Folklore Tourism
Magnesia offers the visitor wonderful opportunities to initiate himself into the mysteries of ancient and contemporary culture. The museums and archaeological sites, the wonderful Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches and monasteries, the rich customs and traditions of the region, like the Pilion weddings, the Maides Festival (a traditional dance and mime festival celebrating the rebirth of nature each spring), the local feasts and festivals, the contemporary art events - all of them enriching your holiday with all sorts of fascinating activities.
A selection just for you:
We have singled out a few of the many feast days at our local churches which you might wish to enjoy:
- Taxiarchon at Tsangarada and Milies (8/11)
- Panayia Eikonistria on Skiathos (21/11)
- Aghias Varvaras on Skopelos (4/12)
- Aghiou Nikolaou (patron saint of Volos) at Drakeia in Agria (6/12)
- Aghiou Athanasiou at Rizomylos (18/1)
- Aghiou Vlasiou, at Aghios Vlasios in Artemida (11/1)
- Aghiou Riginou on Skopelos (25/2)
- Aghias Marinas at Kissos (17/7)
- Profiti Ilia at Pinakates in Milies (20/7)
- Aghias Paraskevis on Alonnisos and at Lafkos in Sipiada (26/7)
- Aghiou Georgiou at Aghios Georgios, Nileia
- Koimiseos tis Theotokou at Panayia Xenia in Almyros (15/8)
- Panayias Lambidonas at Lambinou in Afetai (27/8)
Also some festivals associated with local traditional products:
- The wine festival at Nea Anchialos (August)
- tsipouro at Katihori, Portaria (August)
- apples at Pouri, Zagora (winter)
- cherries at Aghios Lavrentios in Artemida (June)
- flowers at Alli Meria in Portaria (May)
- firiki (a kind of apple) at Vyzitsa, Milies, (September)
- olives at Achilleio in Pteleos (August)
- sausages at Stagiates in Portaria (July)
Revivals of traditional customs:
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- The "Rogatsaria", the burning of Judas and the traditional carols for Twelfth Night in Velestino (5/1)
- The carnival best seen in Volos (last Sunday in Lent)
- "Carnival parade through the streets of the city" in Nea Ionia (Last Sunday before, and first Monday of Lent)
- The "Koulouma", and the kite-flying on the shore at Nea Anchialos and Alykes, in Municipality of Volos (first Monday of Lent)
- Re-enactment of traditional wedding ceremony on Skopelos (last Sunday before Lent)
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- Mayday at Kerasia (1/5)
- The tradition of the fortune-telling or "Klidona" on feast day of John the Baptist, at Afetai and at Aghios Dimitrios, Mouresi (24/6)
- Re-enactment of traditional Pilion wedding at Portaria (second fortnight of August)
- Maides - traditional dance and mime festival at Makrinitsa, symbolizing rebirth of nature in spring (May)
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Events dedicated to important local figures:
- "Rigeia" in Municipality of Feres, in honour of Rigas Velestinlis (July)
- "Kaloyianneia" at Palia Hora, Alonnisos (5-10/5)
- Events in honour of the hero of the Macedonian struggle Κonstantinos Garefis,
- at the Aghias Triadas chapel, Milies, (Whit Monday)
Sporting and cultural events:
- "O yiros tou Elious" (Elios run) on Skopelos (28/10)
- "Krokia" at Almyros (summer)
- "Karleia" in wards of Municipality of Karla (spring)
Also
Musical concerts and festivals :
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- Municipality of Volos Musical Theatre Festival (December-January),
- Choral Festival at Almyros (second fortnight in May),
- International Guitar Festival, Agria (July),
- Children's Festival and Traditional Dance Festival at Portaria (July),
- Karla Festival, in municipal wards of Karla (August),
- Children's Choir Festival, Holy Metropolitan Church of Dimitriada (January)
- Fishing evenings in Agria, Pigadi - Pteleos, Aghia Kyriaki - Trikeri, Loutraki - Skopelos, Nea Anchialos (June-August)
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- Theatrical performances by Volos Regional Theatre Group (October-May)
- Photography exhibits in Municipality of Skopelos (July-August)
- Book Fair on waterfront in Volos (first fortnight of June)
- Seasonal markets at Dimini and Almyros (August)
- Shooting evening on waterfront in Skopelos (August)
- Backgammon tournament at Kalamaki in Municipality of Afetai (first fortnight of August)
- "Rembetica" evening at Vyzitsa in Milies (August)
- Fishing contest in Agria (July)
- Welcoming the spring' in Pteleos (27/2)
- "Musical Sundays.. with tea" and film screenings in Nea Ionia (winter to mid-June)
- Women's festival in Platanos, Almyros (8/3)