Arkadi Day and Armistice Day

In the Rethymnon area, between the 6th and the 8th November, we commemorate the siege of Arkadi Monastery that took place in 1866. You can read more about the background to this event in the November 2007 issue. The 7th and 8th are public holidays in Rethymnon and shops and offices will be closed. There are a number of events planned in the region, these include church services and parades, and the Arkadi ‘Fun Run’ from the monastery to Rethymnon centre. The race starts at 2.30 pm on Saturday 8th November. You will find more details on the www.rethymnon.biz website.

In the Xenia Cultural Centre on Friday 7th November at 7pm an exhibition of photographs opens showing how Arkadi Day was commemorated during the 1950’s which promises to be extremely interesting!. The exhibition runs until 14th November; opening hours are 10am-2pm and 6pm-9pm. In the UK, November 5th is celebrated as - ‘Bonfire Night’ a peculiarly British affair marking the failure of an attempt by Guy Fawkes and others to blow up the House of Lords in 1605. People host outdoor parties with fireworks, typically burning an effigy of Guy on a large bonfire. It is said rather cruelly by some cynics that Guy Fawkes was the only man to ever enter parliament with honourable intentions….

For many in the international community 11th November is a difficult day - Armistice Day. Time to pause and reflect, ninety years on. Here on Crete, as in previous years, there will be a service of remembrance at the Allied Cemetery at Souda Bay. As we were going to press, we understood that the service would be held on Sunday 9th November at 10.30 am.
If you know of an event that you would like publicised, let us know! You will find our contact details at the bottom of this page.

Winter Shopping Hours

Now that the tourist season is over, shop hours change back to the winter schedule. According to The Commercial Association of Rethymno scheduled opening hours will be as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 9 am—2 pm; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am—2pm and evenings from 5pm—8.30 pm. Shop owners are asked to keep to these hours for the benefit of everyone in the community. Time to start thinking about Christmas shopping...which leads me to….Sinterklaas. Thanks go to Albert van Elst for providing us with the background to this celebration. In Holland, the Flemish part of Belgium and some parts of Germany families celebrate ‘Sinterklaas’ on December 6th. In Rethymnon there is a Dutch school, since there is a large Dutch community in our area, and Sinterklaas is the one of the biggest parties of the year for children of Dutch and Flemish descent. It all starts with the arrival of St. Nicolas with a steam boat in the Old Venetian Harbour of Rethymnon. He comes to shore with his helper “ zwarte Piet”, who is his helping hand everywhere he goes. He meets the children and gives them candy and shakes their hands. Now the youngsters know the “Sint” is in the country and they just must wait until their wishes are full filled on St. Nicolas evening, which is 5 December. If you want to meet St. Nicolas or you have little children, come on Sunday 30th of November to the Old Venetian Harbour around midday and get a taste of an ancient Dutch and Belgian tradition!

Looking Forward: Christmas Charity Bazaars

On Saturday 6th December Friends of Animals Rethymno will be hosting their Christmas Bazaar on Saturday to make 6th December between 10.00 and 18.00 at the ‘2nd’ Primary School on the main road more or less opposite the Town Hall. Donations needed! To make donations or to book a table, please call Clodagh on 6945 170226 or Christina on 6977 130981 (English), Antje 6976 010650 (German) or Nelly on (6937 240399 (Greek). Please come and show your support!

On Saturday 6th December and Sunday 7th December The annual CIC charity bazaar will be held in the Old Customs House in the Old Harbour in Hania. Volunteers and donations needed—particularly bottles (alcoholic beverages) for the bottle stall. Contact the Bazaar Coordinator Mariette Georgiades by email at bazaar@thecic.eu or by phone at 6936 326606

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), Second Hand Shop ‘Magpie’s Nest’ (Siphi Vlastou 28), Galero Bar (Rimondi Fountain), Mediterraneo Bookstore (Paleologou), Octopus (Tsouderon 13), Τέχνης ‘Εργα (Furniture shop at Koundouriotou 153).

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

To contact The Bugle, phone Kate on 28310 54594 / 6942635515, email editor@rethymonnnews.com – the deadline for the next issue is 24/10/2008.