Traditional festivals
Traditional festivals (panigiria) have a leading role in the cultural life of Chios island every summer, transforming the island into a celebration land, especially in August.
The occasion is usually a religious celebration, as each village has a saint to honor. On the day of the feast, large tables are positioned at the square of the village. The festival starts at night, drink and food are plentiful and the celebration goes on until the morning time, accompanied by traditional music by local bands.
The major festivals, which are a reference point of the island, are the one of St. Markella on 22 of July and the one of Virgin Mary on August 15. Some other traditional feasts in Chios:
May 5: Agia Irini - Elata
May 8: Ag. Giannis Theologos - Kourounia
June 29: Petrou kai Paulou - Tholopotami
July 1: Agion Anargiron - Nenita, Potamia, Thymiana
July 6: Neochori
July 7: Ag Kyriaki - Kalamoti, Amades, Karyes
July 15: Katavasi
July 17: Ag Marina - Mirmigi, Fyta, Ververato, Kardamyla
July 20: Prophetis Elias - Kalamoti, Spartounda, Armolia, Kardamyla
July 22: Ag Markella - Ag. Markella, Volissos, Karyes, Lithi
July 26: Ag Paraskevi - Zifia, Kalamoti, Castello, Parparia, Chalandra
July 27: Ag. Panteleimon - Agios Georgios Sikousis, Vasileioniko, Monodendri Dafnonas, Kambia, Keramos
July 30: Ag. Anargiron - Thymiana
August 3: Flatsia
August 5: Christ eve - Kardamyla
August 6: Christ's - Ag. Georgios Sikousis, Vessa, Didima (exo) Tholopotami, Egrigoros, Volissos, Thymiana
August 7: Ag. Emilianos' eve - Mesta - Kallimasia
August 12: Ag Foteini - Neochori
August 14: Virgin Mary 's Eve - Kardamyla
Aug. 15: Virgin Mary 's - Kallimasia, Nenita, Dafnonas, Chalkios, St Georgios Sikousis, Volissos, Campos, Melanios
August 21: Ag Vassa - A.Vassa Neochori
August 22: Virgin Margy - Pyrgi, Agio Galas
August 29: Agiou Ioanni - St. Georgios Sikousis, Katarraktis, Ag. Giannis Ameri, Patrika
August 30: Agia Zoni - Kardamyla
September 1: Agiou Simeon - Trypes, Amades
September 2: Ag. Mamas - Aphrodisia
September 4: Agia Hermione - Thymiana
September 6: Taxiarhon - Nenitouria
September 8: Virgin Mary - Didimes (exo), Sykiada, Lithi, Elata, Leptopoda, Sykiada
Sept. 14: Tou Stavrou - Chalkios
September 15: Ag. Nikita - Armolia
September 26: Ag. Ioanni Theologou - Parparia, Kourounia

