Χρόνια Πολλά!

Orthodox Easter is obviously the big event in Greece this month - Easter Sunday is on the 27th April. Easter is the most important festival in the Orthodox calendar, having much more significance than Christmas.
Here in Rethymnon, preparations for the festivities start in earnest during Holy Week, with baking of special breads, and dyeing of Easter eggs. On Good Friday in the evening you will be able to witness the procession of the Epitaphos (funeral bier) through the streets. The procession usually starts at the Church of Four Martyrs and makes its way through the Old Town to the Mikri Panagia.

On Holy Saturday, the mood in town starts to change — the solemnity of Lent being replaced by joyful anticipation of the parties to come. From about 11pm people start to assemble outside churches for Mass, and with the announcement ‘Christos Anesti’ (Christ has risen) the celebrations begin! You can find out more about local Easter traditions from our April 2007 Bugle, ‘Spotlight Page. In the meantime: HAPPY EASTER TO ONE AND ALL!

If you know of an event that you would like to see publicized in the Bugle please contact Kate Brusten by phone on 28310 54594 / 6942635525 or by emailing editor@rethymnonnews.com — the deadline for the next issue is 21/04/2008. @rethymnonnews.com — the deadline for the next issue is 24/03/2008.

April 23rd: St George’s Day — or is it?

April 23rd is St George’s Day, which as we reported last year is considered to be a relatively important festival in Greece. St George is the Patron Saint of Shepherds (significant for Crete!) and Giorgos, as we all know, is a very common name here, so many people celebrate their name days, and in several villages there will be a panigiri (fiesta). In years gone by, one of the best known of these has been the shepherd’s festival in Asi Gonia.
However, this year, St George’s Day falls on the Wednesday before Easter. Tradition dictates that should St George’s Day occur during Lent, then celebrations are postponed until Easter Monday. By the time we were going to press we hadn’t received any firm details about events on this day in the region; as soon as we get more information we will post it on the www.rethymnon.biz website.

Laina’s April Programme

Laina’s winter season at the Akropolis Taverna in Platanes (about 5km East of Rethymnon) is now drawing to a close: April 15th is the ‘Grand Finale’. So this is your last chance for a while to enjoy those world famous fish and chips and Sunday roasts. You will find highlights of Laina’s April programme listed below and also on the www.rethymnon.biz website. Directions: Coming into Platanes from the West you’ll find The Akropolis opposite Galaxy Car Rental, about 25 metres from the Taxi Rank and Happy Train stop. Remember to book ahead of time for Sunday roasts and Fish and Chips nights! Here at the Bugle we would like to say a big thank-you to Laina and her team for looking after us so well over the last few months.

CIC Coffee Morning Dates

The Rethymnon branch of the Cretan International Community meets on the first Thursday of every month at SVEA’S Konditori, Kapetan Lemonia 3, Rethymnon, from 11am. The April meeting will take place on Thursday 03/04/08, the May meeting on Thursday 01/05/ 08. Everyone, regardless of membership status is welcome to attend. The coffee mornings are a great way to meet others from the international community, and to find out about up-and-coming events.
The local coordinator for the Rethymnon branch of the CIC is Anna Capernaros. Please contact her for details of upcoming CIC events and for any membership queries that you may have. Anna may be reached on 28310 57305. You can find further information about the CIC organization itself on the www.thecic.eu website.