Key dates The following is a brief resume of Greek Bank Holidays, and festivals local to the Mill. JANUARY New Years Day 1 January 2008 (Bank Holiday) Epiphany 6 January 2008 (Bank Holiday) FEBRUARY 19 February 2008 Ash Monday, or 'Clean' Monday MARCH Independence Day and Festival of the Annunciation 25 March 2008 (Bank Holiday) In 1821 the Greeks rose up against the oppressive Ottoman Empire which had occupied Greece for nearly four hundred years, which culminated with the successful War of Independence. In the Greek Orthodox calendar, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the maiden Mary and announced the news that she was pregnant with the divine child Jesus APRIL Easter (Cretes most important religious festival) 6 April 2008 (Greek Orthodox Good Friday) (Bank Holiday) Symbolic body of Christ is carried from the churches and cathedrals through the streets 7 April 2008 (Greek Orthodox Easter) Saturday evening service, at midnight all lights are extinguished and the Priest appears holding a candle and announces that Christ has risen 8 April 2008 (Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday) The most important day in the Orthodox calendar, traditionally celebrated with lamb roasted on a spit 9 April 2008 (Greek Orthodox Easter Monday) (Bank Holiday) MAY Labour Day (Protomayá) or May Day May 2008 (Bank Holiday) Cretans tend to leave the major towns, and head back to their respective family villages in the hills Battle of Crete 20 to 27 May 2008 Commemorates the German invasion of Crete in May 1941. Church services in Hania with ceremonial events JUNE Day of the Holy Spirit 12 June 2008 Celebrated in even numbered years during the last week of June to commemorates Crete's relationship with the sea Feast of John the Baptist 24 June 2008 Navy week Last week of June Celebrated in even numbered years to commemorates Crete's relationship with the sea JULY Vouves wine festival 28 July 2008 (to be confirmed) Street party in the local village of Vouves AUGUST Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15 August 2008 A day of family reunion with Church processions followed by open air eating in the village squares. A celebration regarded as almost important as Easter OCTOBER Elos Chestnut Festival 21 October 2008 (third Sunday of the month) The village of Elos stages a Chestnut Festival when everyone is offered roast chestnuts, chestnut sweets and copious amounts of tsikoudia Ochi day 28 October 2008 (Bank Holiday) On the 28 October 1940, Italy, with the backing of Hitler, wanted to occupy Mainland Greece. An ultimatum was issued to the Greek General Metaxas on 28 October 1940 by the Italian Ambassador, requesting permission for Italian Forces to enter Greek territory, and occupy a number of strategic locations, or face war with Nazi Germany. Metaxas response was apparently simply "Ochi!" or "No!". This resulted in Italian troops, who were then stationed to the north of Greece, in southern Albania, launching a land invasion of the Greek border, and it was this that marked the start of Greece's participation as an Allied Force in World War 2. NOVEMBER Cretan National Day 8 November 2008: Cretan National Day DECEMBER Christmas 25 December 2008: Christmas Day (Bank Holiday) Not as widely celebrated as Easter. Presents are not given until Paramoni Protochronia (New Year's Eve). 26 December 2008: St. Stephen's Day (Bank Holiday)