This is Athens City Festival, the city’s big celebration from the Municipality of Athens.

Grass, live music, Dj sets, educational labs, kite show, music theatre for young and elder audience, creative workshops for kids, cinema.

An all day event in the heart of Spring, in the heart of the City.

 

Artisans & Markets Walk – Your Greek shopping therapy is a walking tour to indulge in local open markets and experience local crafts and artisans.  Our walk will take you through the most vibrant parts of the city and everyday life, allowing you to stroll and buy your local treasures.

Starting from the Trekking Hellas Athens base, at the Koukaki area, we will walk up Areopagus Hill to admire the view. We will then head south through the Plaka district before we reach the areas of Monastiraki and Psyri.  We’ve now reached the marketplace and the well-known Varvakios Market (meat market), a memorable experience!

Around the corner is the old Stock Exchange and Athens City Hall.  We then enter a more diverse side of Athens, through Geraniou Street, a hidden multicultural neighborhood.

The last part of our walk takes us around Omonia Square, an always buzzing part of Athens.

We get to taste the street food in this area before ending our walk at the Omonia metro station!

On 7 May 2022, this year’s Book Day brings an important message to literature lovers and to all those willing to give it a try.

Under the motto “read & change”, as part of this multifaceted effort, held for the 7th consecutive year with great success, the book walk will also take place on the same day, giving the opportunity to avid readers – and not only – to tour publishing houses, libraries, publishing houses and book stores – small and large – of Athens, which are organizing events, activities and guided tours especially for this day.

During this literary walk, participants will have the opportunity, among other things, to talk to the authors of literature, while young visitors will have the chance to participate in children’s events with music and storytelling.

Opening time: 10.30 am.

Starting point: 10:30 am: Kotzia Square, opposite the Athens Town Hall.

‘’Jazz is dancing with minimalism inside Go Go Penguin’s hadron accelerator’’ mentions the Guardian, while ‘’The New York Times’’ referring to them, states ‘’The band’s members are dedicated in their groove.

They are three youngsters, composing music with jazz instruments, rock dynamic and dance music strategies’’. Their album ‘’v2.0’’ won 2014’s Mercury Prize, they ‘ve signed with Blue Note Records and they are those who will bond young people with jazz music.

They will visit Athens for a unique live appearance at the Acropolis Museum’s terrace for This is Athens City Festival on Monday, May’s 16 under a full moon.

It is a known and beloved recipe. Once every month, a bunch of restaurants and tasty food projects settle their stalls in a roofed, handy for gatherings, arcade next to Fokionos Negri street, open to young, old, baby carriages, wheelchairs and pets.

With different stalls every time, the collective pop up brunch hosted at Kypseli’s Agora, operated by Impact Hub Athens, looks like a small food fair. Well-known delicacies from all over the city, as well as new entries that focus on captivating us with both their taste and their wide smiles, are a good reason for a walk to Kypseli on a Sunday anytime between 11:00 and 17:00.

The event follows all required guidelines of the public health authority to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

With an exceptional success on its first event and positive impressions from exhibitors and visitors, the 2nd Bio Festival returns dynamically 6-8 May 2022, at the Technopolis in Gazi, with the participation of the most important commercial and productive companies of the industry.

Enriched with new sectors and a holistic approach to sustainability and the circular economy, it redefines the concept of sustainable development, thus laying the foundations to be an important trade forum and a reference point for the culture of healthy and eco living in Greece.





Why visit bio festival?

- The sector’s professionals who will visit the festival, will have the opportunity within three days to meet under the same roof important companies and small producers of organic or natural products as well as to discover products and proposals that promote eco living, in order to upgrading their businesses and the products they offer to consumers whether it is food, drink, cosmetics or experience.

- The consumers will have the opportunity to find selected businesses with products and services that promote the transition to a more healthy lifestyle and strengthen the eco-living culture.

- Through a rich and specialized program of special events, professionals of the sector will be informed about trends and developments in their industry, while consumers will be educated and will acquire a better knowledge and insight into organic foods and the bio culture in general.

The interest of the second and third generation Greeks in the United States to acquire Greek citizenship through naturalisation is extremely high. This was highlighted by the large attendance at the relevant workshops organised in Chicago, Boston and New York at the Greek consulates at the initiative of the Ministry of Interior.

The Secretary General of Citizenship of the Ministry of Interior, Athanasios Balerbas, traveled to the US to inform about the naturalisation process to the second and third generation Greeks who live there, according to Infognomon. and who, as it turned out, are interested in acquiring Greek citizenship and having relations with the Greek state either for emotional reasons or because they own property or would be willing to invest.

After the information provided by the Ministry of Interior, the Greek registries receive daily naturalisation applications from US citizens of Greek origin.

In order for the application to be accepted, it is enough to have evidence that certifies the Greek citizenship of at least one parent. In case they have passed away or they are third generation descendants, the consulate of the area undertakes a relevant interview in order to certify the connection with the country.

It should be noted that US citizens who will also acquire Greek citizenship through this process and do not have the right to vote remotely as “expatriates” as they have not lived in Greece as provided, but can vote if they decide to come to Greece during the election period.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

Starting Tuesday, April 26th, big brown wheelie bins for organic waste will be installed at 20 farmers’ markets in Attica to encourage vendors to join a composting scheme.

During the first four weeks of the program, these so-called “green stations” will travel to markets across the region with representatives of the Attica Regional Authority program, who will inform vendors of the benefits of joining up.

They will also be giving vendors who have their own farms sacks of compost made in Attica by recycling organic waste.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

As Easter approaches, Greece bursts with a kaleidoscope of traditions and celebrations, each region boasting its own unique customs that captivate locals and visitors alike.

From the thunderous Rocket War in Chios to the colorful Hot Air Balloons of Leonidio, let's explore some of the most unique and vibrant Greek Easter customs.



Chios - Rocket War (Rouketopolemos)


@panos.mavrakis

Nestled amidst the intoxicating scents of mastic and the medieval charm of its villages, Chios welcomes Easter with a spectacle unlike any other - the Rocket War. Originating from the final years of Ottoman rule, this tradition sees parishioners from opposing churches, Agios Markos and Panagia Erythiani, engage in a thrilling exchange of shots using small cannons. These cannons, brought by sailors from merchant ships, are set up in churchyards and loaded with fireworks, aiming to create a cacophony of noise that reverberates through the night.

Kalamata - Saitopolemos


@g_tsafos

In the heart of Messinia, Easter bursts into life with the captivating custom of Saïtolemos. Crafted from cardboard and filled with a potent mixture of gunpowder and oil, saïtes take to the skies, resembling playful paper airplanes. While their origins are steeped in folklore, the tradition continues to captivate with its spirited competition and thunderous roar, echoing across the banks of the Nedontas River. As Easter unfolds across Greece, these unique customs serve as vibrant expressions of faith, culture, and community, inviting all to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Greek Easter traditions.

Leonidio - Hot Air Balloons


@aris.messinis

In the picturesque town of Leonidio, Easter takes flight with the mesmerizing sight of "afani" - vibrant paper balloons adorning the sky. As the priest proclaims "Christ is Risen," the air fills with anticipation as five parishes compete to release the most balloons. Locals light oil-soaked "kollemaras," sending over 600 balloons soaring into the night, symbolizing the resurrection with a breathtaking display. Alongside this spectacle, the burning of Judas ceremony adds a poignant touch to the Easter festivities.

Corfu - Botides 


@vince_alamanos

Corfu adds a splash of color to Easter celebrations with the lively tradition of "Botides." On Holy Saturday morning, young Corfiots gather at the Liston, bearing clay pitchers filled with water. With joyful exuberance, they toss these pitchers out of windows onto the cobblestone streets below, marking the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter joy. The crashing pitchers create a cheerful symphony, echoing the island's vibrant spirit and welcoming visitors to join in the jubilant festivities.

Tyros - Coastal Processions


@anemologiotiros

In Tyros, tradition runs deep, and Easter is no exception. On Good Friday, the coastal road comes alive with the solemn procession of the two Epitaphs, accompanied by fishing boats and throngs of reverent onlookers. From inland, thousands follow the Epitaphs, honoring the solemnity of the occasion and reaffirming the community's steadfast commitment to tradition.