Merry Month of May!

We start the month with a public holiday, of course. Throughout Europe, May 1st is celebrated as International Worker’s Day. May Day is also celebrated as the Festival of Flowers. This celebration has its roots in pre-Christian fertility rites associated with the beginning of spring—traditionally a day when families head to the countryside to collect wild flowers, which are then formed into wreaths. The wreaths are then placed on householders’ front doors. In Rethymnon, custom dictates that these wreaths should stay in place until the Feast of Klidonas on the 21st June.

We’re gearing up towards the summer and there is a lot happening in Rethymnon this month! Along with the events that are described below, there are two important charity benefits in the region, which we hope everyone will support. On Saturday 16th May, Friends of Animals Rethymno will be hosting its Spring Bazaar and Plant Sale, and on Sunday 17th May Bob and Eveleen Wright will be hosting a Coffee and Cake morning in aid of the Greek Red Cross. You can read more about these worthwhile causes on our Community Too Page.

Last month we said farewell to the winter season of entertainment at the Akropolis Bar in Platanes. Here at the Bugle we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our dear friend Laina and her crew for the fantastic programme and warm hospitality. We think it was the best season yet! All the best to Laina for a great summer. We hope you manage to have a bit of a rest after all that incredibly hard work.

As ever, if you know of an event in the Rethymnon region that you would like to see publicised in the next issue, please get in touch with us!

To contact The Bugle, phone Kate Brusten on 28310 54594 / 6942635515, or email editor@rethymonnnews.com – the deadline for the next issue is 22/05/2009. You can also flag events in between Bugle issues online via the www.rethymnon.biz website.

Festival of Cretan Wine, Local Products and Culture!

Between the 23rd to 31st May, the Municipality of Rethymnon will be hosting a huge extravaganza celebrating the ‘Best of Crete’ in the Municipal Park. One of the main purposes of the event is to showcase some of the quality bottled wines produced by local vintners. Wines from mainland Greece have been receiving international plaudits since the early 1990s. Crete, which contributes to about 20% of the total wine production in Greece, was a bit slower on the uptake in terms of producing vintage wine (partly to do with the long standing tradition of cooperative table-wine production, but not only!). However, nowadays, Cretan viticulture is getting really exciting. The Bugle tasters are particularly looking forward to crisp white wines from indigenous grapes, smooth red blends that might involve a Syrah here or there, fresh rosés and, perhaps, a ‘velvet sledgehammer’ of a red dessert wine, best served slightly chilled….? We shall report back with tasting notes in June!

It’s certainly not just about wine, though. Some of the other products that will be on offer include local cheeses, honey, cold meats, traditional bread and cakes, herbs and spices, and, of course, olive oil. As far as we understand it, there will also be some display booths from regional associations providing tourist information. There will also be a several cultural and educational events, including an, art exhibition, activities for children, folk dancing and traditional and modern music from local performers. Full details of the programme will follow later, we will update you online when we know more.

Commemoration of the Battle of Crete

In May, veterans and locals pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Battle of Crete in May 1941. There will be wreath laying ceremonies and memorial services at various sites across the island, including a service at Souda Bay War Cemetery which is due to take place on Saturday 23rd May at 6pm. As we went to press, times and dates of memorial events had yet to be confirmed. Once we have more details we will post them on the www.rethymnon.biz website and also on the Rethymnon Bugle Facebook group (see details on our Community Page). You can find out more about the Battle of Crete from our May 2007 edition.

Bugle Outlets and Contacts

Hard copies of the Bugle are distributed in a variety of locations around town. These include: SVEA’s Swedish Coffee Shop (CIC Coffee Morning, first Thursday of each month), NewsStand (Square of Unknown Soldier), Camping Elizabeth (Misiria), Satellite Tourist Services (Sof Venizelou 21, by the Marina), Tapas y Vinos (Melissinou 14), Odysseas the Cyclist (A Velouhioti 31),  Galero Bar (Rimondi Fountain), Mediterraneo Bookstore (Paleologou), Octopus (Tsouderon 13), Τέχνης ‘Εργα (Furniture shop at Koundouriotou 153) and Cretanagora Property Sales in Spili.

All previous issues have been archived on this site and can be viewed through the archive section.