Festivals
Festivals and open-air feasts are organised in most villages of Crete, usually in honour of a saint or on the occasion of a major religious festival
One of the biggest festivals on the island, where crowds of people from all over Crete flock, is the one held in Voni, in the municipality of Minoas of Pediada, on the eve and day of the feast of Agia Marina (16 and 17 July), which is said to cure sick children.
Characteristic are the Cretan festivals on August 15, during the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
The pilgrimage to the church is usually followed by a feast in the village square with live Cretan music, traditional dishes and lots of dancing.
CHANIA
MARCH
25 March Theotokos Evangelismos (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) (Paleochora).
APRIL
23 April or the day after Easter Agios Georgios (Saint George) (Asi Gonia): It is a significant celebration. All the area’s shepherds bring their livestock to get blessed along their fellow villagers and, then, they milk them and distribute the milk to the pilgrims.
MAY
6 May Agios Dikaios (Saint Dikaios) (Elos): A magnificent view in a unique fair.
8 May Agios Ioannis (Saint John) (Agios Ioannis, Sfakia): Traditional fair in Sfakia.
Last Sunday of May Panagia Thimiani (Virgin Mary “Thymiani”) (Sfakia).
JUNE
24 June Agios Ioannis (Saint John) (Sebronas, Apopigadi): One of the fairs taking place at a very high location, with a magnificent view.
JULY
1-2 July Agios Antonios (Saint Anthony) (Sougia, Charei): A unique traditional fair in the coastal small church located in Charei. The visitor can arrive there by a 2-hour hike, via an E4 trail leading from Sougia to Agia Roumeli, enjoying a unique background: the Libyan Sea and pine-tree-lined slopes. You can also arrive with a boat from Sougia. Outdoor overnight stay.
15 July Agios Kirikos (Saint Kirikos) (Lissos): Pilgrims start from the previous day, early evening, from ancient Lissos on foot or by small boats from Sougia. A true fair at Selino, in a mythical place.
AUGUST
6 August Sotiros Metamorphosi (Transfiguration of Jesus Christ the Savior) (Xirosterni, Tzitzife, Kares – Kissamos, Sassalo).
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Therissos): The fair takes place in the beautiful village where Eleftherios Venizelos declared the revolution of 1905.
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Chrysoskalitissa Monastery): The famous fair takes place in the beautiful monastery, which is truly a “terrace” with a view to the Libyan Sea.
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Panagia Korifis – Voulgaro, Kolybari – Gonia Monastery, Pemonia, Fres, Exopolis, Litsarda, Alikabos, Kefala, Kallikrati, Koustagerako).
29 August Ioannis Prodromos (Saint John the Forerunner) (Rodopou – Giona, Douliana, Stilos, Kournas).
SEPTEMBER
8 September Theotokos Genethlion (Nativity of the Virgin Mary) (Gavalochori, Tzitzife, Sassalo).
14 September Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) (Nipos, Rodovani).
15 September Agios Nikitas (Saint Nikitas) (Fragokastello): It is a significant fair during which horse riding games take place.
15 September Agios Nikitas (Saint Nikitas) (Kabia).
OCTOBER
7 October Agion Pateron (Holy Fathers) (Azogires): The fair takes place in the beautiful village with impressive Agion Pateron Cave, open to the public.
NOVEMBER
8 November Archangelos Michail (Archangel Michael) (Floria): It is a small traditional fair.
8 November Archangelos Michail (Archangel Michael) (Aradena): Right atop the impressive Aradena Gorge, in the deserted yet beautiful village.
25 November Agia Ekaterini (Saint Catherine) (Koustogerako): The fair takes place high up at Koustogerako, with a magnificent view, honoring the rescue of the resistant fighters who were hiding from the Germans in a cave.
MOVABLE CELEBRATIONS
40 days before Orthodox Easter Analipsi (Ascension of Jesus Christ) (Kandanos).
50 days after Orthodox Easter Agio Pnevma (Holy Spirit) (Strovles).
RETHYMNO
FEBRUARY
2 February Ipapanti (Presentation of Christ) (Mariou).
APRIL
23 April or the day after Easter Agios Georgios (Saint George) (Zoniana, Plakias).
MAY
21 May Agios Konstantinos & Agia Eleni (Saints Constantine and Helen) (Axos).
JULY
20 July Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias) (Ancient Eleftherna).
27 July Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon) (Adele, Chromonastiri).
AUGUST
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Agia Galini, Koxare, Selia, Axos).
15 August Panagia Charakiani (Virgin Mary “Charakiani”) (Bali).
SEPTEMBER
14 September Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) (Axos).
8 September Theotokos Genethlion (Nativity of the Virgin Mary) (Miriokefala, Lefkogeia).
MOVABLE CELEBRATIONS
40 days after Orthodox Easter Analipsi (Ascension of Jesus Christ) (Anogia, Panormo).
HERAKLIO
MARCH
25 March Theotokos Evangelismos (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) (Heraklion Municipality).
APRIL
23 April or the day after Easter Agios Georgios (Saint George) (Gortyna Municipality).
MAY
5 May Agia Irini (Saint Irene) (Malevizi Municipality).
21 May Agios Konstantinos & Agia Eleni (Saints Constantine and Helen) (Minoa Pediada Municipality).
JUNE
24 June Ai-Giannis Klidonas (Saint John “Klidonas”) (Gortyna Municipality, Archanes – Asterousia Municipality).
29 June Apostoloi Petros & Pavlos (Apostles Peter & Paul) (Phaistos Municipality).
JULY
17 July Agia Marina (Saint Marina) (Malevizi Municipality, Minoa Pediada).
27 July Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon) (Archanes – Asterousia Municipality, Malevizi, Viannos Municipality, Phaistos Municipality).
AUGUST
6 August Sotiros Metamorphosi (Transfiguration of Jesus Christ the Savior) (Minoa Pediada Municipality).
8 August Agios Myron (Saint Myron) (Gortyna Municipality).
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Heraklion Municipality, Malevizi Municipality, Phaistos Municipality, Hersonissos Municipality).
25 August Agios Titos (Saint Titos) (Heraklion Municipality).
SEPTEMBER
8 September Theotokos Genethlion (Nativity of the Virgin Mary) (Monastery of Kera, Hersonissos Municipality).
OCTOBER
26 October Agios Dimitrios (Saint Dimitrios) (Hersonissos Municipality).
NOVEMBER
3 November Agios Ioannis – Iera Lipsana Anakomidi (Removal of relics of Saint George the Triumphant) (Epanosifi Monastery).
8 November Agios Minas (Saint Minas) (Heraklion Municipality).
30 November Agios Andreas (Saint Andrew) (Minoa Pediada Municipality).
DECEMBER
4 December Agia Varvara (Saint Barbara) (Gortyna Municipality).
23 December Agioi Deka [Saints “Deka” (Ten)] (Gortyna Municipality).
LASSITHI
JANUARY
30 January Trion Ierarchon (Three Holy Hierarchs) (Psychor).
FEBRUARY
4 February Agios Isidoros (Saint Isidoros) (Kavo Sidero).
APRIL
23 April or the day after Easter Agios Georgios (Saint George) (in the deserted settlement of Skalia, near the village of Sitanos).
MAY
8 May Ioannis Theologos (Saint John “Theologos”) (Marmaketo).
JUNE
4 June Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) (Palekastro, Agia Triada, Armenous).
JULY
1 July Agioi Anargyroi (Saints Anargiri) (a Pan-Lasithian celebration).
17 July Agia Marina (Saint Marina) (Exo Mouliana, Mirsini, Presso).
20 July Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias) (Mesa Mouliana).
26 July Agia Paraskevi (Saint Paraskevi) (Ziros, Tourtoulous, Agia Triada).
27 July Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon) (Rousa Ekklisia, Chamezi, Schinokapsala).
AUGUST
6 August Sotiros Metamorphosi (Transfiguration of Jesus Christ) (Exo Mouliana, Agios Strefanos, Zakros).
14 August The day before the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Maronia).
15 August Theotokos Koimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary) (Palekastro, Lastro, Piskokefalo, Tourloti, Sitanos).
15 August Megali Panagia at Neapoli and Panagia Phaneromeni Monastery, Ierapetra.
29 August Agios Ioannis (Sain John) (Ziros, Dafni, Kapsa Timios Prodromos Monastery).
SEPTEMBER
8 September Theotokos Genethlion (Nativity of the Virgin Mary) (Lithines).
14 September Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) (Sfaka).
17 September Agia Sofia (Saint Sophia) (Armenous).
18 September Agia Ariadni (Saint Ariadne), a unique fair in Crete, dedicated to this Sainte (Tzermiado).
26 September Toplos Monastery, Sitia.
NOVEMBER
25 November Agia Ekaterini (Saint Catherine) (Sitia).
DECEMBER
9 December Agia Anna (Saint Anna) (Piskokefalo).