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Greek language students recognised for excellence at University of Sydney

The Greek Herald
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Greek language students recognised for excellence at University of Sydney

It was a day of celebration for all languages, including Greek, as students received awards for excelling in the University of Sydney’s School of Languages and Cultures.

Awards were presented to students who excelled in their respective language courses in either 2019 or 2020, due to last year’s ceremony being cancelled from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony was opened by Professor Annamarie Jagose, Dean for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Professor Yixu Lu, Head of School for School of Languages and Cultures.

Professor Yixu Lu, Head of School for School of Languages and Cultures. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald

Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek, was MC for the ceremony, saying the night was to celebrate the “achievements and efforts of these hard working students.”

“(The students’) presence, even through the black windows of their zoom screens, gave us hope that things would change soon,” Professor Karalis said.

“You are our hope for the future, the hope of this university and the hope of this society.”

Guests at the School of Languages and Cultures ceremony. Photo: Peter Oglos/ The Greek Herald

Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos presented eight categories of Greek language awards, with six of these categories including students from 2019 and 2020.

Elefteria Antonelli and Katherine Lambros received the 2020 and 2019 GS Caird Scholarship in Second Year Modern Greek for their respective years. The award is presented annually to the student who shows greatest proficiency in second year units and who subsequently proceeds to third year Modern Greek.

Speaking to The Greek Herald, Katherine Lambros, who was the Sydney University Greek Society President in 2020, said she felt “really proud” to be acknowledged for her study efforts.

Katherine Lambros receives her award. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald

“I also just really like to contribute to the continuation of the Greek department,” Lambros said.

“I think it’s really important students of Greek background continue their study of Greek and support the department so it can continue into the future.”

Lambros added that it’s very important Greeks continue the connection they have with their heritage, “even if it’s doing a beginner subject or more advanced subject, I think anyone can get anything out of it.

The next award was presented to Marina Dionysiou, who received the 2019 GS Caird Scholarship in Third Year Modern Greek.

Harry Varvaressos receives his award. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald.

The third award was the Order of the Australian Hellenic Education Progressive Association Scholarship in Modern Greek, which is presented to a high-excelling first year student who proceeds to senior units of study. This award was received by Jamie Christoforou and Harry Varvaressos for 2020 and 2019 respectively.

Harry Varvaressos said it was a “great honour” to receive the award on the night.

The Robert William Henderson Memorial Prize is presented to any student who has shown a deep interest in Modern Greek Culture in their senior years, and was presented to Fereniki Ghelis and Nicholas Varvaressos.

The Modern Greek Studies Foundation Prize in Modern Greek Studies 1, 2, 3 was established in 2011 by a donation from the George Thomas Modern Greek Studies Foundation, and is made available for a student who has completed year one studies, a student who has completed year two studies, and a student who has completed year three studies, in the previous academic year.

Natasha Zakis receives her award. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald

See below for the list of award winners for this category:

The Modern Greek Studies Foundation Prize in Modern Greek Studies 1:

  • Natasha Zakis – 2020
  • Elefteria Antonelli and Harry Varvaressos – 2019

The Modern Greek Studies Foundation Prize in Modern Greek Studies 2:

  • Anna-Marina Anag nostopoulou – 2020
  • Nicholas Varvaressos – 2019
  • Anna-Marina Anagnostopoulou receives her award. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald

The Modern Greek Studies Foundation Prize in Modern Greek Studies 3:

  • Joyce Kolevris
  • Stefanos Stavropoulos

Elefteria Antonelli, who received two awards on the night, said receiving the award was a “huge privilege”.

“(Greek) is a way not only to talk to your grandparents, but also something I want to pass down to my kids when the time comes,” Antonelli said to The Greek Herald.

The final award was recently introduced in 2020 by the Sydney University Greek Society and honours the outstanding commitment to the Department and its students by Professor Vrasidas Karalis and Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos. The inaugural recipient of the award was Stefanos Stavropoulos.

Elefteria Antonelli receives her award. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald

The Vrontados Rocket War: Yiannis Apostolis on the unusual Greek Easter tradition

The Greek Herald
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The Vrontados Rocket War: Yiannis Apostolis on the unusual Greek Easter tradition

By Nikos Siriodis

The rocket war is a custom observed every Easter in Vrontados of Chios, during which on the night of the Resurrection thousands of improvised rockets are fired between the two churches of the area, Panagia Erithiani and Agios Markos.

The Panayousoi (parishioners of Panagia Erithiani) with their rockets aim to hit the dome and the emblem of Agios Markos while the Agiomarkousoi (parishioners of Agios Markos) aim to hit the bell clock of Panagia Erithiani.

The preparation takes place several months before the teams of the two parishes make the “explosive cocktail” from charcoal, nitro and sulfur and place it on the Rockets. On the evening of Holy Saturday, the rockets are set up on wooden bases, in order to get the appropriate trajectory and achieve their goal.

The spring sky is flooded with colorful flashes and the clicks of thousands of flaming rockets that create a spectacular atmosphere impressing all visitors. The custom has its roots in the period of the Turkish rule, when the Vrontadoussoi used small cannons with loud clanging to celebrate Easter, but the Turks, under fear that they could be used against them, banned them and replaced them with improvised rockets.

On Easter Sunday, the rockets that find their target are counted and at the end the winner is decided. The two “rival” parishes renew their “battle” for the following year, thus maintaining the tradition for many years.

IT TAKES 3-4 MONTHS TO PREPARE

The “Greek Herald” spoke with Yannis Apostolis from Chios, who has been engaged with the preparation of this “battle” from a young age, in order to give us more details about the custom, which is one of the most famous in the world.

We asked him when does the preparation start and how many people are involved. He told us that “the preparation starts after Christmas and it takes 3-4 months to get ready. Around 200 people are invloved in both parishes to get that result you see every year. It’s a total of 40 crews of 4-5 people doing the job. Each crew has a specific task which deals with the moulds, the materials, the binding of the rockets. A whole process is required to be ready every year.”

We asked him how many rockets they make annually and he replied with sincerity that “the numbers have fallen quite a lot in recent years. Now, there may be 3,000 of each parish, when we used to have 80,000 each. You understand what was going on. There have been many problems and complaints from residents, and we have ended up in courts numerous times”.

Is the custom dangerous? “if the proper measures are taken, if wires are put into churches and houses, in short if the proper preparation has been made, there is no danger, at most one in a million to hit someone”.

Do they keep score? Does a winner emerge? “No, no, we don’t keep score, alas. Every half hour we fire 500 rockets each side. We used to fire 5,000 rockets every 15 minutes. Quantity has always played a part. Whoever had the most, was also the unofficial winner. But, what matters is custom and tradition, we have nothing to divide between us.”

100% OCCUPANCY IN HOTELS FOR CUSTOM

Rocket War is also a big source of revenue for Chios, right?

“it is a huge source of revenue for the island. That weekend there is 100% occupancy in the hotels. People come from Turkey, from China and the United States, who usually stay for 15 days, not only for the custom, but also for a nice holiday. We also get a lot of visitors from Italy. For Chios the Rocket War is very important for tourism.

“The tourists participate in the Rocket War. They watch the process of creating the Rockets, we have them light 1-2 Rockets, generally they like to participate. The whole event is well organised with emphasis on safety”.

“THE COST EXCEEDS 10.000 EURO FOR EACH PARISH“

How is the situation with coronavirus and also how much are the young children involved?

“There is less participation from children compared to when I was little. One year the Rocket War was cancelled because residents were protesting and now for the past two years with Covid also the situation is very different. This year we’re going to throw some rockets in uninhabited territory, not in churches. Due to coronavirus measures things will be done differently. But even so, we will honor the custom that makes Chios and Vrontados famous all over the world.

“When it comes to young kids, 50% are engaged with this custom compared to the past. I thing children do not participate because of the cost involved. There no sponsors and the cost for rockets exceeds 10,000 euros for each parish. Everything comes from our pocket, while many man hours are required.”

This is what Giannis Apostolis told the “Greek Herald” about the rocket war in Vrontados of Chios.

A unique, different and very beautiful custom, which is well known all over the world. And the residents of Chios will do everything to keep it alive…

On This Day in 1990: Greek poet, Yiannis Ritsos, passed away

The Greek Herald
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On This Day in 1990: Greek poet, Yiannis Ritsos, passed away

By Ilektra Takuridu

Yiannis Ritsos was a Greek poet and member of the Greek Resistance during World War II. Although he hated being named as a political poet, he has been referred to as “the great poet of the Greek left” due to the fact he was proud Communist.

Early Life:

He was born May 1st 1909, to a wealthy landowning family in Monemvasia, Laconia. Yiannis had three οlder brothers and one sister. Despite being born into a wealthy family, his childhood was tragic. The families wealth deteriorated in the 1920’s they were completely financially ruined. As a result of their economic problems, Yiannis’ father begun gambling and eventually became insane. In 1921 Yiannis’ Mother and brother Mimis died from tuberculosis when he was just 12 years old. Yiannis himself was also hospitalised for tuberculosis from 1927 till 1931. All of these tragic events affected the life of a young Yiannis, and he expressed this pain through his poetry.

Source: Museum of Cycladic Art

Poetry:

Yiannis started poetry at a young age, in 1924 (at age 15) the magazine “Edification of Children” published his first poems. In 1934 he joined the KKE (Communist party of Greece) and published collections of poems called ‘Tractor’. These poems were the first glimpse of his communist ideology expressed through words. Following Tractor, another collection inspired by the Communist movent was publish by Yiannis, called “Pyramids”. Both collections were an insight into his own personal life and suffering, integrated with socialist philosophies.

An important moment for Ritsos poetry was the tobacco workers strike on May 9, 1936. The workers’ strikes were in Thessaloniki and escalated into violent protests. The next day, Ritsos saw a photograph in Rizospastis (a Greek communist newspaper) of a woman sobbing over her dead son (a tobacco factory worker), who had been killed by police during the strike. The events of the protest inspired one of his most famous poem, Epitaphios. The poem expressed a message of solidarity for all people, a strong theme in Communism. It’s success and popularity was in part due to it being written in plain and simple language that could be understood by all. The poem was his most popular and had a print run of 10,000 copies.

Statue of Yiannis Ritsos in Monemvasia. Source: Municipality of Monemvasia.

The Axis occupation, Civil Greek War and the Junta:

During Greece’s Axis occupation (1941–1945), Ritsos joined the EAM (National Liberation Front) and wrote many poems for the Greek Resistance. Ritsos also supported the Left during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949); in 1948, he was jailed and imprisoned for four years for his involvement with the Communist movement. His poem Epitaphios was set to music by famous music composer Mikis Theodorakis which immediately became the Greek Left’s anthem in the 1950s. The Papadopoulos regime imprisoned him in 1967 and sent him to a prison camp in Gyaros, then to Samos and Lemnos.

Death and Legacy:

Yiannis Ritsos died in November 1990 in Athens, and his body was buried in his birthplace. He left behind fifty unpublished collections. Ritsos has been recognised as one of the greatest Greek writers of the twentieth century’s. He was also twice nominated for the Nobel Prize awards.

Australia’s oldest Greek cafe and milk bar to reopen with new owners

The Greek Herald
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Australia’s oldest Greek cafe and milk bar to reopen with new owners

In the regional country town of Gundagai sits Australia’s oldest Greek cafe and milk bar, opened in 1902 by Kytherian migrant Strati Notaras.

For the past 18 months, the art deco Niagara Cafe in Sheridan Street, as it is now called, has languished unsold on the real estate market, in what was its second public sale in 100 years.

In March 2021, a year and a half after the Niagara’s long-time owners, the Loukissas family, put it up for sale, a buyer has been found.

The Loukissas family Nick, Tina and Denise, outside the cafe in 1986. Photo: Effy Alexakis

Wishing to stay anonymous, Marya Stylli, a real estate agent for MasterSell Australia, confirmed that a couple has bought the Niagara and that after a refurbishment, the buyers plan to reopen it later this year and operate it again as a milk-bar and cafe.

In the book Greek Cafes & Milk Bars of Australia, authored by Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis, the Niagara, Australia’s “wonder cafe”, is described as “a magnificent example of the classic country Greek cafe”.

After opening in 1902, the cafe has been run by Greek-Australians continuously throughout its history.

Niagara Cafe in Sheridan Street. Photo: Facebook

“The Niagara’s recent sale has brought into sharp focus the socio-cultural and historical significance of the enterprise and the building,” says Mr Janiszewski.

“It is essentially, the finest remaining specimen of its kind; a jewel of the period when Greek cafés nourished the nation’s appetite for a good feed after a long country drive, or before or after a night out at the flicks.”

Thousands of Greeks across Australia take part in Good Friday processions

The Greek Herald
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Thousands of Greeks across Australia take part in Good Friday processions

Good Friday processions in Australia’s Greek Orthodox Churches saw thousands of Greeks gather for the first time in two years to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

One of the most widely attended rites on Good Friday is the Epitaphios threnos (funerary lamentation). The word epitaphios is an adjective meaning “funerary, happening on a grave”, originating from Thucydides’ famous “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”.

Within a liturgical context, this is also the name of an icon, usually made of cloth and richly embroidered, depicting the body of Christ being laid in the grave, often by the Virgin Mary and some disciples.

On Good Friday morning, the icon is placed on a platform, resembling a bier, typically topped with a kouvouklion, an elaborately carved wood canopy. In the evening the service begins; near the end of the ceremony, the canopied platform bearing the icon is lifted on the shoulders of priests or churchgoers (usually four to six people) and carried through the streets. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic saw people celebrate Easter from home last year, thousands turned up to churches across Australia to bless the Epitaphios.

The Greek Herald has compiled a gallery of Epitaphios from Greek churches in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin.

Sydney

  • Greek Orthodox Parish of Kogarah.
  • Greek Orthodox Parish of St Stylianos Gymea
  • St Spyridon Parish.
  • Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church Blacktown
  • St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Marrickville.

St Nektarios Church, Burwood:

The St Nektarios Church in Burwood held their Good Friday Lamentations and traditional Procession with Mayor of Burwood, Cr John Faker, and Member for Strathfield and Leader of the Opposition, Ms Jodi McKay MP, in attendance, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia.

Melbourne

  • Saint Panteleimon, Dandenong.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.
  • All photos sourced from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia District of Northcote Victoria.

Adelaide

  • Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Thebarton.
  • Greek Orthodox Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood.

Canberra

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Canberra.

Darwin

Photo by Georgia Politis Photography.

Multiculturalism Minster Geoff Lee sends Easter message to Greek Orthodox community

The Greek Herald
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Multiculturalism Minster Geoff Lee sends Easter message to Greek Orthodox community

Minister for Multiculturalism Dr Geoff Lee has sent a message to Greek Australians marking Orthodox Easter this week.

Full Message:

I would like to wish everyone a blessed and safe Orthodox Easter. This is an important time of year for Christians, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sacrifices we made last year, being physically apart and adapting our Easter traditions, not only saved lives, but have allowed us to once again celebrate Easter together. This year, we can once again come together with family and friends and give thanks for overcoming the challenges of the past year.

I am especially grateful to our religious leaders and clergy who adapted church services to comply with public health advice, shared vital health messages and connected with their communities online during this difficult time. I take this opportunity to thank you for your support over the past year.

I wish you and your loved ones a safe and blessed Easter.

Greek PM sends condolences to Israel after dozens killed at religious festival

The Greek Herald
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Greek PM sends condolences to Israel after dozens killed at religious festival

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to Israel over the tragedy that unfolded during a religious celebration at Mount Meron, where 45 worshipers were killed and at least 112 have been injured.

“Our thoughts today are with the people of Israel. On behalf of the people of Greece I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic accident at Mount Meron,” he said in a tweet on his official account.

“We wish you courage and strength during these trying times,” he added. 

The stampede began when large numbers of people thronged a narrow tunnel-like passage during the event, according to witnesses and video footage. People began falling on top of each other near the end of the walkway, as they descended slippery metal stairs, witnesses said.

Video footage showed large numbers of people, most of them black-clad ultra-Orthodox men, squeezed in the tunnel. Initial reports said police barricades had prevented people from exiting quickly.

The stampede occurred during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron, the first mass religious gathering to be held legally since Israel lifted nearly all restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who briefly visited Mount Meron around midday Friday, said it was “one of the worst disasters that has befallen the state of Israel” and offered condolences to the families. He said Sunday would be a day of national mourning.

The festival attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Photo: Reuters

The death toll at Mount Meron was on par with the number of people killed in a 2010 forest fire, which is believed to be the deadliest civilian tragedy in the country’s history.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic, said she was “saddendened and shocked” of the terrible accident at Mount Meron.

“I wish to express to President Rivlin, the families of the victims and the people of Israel my deepest condolences for the loss of innocent lives,” she said in a tweet.

Man faces court after pleading guilty to murdering Greek Australian Frankie Prineas

The Greek Herald
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Man faces court after pleading guilty to murdering Greek Australian Frankie Prineas

Jayscen Anthony Newby faced ACT Supreme Court yesterday for the murder of Frankie Victor Prineas, who he stabbed almost 40 times after finding him in bed with a woman he once dated.

According to the statement of facts tendered in court, The Daily Telegraph reports, Newby had been on a night out with friends in Civic before catching a taxi to the woman’s home in Charnwood just after 1:00am on January 11, 2020.

Newby grabbed a knife from the kitchen then barged in and attacked the unsuspecting Mr Prineas as the woman begged him to stop.

After leaving the house, Newby drove to his mother’s home where he confessed to her, saying he had found the woman “screwing some guy” and that he “got him with a knife”.

Frankie Prineas was murdered by Jayscen Newby. Picture: Facebook/Supplied.

Mr Prineas died just over an hour later at the Canberra Hospital and Newby handed himself into police the next day.

Mr Prineas’s family members told the court he was a caring son, brother and cousin who was taken in the prime of his life when he was stabbed to death at Charnwood in January last year.

Mr Prineas’s father, Victor Prineas, told the court Newby “deserves no mercy” for killing his son, and should be handed a long jail term.

Photo: ABC News/Isaac Nowroozi

Mr Prineas’s mother, Phillipena Prineas, said her son was popular, loving and had his whole life ahead of him.

“Every fibre in my body aches for my son,” she said.

The court heard hundreds of people showed up at Mr Prineas’s funeral, and more than a thousand at a memorial car cruise held in his honour.

Newby will be sentenced on June 2.

‘I don’t trust Greek Cypriots’: Erdogan weighs in on failed Cyprus talks

The Greek Herald
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‘I don’t trust Greek Cypriots’: Erdogan weighs in on failed Cyprus talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday criticized the attitude of Greek Cypriots regarding the Cyprus issue, saying that “they have never been honest” in their stance.

The United Nations has been trying to negotiate a deal ending a decades-long dispute over the divided Mediterranean island, but the first talks since 2017 broke up in Geneva on Thursday without making progress.

“I don’t trust or believe Greek Cypriots. They have never acted honestly,” the Turkish leader said referring to the the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus 

“Now the talks have been pushed back two or three months and I again, don’t know that anything will be achieved, because they never spoke truthfully,” he added.

READ MORE: Greek Cypriots swiftly reject proposed ‘two-state solution’ at UN talks
READ MORE: UN chief ‘realistic’ at start of fresh bid to resolve Cyprus stalemate

The informal 5+1 talks – including both sides on the island, plus the guarantor states of Turkey, Greece, and the UK plus the UN – were meant to break the stalemate on the island and pave the way for future talks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, the last day of the talks, that there is “no common ground yet” to resume formal negotiations on resolving the decades-old Cyprus problem.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a news conference after a 5+1 Meeting on Cyprus at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Guterres summarized the two sides’ positions: The Turkish Cypriots believe that decades of efforts to ensure a “bi-zonal, bicommunal federation” have been exhausted and they now deserve “equal international status” like that enjoyed by the Nicosia government run by Greek Cypriots in the south.

The Greek Cypriots held to their position for a federation “with political equality on the basis of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Guterres said.

The two sides have differing views on how to resolve the issue.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a news conference after a 5+1 Meeting on Cyprus at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

“There is not one single chance of Turkey or the Turkish Cypriot side succeeding in this. This was something that was pointed out by the (United Nations) secretary-general,” Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades told reporters in Geneva.

The informal 5+1 talks – including both sides on the island, plus the guarantor states of Turkey, Greece, and the UK plus the UN – were meant to break the stalemate on the island and pave the way for future talks.

Guterres said on Thursday, the last day of the talks, that there is “no common ground yet” to resume formal negotiations on resolving the decades-old Cyprus problem.

Following the three days of informal talks, Guterres added that he will convene another round of 5+1 talks to move the process forward.

What is the custom of Protomagia (1st of May) and why do Greeks celebrate it?

The Greek Herald
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What is the custom of Protomagia (1st of May) and why do Greeks celebrate it?

In many countries, 1st of May is International Labour Day. In Greece, Labour day is also celebrated and is called Protomagia (which literally means the first day of May).

On this day, people usually spend time with their families, and go to the countryside for picnics, kite-flying and wildflower picking which they then use to make a wreath. The day is celebrated as a national holiday in Greece and all shops are closed. 

May is a month of joy for Greeks. The most known custom is the May wreath which is hung to the main door of the house on the 1st of May. It is kept there until the 24th of June when the wreaths are burnt in bonfires known as St. John’s fires.

The wreath is always made with colourful flowers, it is placed on the front door as per tradition, to welcome the beauty of nature and symbolises rebirth. In urban cities, you can buy beautiful knitted wreaths in flower shops. But Greek families tend to gather that day in the countryside to appreciate nature.

May Day has roots from ancient times

Maios (May in Greek), the last month of Spring, was named after the Goddes Maja, who was named after the ancient word Maia (the nurse, mother in other words, Goddess of Fertility). It was named after the Goddess of fertility because during spring all the plants that had died during winter were reborn.

According to Greek legend, the month of May has two meanings: the rebirth and death, but also the good and the bad. The good and the bad can be seen as the battle between Summer and Winter, and the struggles accociated with the harsh conditions of Winter versus how the summer times would overcome these struggles.

There is also a realtion to Dimitra, the goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, who was taken to the underworld by Hades. According to the myth Pesphone’s mother was so upset her daughter was gone that everything began to die, when her daughter did come back to earth, everything began to bloom again. The myth is strong symbol of the rebirth of nature and the begging of summer, just as the May Day celebrations.  

The ancient May Day celebrations have been passed throughout the centuries kept alive by different rituals and practices.

The Αnthesteria was one of the oldest and earliest flower celebrations. The Anthesteria contained a number of rituals and ceremonies in which Greeks carried flowers to sanctuaries and temples. This ritual first began in Athens and then later was celebrated in other cities.

Even when the Romans invaded Greece, these rituals continued to exist, although with minor changes. Both Ancient Romans and Greeks believed that flowers represented power, glory, happiness and joy. 

In many other regions of Greece May is personified with the “Magiopoulo” which means May child. In this tradition, a child is decorated with flowers and wanders around the village streets with other people around him singing and dancing songs about May.

In Nafpaktos, the “May child” is accompanied by elderly men who wear the traditional fustanela skirts, and hold with them willow tree blossoms. In Parga, children from the early morning visit neighbours houses and sing songs about May holding branches of an orange tree. Each region of Greece celebrates this day slightly differently, but the message of the rebirth of nature is consistent. 

Protomagia began as a celebration of the transition from winter to summer, it was seen as a triumph for the people because they had survived the harshness of winter.

Today protomagia is a joyfull holiday that is it about the appreciation of nature and is enjoyed by Greeks across the country but also in the diaspora.

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