Find out whether there will be a holiday or national celebration taking place during your trip to Kefalonia!
Greeks are passionate about traditions and so too are ‘Kefalonites’ when it comes to holidays that are regional to the Ionian Islands, or even more localised to Kefalonia alone. Some public holidays fall on Fridays or Mondays, which allow for long weekend getaways for Greeks, but certain holidays may fall midweek.
Read below to see what is celebrated or commemorated on these days and see how you can join along if you happen to be visiting Kefalonia during your holidays.
Monday 29th April - Monday 6th May (Easter Week, some public holidays - long weekend)
The “Holy Week” of Easter, is the most important celebration in the Greek Orthodox calendar. During the Easter period, all school pupils get two weeks of holiday and the majority of Greeks arrange to take time off work, arranging to return to their roots all over Greece. During this week, in Kefalonia, religious services take place with the most important events happening on Good Friday (May 3rd), Holy Saturday (May 4th), and Easter Sunday (May 5th). If you are visiting Kefalonia during this religious week, there are many wonderful traditions that you can follow. Read here to get some ideas.
Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays so do keep in mind that many stores may remain closed. Cafes, taverns, and restaurants often stay open to cater and serve those who wish to eat out but check opening hours as they may vary from normal days.
Wednesday 1st May (Labour Day, Public Holiday)
For the Greeks, May Day is not only recognised as Labor Day but also as a celebration of spring. In most areas of Greece, as in Kefalonia too, you are very likely to come across marches but for those of a less political slant you will find many locals escaping into the fields to “catch spring”. This entails picking wildflowers from meadows and making a wreath out of them which gets hung outside the front door of houses.
As this year May Day is during the Holy Week of Easter, it will be celebrated on May 7th.
Tuesday 21st May (The Unification of the Ionian Islands, regional public holiday)
On the 5th of June 1863, Britain together with France and Russia signed the Treaty of London, to which Britain gave up its role as the head of state of the Ionian Islands. On May 21st, 1864 the Ionian Islands, Kefalonia being part of them, were officially united with Greece. To commemorate this day, throughout the region of the Ionian Islands, parades take place combined with religious services.
If you happen to be visiting Kefalonia, on this day, you will witness parades throughout the island with the biggest and most grandeur taking place in the capital, Argostoli. Schools are closed on that day, but pupils do participate in the parades with their schools or local clubs and cultural societies.
Sunday 23rd June - Monday 24th June (Pentecost & Monday of the Holy Spirit, public holiday and long weekend)
Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit appearing before the apostles, an event that marked the birth of the Christian Church. Religious services take place throughout Greece but most Greeks, seeing that schools are shut on Holy Spirit Monday, take the opportunity to have a long weekend, perfect for a pre-summer getaway. Even though it’s a public holiday most stores and restaurants stay open to cater to prospective guests.
Thursday 15th August - Friday 16th August (Ascension of the Virgin Mary - public holiday and the feast of the Patron Saint of Kefalonia, St. Gerasimos - local public holiday)
Another important day for the Greek Orthodox church is the ascension of the Virgin Mary. If you are staying in a small village you will most likely hear the church bells ring on the eve of the 15th of August and the morning of the 15th. Greeks pay their respects to the Virgin Mary and celebrate with friends and family at home.
On the 16th of August, the whole island of Kefalonia celebrates its patron saint, St. Gerasimos. If you get the chance, head to the monastery of Saint Gerasimos and witness firsthand the church festivities with processions accompanied by the local philharmonic.
Sunday 20th October (Patron Saint of Kefalonia, St. Gerasimos - local public holiday)
In Kefalonia, the patron Saint, St. Gerasimos is celebrated two times a year. In October not only is the whole island of Kefalonia celebrated with St. Gerasimos but all the locals who share their name with the saint, Gerasimos, Gerasimoula, Makis, and Gerasimia. It’s a local holiday with all schools and local businesses being shut (unfortunately for the kids this year it falls on a Sunday). Some cafes and restaurants will be open but do check their opening hours for the day.
Monday 28th October (Ochi Day, public holiday - long weekend)
Known as Ochi Day “No Day”, the Greeks celebrate their Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas’ response to Benito Mussolini on this date in 1940. The then-Greek prime minister responded with a firm ‘NO’ to Mussolini’s demand for free movement into Greece. With this response, Greece entered WWII on the side of the Allies.
In Argostoli and other major towns in Kefalonia, you will see parades taking place. Although it is a public holiday many cafes and restaurants stay open as most locals prefer to spend the day out and many take advantage of it being a long weekend this year.
If you happen to be visiting Kefalonia during the above dates, try to take part in some of the events. You will get a better feel of the locals and the important role traditions play in Greek culture.
