The ‘big happening’ in Rethymnon this month.

 

It goes without saying (even though we actually seem to have said it rather a lot!) that the ‘big happening’ in Rethymnon this month is carnival. Despite the crisis, it looks as if this year’s festivities may be even bigger and brighter than ever before. At last counts there were a record number of teams (46) and floats (33) registered for the Grand Parade on March 17th.

March isn’t only about carnival of course - there are a number of other noteworthy events taking place this month. After carnival is over, on March 25th we have one of the most important national and religious holidays of the Greek year.

In the Orthodox Calendar, this date is celebrated as the day that Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she was expecting a child. According to popular legend, this was the day in 1821 that Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution against the Turks, thus starting the Greek War of Independence. Offices and shops will be closed on this day, and there are likely to be some lively political demonstrations in many of the larger cities on this day.