1 January: Protohroniá/St Basil’s Day; traditional greeting is ‘Kalí Hroniá!’
6 January: Agía Theofánia/Epiphany, the Baptism of Christ; young men dive into the sea to recover a crucifix cast by the local bishop; the retriever is considered lucky.
7 March: 1948 Union of Dodecanese with Greece: parades, dancing.
Clean Monday: 48 days before Easter, Lenten fast (no meat or dairy) begins; kite-flying and countryside outings.
25 March: Greek Independence Day/Festival of the Annunciation.
Easter: the most important Orthodox holiday. Maundy Thursday eve features the moving Crucifixion Mass; on Good Friday, processions in each parish follow the flower-decked bier of Christ. The midnight Resurrection Mass on Holy Saturday concludes with fireworks and relaying of the sacred flame from officiating clergy to parishioners. On Sunday mageirítsa stew and roast lamb ends the Lenten fast.
1 May: Protomagiá/May Day: flower-gathering excursions to the country – and massive parades by the political Left.
May/June variable: Agíou Pnévmatos/Holy Spirit (Whit) Monday. National holiday concludes a three-day weekend; hotels fill for first time.
14–15 August: Kímisi tis Theotókou/Dormition of the Panagía. Processions and festivals wherever there is a church dedicated to this feast (some Marian churches celebrate 8 September or 21 November).
29 August: Apotomí Timías Kefalís Prodrómou/Beheading of John the Baptist; pilgrimage and celebration at his monastery near Kéfalos, Kos.
14 September: Ýpsosi tou Timiou Stavroú/Elevation of the Holy Cross, observed on Nísyros.
25–26 September: Metástasi Ioánni Theológou/Departure of St John the Theologian, at his monasteries on Pátmos and Nísyros.
28 October: Óhi (No) Day, commemorating Greek defiance of the Italian invasion in 1940.
25–26 December: Hristoúgenna/Christmas. The traditional symbol, in public squares, is an illuminated boat. Santa is an invasive species.
New Year’s Eve: Adults play cards for money, and a cake (the vassilópita) is baked with a coin hidden inside – bringing good luck to whoever gets that slice.