Cretan Ceremony : Holiday, Tradition
Ceremony and holidays are important to Cretan culture, whether they be family celebrations such as name days and weddings or religious events such as baptisims, religious holidays and celebrations. Most of the holidays celebrated in Crete are based on the Greek Orthodox calender and are usually festive events that are celebrated with family and close friends. It is customary during holidays that guns are fired into the air as an expression of celebration.
Name Day
The name day of a child is important in Cretan ( and Greek ) culture. This is the day that the individual is given his/her Christian name and is celebrated much as a birthday is celebrated in other parts of the world.
Weddings
Weddings are an important tradition that is steeped in tradition. You will recognize a wedding procession by the loud honking of car horns that you will be able to hear long before you can see them. This tradition of honking the horn stems from an old practice in which the groom and his family "kidnaps" the bride from her village and brings her triumphantly back to his village.
Carnival
Carnival is a long holiday that lasts approximately ten days in February or March and resembles Mardi Gras or Carnival in other countries except that its dates are determined by the Greek calender, not the Catholic calender. The major day of celebration during carnival is called Burnt Friday and is celebrated with parades and costumes. Rethymno is the home of Carnival on Crete and it is a party not to be missed. [ Read more ]
Greek Orthodox Holidays
Religious holidays in Crete are very important and are celebrated by all the people with parades, ceremonies and the ringing of church bells.
