| Zakynthos Festivals |
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The Feast of Agios Dionysios: Two annual major festivals are held in honour of Agios Dionysios, Saint Patron of Zakynthos.The first festival is on the 24th of August and is held in memory of the transportation of the Saint's body from the monastery of Strofadia to the church of Agios Dionysios, where it still is today. The second festival is celebrated on the 17th of December, date of the death of the saint. Both festivals are lasting three days and consist in various religious ceremonies followed by traditional dances and music accompanied by local food and wine; those feats attract thousands of people and pilgrims from all over the island and from other parts of Greece. Feast of Agia Mavra: The celebration of the name day of Agia Mavra is held on the 3rd of May. This celebration begins with a religious ceremony in the church of the same name which is located in the village of Maherado. Then the feast continues with banquets and traditional dances on the village's square. Feast of the Virgin Mary: Like in every other part of Greece, the celebration of the Virgin Mary (on the 15th of August) is one of the most important feasts in Zakynthos. A religious ceremony is held in honour of the Virgin, followed by dances, eating and drinking until dawn. All the islanders gathered on the 15th of August to participate to the feast in the villages of Vassilikos and Katastari. Wine Feast: A wine festival is organised in the capital of Zakynthos. This wine feast takes place from the last days of August to the first days of September during which the excellent wines produced by the island can be tasted. Feast of Spiliotissa: Celebrated on the 8th of September in the village of Orthonies. The feast of Spiliotissa consists, like every religious feast in a religious ceremony is followed by traditional music, dances, food and wine. |
