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Rhodes Culture and Customs
Customs and Culture of Rhodes island Greece
Cultural events
The Municipality of Rhodes
One can enjoy a trip into the age of the Knights with the Sound and Light show in the gardens of the Palace each year from April to October. Listen to the story of the Knights of the Order of St. John narrated in several languages (Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Sweden and others).
In Melina Mercouri Theatre in the medieval dry moat there are cultural events with theatre shows, concerts and so on organized. Throughout the whole summer there is a festival held by the Municipality of Rhodes Cultural Organization which includes music, dance and theatre. Each year from 20th - 30th August an International Dance Festival takes place.
The International Opera Festival takes place each year in the courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Master from 20th - 30th July.
The International Choir Festival and competition is participated in by choirs from all around the world. It takes place in Rhodes National Theatre one week after Orthodox Easter (Wednesday to Sunday).
Days of Music is another event with popular and classical music from all over the world which takes place in the Medieval Town each year during the 2nd half of September.
Visit the Greek Dance Theatre in the Old Town to see the tradition of yesterday alive today. Get to know the Dodecanese through their popular traditions, dances and song with live music and traditional costumes.
The Anthestiria flower festival is an impressive parade with floats in Mandraki which takes place on the last Sunday in May.
During the summer months there are also concerts organized in Diagora Stadium.
During the first week of July each year there are cultural events as part of the Maritime Week celebrations with tours of the town of Rhodes, free entry to museums, sports events, art exhibitions and fireworks are laid on.
The Municipality of Archangelos
During the second half of August there is a week of cultural events in the village of Archangelos with book fairs, talks and traditional dances performed by dance groups.
The Municipality of Afandou
Each year the Cultural August events take place with concerts, dance and theatre shows. On 27th September Tourism Day is also celebrated with various events in Afandou and Kolymbia.
The Municipality of Ialyssos
Each year the Ialysia events are held during the first half of August with traditional local dances performed by local dance groups and by groups from all over Greece and abroad. There are also sports events, concerts by choirs and the Ialyssos band, art exhibitions and book fairs.
The Municipality of Lindos
Every two weeks during summer the Municipality organizes celebrations with traditional local dances and songs.
The Municipality of Kallithea
World Tourism Day on 27th September is celebrated amid great festivity in all districts of the Municipality. There are music and dance events and at night phantasmagoric fireworks are set off.
The Municipality of Kallithea's Educational, Cultural, Artistic and Tourist Organization organizes cultural events (music, dance) during the summer months with the participation of groups from all over Greece. Theatre shows are also staged.
The Municipality of Petaloudes
World Tourism Day on 27th September is celebrated with a party which lasts four days in the district of Theologos.
The Municipality of Southern Rhodes
The summer concert held of Kiotari Beach each August is a highpoint on the island's cultural calendar.
Folklore feasts and Celebrations
The Municipality of Rhodes
Each parish of Rhodes celebrates its patron saint amid great festivities. Of particular note are the feasts of Aghios Panteleimon on 27th July and Aghios Fanourios on 27th August in the Old Town.
The Municipality of Archangelos
Traditional feasts take place with popular music on 17th July for Aghia Marina, 23rd August for Panaghia Alemonitra (Eleimonitria), 8th September for Panaghia Tsambika and 8th November for Archangel Michael.
The Municipality of Afandou
The Epiphany is celebrated on 6th January with due pomp by casting the Cross into the sea. Major feasts are those of Aghios Georgios on 23rd April, the Dormition of the Virgin on 15th August on the beach at the location known as Katholiki and Aghios Lukas, the patron saint, on 18th October. Aghios Dimitrios is also accorded due respect in the celebrations on 25th - 26th October and Aghios Nektarios on 9th October in Archipoli.
The Municipality of Lindos
Religious feasts which stand out are those on 20th May at Tharri Monastery in Laerma, on 28th June at Aghii Apostoli Monastery at Lindos, on 6th July at Aghia Kyriaki Monastery in Kalathos, on 14th August at Lindos celebrating the Virgin and on 22nd August at Panaghia Ipseni Monastery.
The Municipality of Southern Rhodes
On the second day of Orthodox Easter (which is a mobile feast) people celebrate at Asomaton Monastery in Apolakkia in true traditional style. On the Sunday of St. Thomas (another mobile feast) residents of Mesanagros gather at the Monastery of Aghios Thomas and celebrate by eating, drinking and dancing. Major celebrations also take place on 4th May for Aghia Irini in Lachania, 16th July for Aghia Marina in Apolakkia and 20th July for Aghios Filimonas where under the large plane tree in Arnitha village food and drink are served up in abundance.
In Kattavia the feast of Aghia Paraskevi takes place on 26th July, Aghios Panteleimon over the three days from 25th - 27th July and at Istrios there is a major celebration on 15th August for the Virgin with violins, lyres and food in abundance.
The Municipality of Petaloudes
To celebrate 15th August, at the magnificent church of the Dormition in Kremasti there is one of the largest feasts on the island which lasts 9 days from 14th -23rd August.
At Maritsa on 6th August the Monastery of the Transfiguration celebrates and on 7th November the patron saints, Archangels Michael and Gabriel are celebrated.
On 13th September a major celebration is held at Holy Cross Monastery at Damatria (Ipsosi Stavrou Monastery).
In Paradisi there is a wonderful religious feast on 17th July for Aghia Marina.
On 5th December Aghios Nikolaos is celebrated in Pastida.
On 12th December Aghios Spyridon is celebrated in Tholos. At all feasts the procession of the icons is done accompanied by the Municipality's Philharmonic Band.
The Municipality of Attavyros
In Embonas the feast of the Virgin is celebrated on 15th August and that of Aghia Irini on 5th May with popular instruments and abundant quantities of food.
On the Sunday of St. Thomas (a mobile feast) there is a large party in the village of Monolithos with traditional music, dance, food and a tombola. On 27th July Aghios Panteleimon was celebrated with due pomp in the village of Siana. On 8th September the Amartou Monastery in Kritinia celebrates. Food is served up with drink accompanied by live traditional music.
A large popular feast is that on 4th May as part of the celebrations for Aghios Isidoros.
The Municipality of Ialyssos
Celebrations take place for the Virgin on 15th August and the Life Giving Spring in the church with the same name on Filerimou Hill (Zoodochos Pigi Church). The icon is paraded with due pomp with the participation of Italian priests from Assisi.
The Municipality of Kallithea
The feast of the Prophet Amos takes place on 14th June amid celebrations, while the Virgin in also celebrated and Aghios Ioannis on 15th and 29th August respectively.
From 13th to 15th September a major celebration is held in the Municipality as part of the feast of the Church of the Holy Cross. Traditional music is played.
In Koskinou there is a major celebration on 17th July for Aghia Marina.
The Municipality of Kameiros
In Salakos there are celebrations for the Prophet Elijah on 20th July at the Monastery and for the Virgin on 15th August and Aghios Georgios on 23rd April.
The most famous celebrations on the island last tens days and take place from 23rd July onwards at Aghios Soulas Monastery near Soroni with sports events, horse races and traditional dancing and music. The feast of Aghia Eleousa in September is popular.
Customs and lore
The Municipality of Rhodes
Carnival in the Medieval Town: During the last week of Carnival (a mobile Orthodox feast between the months of February and March) street theatre, pantomime, juggling, sleight of hand tricks, stilt walking, comedie de l'Art and concerts are organized covering all types of music (renaissance, Byzantine, Greek popular, traditional and island music).
The Municipality of Kameiros
From 24th December to 6th January every Christmas a live re-enactment of the birth of Christ is staged at Soroni in Makarouna Cave. Children dressed as angels serve tea to visitors who have come to see the crib scene from all over Rhodes.
The Municipality of Attavyros
At Aghios Isidoros there is a traditional custom called 'vournes' which is organized by the youth of the village. It begins on Holy Saturday and ends on Easter Monday. All single people in the village take part and the custom includes setting alight a dummy representing Judas and a mock trial which tries all those participating. All those who have not observed the rules of the custom over a period of 3 days are subjected to serious penalties which are called 'Vournes'.
At Embonas there is a wine festival each year during the second half of September when wine, grapes and must-jelly are served. This is followed by dances with groups from the village of Rhodes wearing traditional costumes.
The Municipality of Afandou
The Fanteno Carnival is celebrated with strong local style on Clean Monday (the beginning of Orthodox Lent) with floats and satirical verses. The celebrations end with a traditional party. Groups of masqueraders known as Kamouzeles roam the streets single and playing hoaxes while the Municipality organizes a series of celebratory events with the high point being the burning of a float or figure on the last Sunday of the carnival.
The Municipality of Archangelos
On the last Sunday of Carnival (a mobile Orthodox feast between the months of February and March) there are celebrations with socio-political satire.
The Municipality of Petaloudes
During Carnival there is a major feast in the square of Maritsa on a day known as 'Tsiknopempti' (roast meat Thursday) with abundant wine, dance and sleight of hand performances.
Folklore feasts and celebrations
The Municipality of Rhodes
On World Tourism Day on 27th September a three day Dodecanese Culture and Tradition Festival commences organized by the Dodecanese Tourism Organization of the Dodecanese Prefectural Government Authority. The specific festival includes a business fair with businessmen involved in traditional professions from all over the Dodecanese, an exhibition to promote the islands of the Dodecanese and a folklore exhibition which has a different theme each year. The festival is accompanied by traditional dancing, music groups, choirs from all islands of the Prefecture and certain local customs. On the opening day fireworks light up the Rhodian sky. Throughout the entire festival traditional Dodecanese delicacies are served up.
The Municipality of Petaloudes
Throughout the whole summer various festivals take place with the districts of the Municipality. Paradisi Festival from 12th - 17th July is organized to coincide with the feast day of Aghia Marina and includes dance shows, concerts by the local philharmonic band and musical evenings. Maritsa Festival is from 1st - 7th August. During this time concerts, dance shows and theatrical performances are staged. The Kremasti Cultural Festival is from 11th - 23rd August in parallel with the Panhellenic Handicrafts Fair. Every evening there are dances, theatrical performances, musical evenings, concerts with choirs and the philharmonic band, beach parties, backgammon, draughts and chess competitions while local cuisine is served up. Pastida Festival is from 1st - 7th September and Damatria Festival is from 11th - 14th September with various cultural events.
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