Great weather, great atmosphere! At 3.15, the carnival crowd gathered outside the Hydroussa Hotel in full spirits to start the parade around the island.

The same route was taken this year as last. It was great to see different costumes this year and more people taking part. Stopping on the way for refreshments and wine, the dancing continued!

Reaching the port, some of the little ones were exhausted and retired to the cafeterias with their parents. The elder, continued in good spirits to Douskos taverna where the party went on and on………
 

2007 Bride and Groom"Apokries" meaning Carnival is essentially a pagan celebration at the beginning of spring, with emphasis on fertility hence the bride and groom leading the procession, although it must be said that some of the "brides" could be described as more of a deterrent to fertility than an encouragement!

Dressed for the occassionIn the Roman and Byzantine period, the carnival was marked as a tribute to the magical qualities of nature - now as with all carnivals, fancy dress is worn with everyone parading their costumes along the carnival route and through the town.

Traditional Homemade Greek Hexagon KiteKathará Dheftéra - Clean Monday - Hydra Island Greece - Clean Monday follows immediately after the Sunday that Carnival lands on and therefore the date changes each year depending upon when the Greek Orthodox Easter lands.

This is the first day of Lent and the start of the fasting period.

6th January every year - Do I really want to do this?This day marks the start of the religious calendar in Greece. In churches all over the country, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Epiphany each year with a beautiful morning service of psalms.

The church services are followed by a procession to the water's edge where the priests will throw the cross into the water. The young boys and girls of the town or village dive into the water to retrieve it. The person who brings the cross back to the priest is doubly blessed for the year. Sensibly the priests tie a piece of rope to the cross just in case!

Paska Friday, Kamini: By George of Foto Glikas

Paska is the most significant religious holiday celebrated throughout Greece.

During the 40 day period of Lent preceding "Megalo" big Easter Sunday, many Orthodox Greeks will fast becoming even more strict about what they eat in the final week. And during the final week there will be church services every day and night.

Nursery in costume

The 25th March is a very important day in the Greek calendar, as not only is it the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary but is also the Greek Independence Day. This religious and national, holiday is known as Evangelismós and most people bearing the name of Evangelos or Evangelia will celebrate this day as their name day.

On this day in 1821, Germanos, the Bishop of Patras hoisted the Greek flag in defiance of the Turks at the Monastery of Ayia Lavra. This symbolic action was enough to prompt the War of Independence against the occupying Turkish forces.

mai flower1st May – My children desperately wanting to ‘catch’ May woke up early today begging me to come with them to collect flowers and make a wreath for our front door.

Not having had much time over the years to actually go and collect flowers myself, I thought today was a great opportunity. My daughter told me that the first flower that has to be picked is what I would call a purple thistle! In Greece they call it the ‘mai’ flower. It really is prickly and you have to be especially careful when picking it.

Miaoulis 2004Admiral Miaoulis is a favourite hero of Hydra. He was instrumental in the defeat of the Turkish navy when Greece won its independence in the last century. A week long celebration culminating in a massive firework display is held to mark his birth date and to honour one of Hydra's greatest leaders as well as to celebrate Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire.

28th October each year - High SchoolThis event is held each year to commemorate the occasion when Greece said NO!!! to the invasion of Mussolini during the 2nd World War. There is a service at the main Cathedral church in the port followed by a parade by the children of Hydra.  After, there is a demonstration of traditional dancing and a general street party ensues.

Carrying the Hydra flag