Sardine Festival - Marida festival in Polis Bay. Ithaca Greece Autumn celebration. 2018

Due to EU fishing regulations, it's been a few years since the Marida Festival has been as it originally was, a blessing of the waters on the first day of fishing, where fishermen brought in a catch of Marida (whitebait/small sardines). Over the past few years we've had sardines, not caught fresh unfortunately, but it's such a nice festival, it would be a shame to let it go.

The Stavros community put on a fishermans feast for all who come down to Polis Bay, where the Marida Festival is traditionally held. This year too, there was no church service or blessing because Stavros has no priest for the time being. The previous priest had some difficulty here so he was reassigned elsewhere in Greece. Anyway, although there was fear of rain, it ended up a sunny warm day.

Blue skies, blue seas, happy people, perfect Greek Island celebration. Ithaca Greece, the Gem of the Ionian!

Marida Festival Saturday 6th October 2018