Athens Festivals and Events

The most important Greek festivals and many small events honour religious traditions, national pride and performing arts. Some of the most significant Greece cultural events and festivals in Athens are the following.

The Greek traditional dancing is the better show of Greek people by their warmth and energy. This can be witnessed in fine style each summer night (except Mondays) at theatre, which was established by Greek folk expert, Dora Stratou, on Philoppapus Hill in Athens. The dancers in each show do full justice to the costumes and ancient routines that make up each packed performance.

A traditional Greek Dance Festival

Easter is a particularly important holiday for Greeks, which is celebrated vigorously throughout Greece. The celebrations begin on Good Friday with processions leading out of the main village or neighbourhood churches. The Epithaphio or tomb of Christ is decorated with flowers during these processions and carried from the church to the cemetery. After Christ is laid to rest, everybody lights a candle and the people return the church atop Lycabettus Hill to kiss an image of Christ. On Sunday, the feast continues and people celebrate with wine and ouzo long into the night. Also is a tradition during the Easter, to dye eggs red for Christ blood. Also is a custom for godparents buy a candle, new shoes and clothes for their godchildren.

February and March are carnival months in Athens. Traditional and modern events, music, dance and song are on show as the people take the streets. Entertainment includes traditional dances, serenades and mandolin music; rock ballards, piazzolla, tabors and rebetiko, cuban music, samba and tarantelle, jazz, acrobatics, violins, performances by well-known Greek artists and "gaitanaki". Many performers dress in traditional costumes adorned with bells and there is entertainment especially for kids.

The annual contemporary arts festival at Lycabettus Hill is a perfect way to spend the hot summer nights - in stunning surroundings and with first class entertainment – in Athens. Many performances take place in the open-air theatre atop the hill which provides marvellous views across the city. Also the programme includes contemporary jazz, pop, rock and dance shows.

Every summer since 1955, the magnificent Herod Atticus Odeon holds the important Athens Festival and the city of Athen’s cultural showcase is the two-phase Athens Festival. The ancient tiered theatre nestles at the foot of the Acropolis and during summer and autumn resounds each evening to the tune of symphony orchestras, classical drama and dance, and operatic performances. The large and varied programme of international and Greek artists is available from the Athens Festival office on Stadiou Street.

One of most popular annual live rock music events in Europe, drawing the hottest performers and an enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands since it was first held in 1996. The music fest takes place over three days, featuring three stages offering different types of music: metal, rock and dance. The latest addition is the 'silent' dance experience, featuring the Silent Disco.

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