or religious event of the day and dancing to Zagori folk music until morning hours.
In some occasions the festivities last for two or three continuous days and nights of dance, the exact days depending each year on the proximity of the official holiday to a weekend.
There are some other festivities involving similar gatherings and dancing as well, mostly during the tsipouro (local schnapps of grape origin) distillation days in November.
Non-movable Feasts
February 10
Mesovouni
Άγιος Χαράλαμπος
Hagios Charalambos
Saint Charalambus.
March 25
Agios Minas, Ano Pedina (Evangelistria Monastery)
Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου / Evangelismos tis Theotokou / Annunciation of Our Lady.
May 21
Elatochori
Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος & Ελένη
/ Hagios Constantinos & Hagia Eleni
Constantine the Great
& Saint Helena.
June 29
Karyes
Πέτρου και Παύλου / Hagios Petros & Hagios Pavlos
Saints Peter & Paul.
July 17
Demati
Αγία Μαρίνα / Hagia Marina
Saint Margaret of Antioch.
July 20
Doliani, Flambourari, Iliochori, Kapesovo, Manassi,
Megalo Papingo
Προφήτης Ηλίας / Prophetes Elias
Elijah the Prophet.
July 26
Anthrakitis, Leptokarya,
Monodendri (Hagia Paraskevi Convent),
Petra, Skamneli (Hagia Paraskevi Monastery),
Vrysochori, Vovousa
Αγία Παρασκευή / Hagia Paraskevi Saint Paraskeva of Rome.
August 6
Elaphotopos, Elatochori,
Kaloutas, Kipi
Μεταμόρφωση του Σωτήρος / Metamorphosis tou Sotiros
Transfiguration of Jesus.
August 15
Asprangeli, Dilopho, Dipotamo, Frankades, Greveniti, Koukouli, Laista, Makrino, Mesovouni, Tsepelovo, Vitsa
Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου / Kimisi tis Theotokou
The Assumption of Mary.
August 24
Ano Pedina
Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός / Hagios Kosmas o Aitolos
Saint Cosmas of Aetolia.
August 29
Aristi & Vikos,
Dikorpho, Kato Pedina
Αποτομή κεφαλής του Τιμίου Προδρόμου / Hagios Ioannis o Vaptistis
Saint John the Baptist.
September 8
Vradeto, Kastanonas, Kipi, Miliotades, Mikro Papingo
Γέννηση της Θεοτόκου / Gennisi tis Theotokou
The Nativity of Virgin Mary.
November 11
Agios Minas
Άγιος Μηνάς / Hagios Menas
Saint Menas of Egypt.
Movable Feasts
Αποκριά / Apokria / Carnival Sunday of Greek Orthodox Church.
All Zagori villages celebrate with traditional dances until late hours around big fires in village squares or other public spaces.
Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα – Πάσχα / Megali Evdomada – Pascha / Holy Week-Easter of Greek Orthodox Church.
Special customs and events are taking place around these holidays in each village.
Πεντηκοστή / Pentikosti / Pentecost of Greek Orthodox Church.
Negades, Petra, Vrysochori
Non religious festivities
1. August 1st weekend. The Gathering of All Saracatsans in Gyftokampos. Sarakatsani or Saracatsans is an ethnic Greek population subgroup who were traditionally transhumant shepherds, with a major presence in Zagori’s modern population.
2. The Kazanemata or Tsipoura, the tsipouro distillation feasts, are taking place as village scale, family or neighborhood events open to all, in every Zagori village, during the month of November.