Page 50 - MYCONIAN COLLECTION MAG 2017

hidden Myconos

LOCAL

FEAsTs Mykonos has six hundred churches, and on the night before
the feast, they all celebrate the day of the saint after which
the church is named. Large churches celebrate with a big
“panayiri” (feast day celebration) and smaller churches hold
a more modest celebration. The feasts are organised by the Lefteris kantenassos plays the bagpipes at an improvised feast
families who serve as the caretakers of the church. Relatives, at a small mountain church on Easter Monday, 2011. kantenassos-Bambeli,
friends and strangers are all equally welcome. Bread and the most significant duo of Mykonian traditional musicians alive,
is famous throughout the Aegean. The sanctuary of the chapel
wine are always on the table, as is mutton broth made from of Panaghia (the Virgin Mary) at Tragonisi, the islet across from kalafatis.
a sheep that is slaughtered especially for the occasion. And
if it is a large feast, there will be all kinds of delicacies, such
as meat balls, louza (dry cured ham) and onion pie, as well
as sardines and fried salted cod with garlic mash. Local feasts “open to the public” from June until mid-
In the past, during hard times, the faithful used to entertain September. Note that the celebration takes place on the night
themselves with banter and by reciting playful couplets, and
there were always bagpipes, drums and violins so the feast before the saints’ day!
could come alive with dancing. Small feasts which are held On 29th June Petros and Pavlos in Kalo Livadi, on 7th July Saint
Photo: John D. Carnessiotis, Giannis Dimotsis to antiquity. For example, the yearly custom of slaughtering Panteleimonas in Vorina and Marathi, 15 August Panagia Tourliani
outside of peak season combine two elements which even today
Kyriaki at Mikres Diles and in Megales Diles, on 27th July, Saint
afford visitors a rare glimpse of these customs dating back
at the Monastery in Ano Mera, on 27th August, Saint Fanourios at
pigs, which begins around the first chills towards the end of
Chontro Gremo and on 14th September, the Elevation of the Holy Cross
October, is a tradition honoured and prized by the locals.
in Marathi, which is the largest, and called "the perfect feast" because
Despite the fact that the main event is the slaughtering of
the hosts of the feast are rich at heart!
an animal - a ritual said to have Dionysian influences – the
indulgence, music, singing and the dancing that surrounds it.
The famous Paraportiani in Hora. custom is “cleansed” by the sense of community, gastronomic

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