August 15th is a milestone in the Greek year. A kind of turning point. It is the feast of Panagia, the All-Holy Mother of God, the most important festival in the Greek Orthodox calendar after Easter. Strictly speaking, it is “Assumption of Mary” (Greek: Kοιμηση της θεοτοκου) and in all churches and chapels dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, solemn masses and liturgical ceremonies followed by exuberant dance festivals/panigyria take place.
In Ikaria there are 11 different panigyria on this day. It is not always the largest churches where the biggest celebrations take place; often inconspicuous, small St. Mary’s churches celebrate their Panigyri, their patron saint, with great celebration.
The largest and most famous Panigyri in Ikaria takes place in Langada in Raches. Every year up to 5,000 (!) Greeks and more flock to the small mountain oasis of Langada to celebrate with live music, baked goat, local wine and ikariotic dancing until the early hours of the next day.
Our Lady has many names:
- Panagia or affectionately also Panagitsa (diminutive) = All Saints
- Theotokou = Mother of God
- Despoina = mistress, mistress
It is the name day of Maria, Marios, Panagiota, Panagiotis and Despina. Since name days are the important celebrations in the life of the Greeks and are celebrated extensively as an “open house festival”, in contrast to birthdays, which only play a role for small children, every family has at least one The whole of Greece is celebrating on this day.
In everyday life, August 15th represents a kind of summer turning point. Around the public holiday of August 15th is the official vacation time for most companies and companies in Greece and the exodus from the big cities to the coasts or islands begins. Athens seems “extinct” at this time! Since most Greeks only have vacation in August, many visit their home islands or villages. Ikaria has about eight thousand permanent residents and more than a hundred and fifty thousand first, second and third Icariote emigrants live abroad Generation. In August they all come from Athens, the mainland, Europe, America and Australia to visit their relatives on the island. You would think that the island would be drowned by so many people! The families flock together and celebrate together.
So one speaks of “prin tis Panagias” or “meta tis Panagias”, i.e. before (the festival of) Panagia or after Panagia. The festival of Panagia not only divides summer into two halves, but the whole year. Once it’s over, you start to wish yourself “kalo chimona”, i.e. a good winter, because after the holiday is over you won’t see your relatives and families on the islands and villages again until after the winter. Although September and the Although October is still mostly sunny and warm and is ideal for vacation, the big tourist rush ends at the end of August.