Unforgettable Festivals in Samos

Planning a holiday walking in Greece? Well take that calendar off your wall and plan your trekking trip around these fantastic festivals. There's a little something for everything, so come on over to Samos and learn to party like a local.

Dance on Taverna Tabletops

After walking in Greece the last thing that you're going to want to do with those tired feet is dance on Taverna tabletops, so we'll leave that to the locals. You may want to take advantage of the lashings of local food and drink on offer during the feast day of the Virgin Mary, so plan your walking trip around 15th August to take advantage of the eating and merriment.

No matter where you are in Samos, every village square and every local taverna will be hosting their own celebrations. Wine and music play a big part in the celebrations and most followers of the Greek Orthodox religion will have been fasting for a fortnight prior to this date.

Splash Around in Samos

When you've been walking in Greece on a warm summer afternoon, the idea of swimming in a nice cool lake can seem like heaven; but what about entering a swimming tournament? In the town of Pythagario, swimming tournaments are just a small part of the celebrations intended to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Mikali.

The anniversary takes place on August 6th and if you don't like the idea of competing against an Olympian in the swimming races, you can simply watch the local children dance a traditional Samoan dance, called the 'Sirtos', in their local costume.

Religion plays a big part in the anniversary celebrations, but the sermons are all in Greek so you may want to give them a miss. Foodies will be delighted to know that the Battle of Mikali has its own designated dish; giorti. Giorti is made with minced lamb, grains and paprika and doesn't look dissimilar to porridge. However, giorti is a lot tastier, and will definitely fill you up after a long day walking in Greece.

Feast with Fisherman

By now you should have spotted a distinct formula to a Greek festival; dancing, eating and wine. If you head to Pythagario in June during the Feast of the Fisherman you'll be delighted to find that the food and wine are free. The food consists of fresh fish delivered by the local fishermen and is organised by the local council.

The festival wouldn't be complete without dancing and this goes on throughout the night. If you're planning to continue walking in Greece the next morning, you may want to rest your feet earlier on in the evening so that you are good to go.

Party for Panagia Vrondiani

Remember giorti? Well it makes another festival appearance on the 6th and 7th of August. In fact, anyone who plans a trip walking in Greece during the first week of August may find themselves in the midst of a three-day party.

Straight after the celebrations commemorating the Battle of Mikali end, the feast day of Panagia Vrondiani begins. Dancing in the tavernas, followed by local wine and giorti are very much the flavour of the next two days. Walking during the day and feasting with the locals at night? It certainly sounds like the perfect holiday combination to us.

By : Tony_Maniscalco