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Ag. Nikolas is an annual religious celebration held around the Ag. Nikolas church at Mavrona, the bay beneath Raxi just outside Kioni village in the north of Ithaki. Community members get up early to spit roast local lamb while others supply pies and desserts, made by hand with love. An early morning church service begins the celebrations. It attracts locals from all over the north of the island. |
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Ag. Nikolas Festival is a day all the family can get together and enjoy. Although the day started a bit coolish, it soon warmed up very nicely. |
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This year there was a more noticeable visitor and 'new locals' presence. Visitors came to see what a traditional festival was really like while Ithakis new locals (foreigners recently settled here), who have become so much a part of the fibre of the island, taxied down elderly and helped out wherever they could. Old and knew have become a tightly knit community. I personally experienced such a warmth from the locals at this festival, that it really warmed my heart and made this particular morning a very special event for me. |
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Today felt so much like a long, lazy Sunday, that it was difficult to remember it was actually Monday. There were political conversations, drinking, eating, being merry, having lots of Kefi (good cheer) and surrounded by amazing company. |
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Ag. Nikolas Festival brought people from varied and different backgrounds together to share a blue-skied, sunny Monday morning around the Ag. Nikolas church grounds to celebrate this Saints Day the way only the traditional Ithaki knows how. I would like to thank everyone for allowing ithacagreece.com to share this wonderful celebration with you all. In todays' economic climate it's a comfort to know that when the rest of the world looks like it's going to H Block, here on Ithaca there is still an appreciation for the simple things that unite us all. Who could complain about anything when festivals such as this bring home what those with dollar signs reflecting in their eyes, have long been blinded to. |
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