Winter holidays in Corfu
Corfu island in Greece enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and mild, yet wet, winters. Due to its location, the temperature remains pleasant and comfortable with plenty of sunshine throughout winter. Some heavy rainfall though can be expected from September till April, helping to keep the 'Green Island' lush and fertile all year round.
Bella Studios apartments are hotel serviced holiday apartments ideal for staying in Corfu in the winter. The studio apartments are affordably priced for either a short or long rentals and located close to the Benitses beach and close to beautiful Old Corfu Town centre.
Christmas in Corfu
Christmas is one of the major Christian celebrations and in Corfu, Greece, it is still strongly connected with the Greek Orthodox tradition. For Greeks, who in their majority are Orthodox, Christmas is second only to Easter in religious importance. The name 'Christmas' declares exactly the purpose of the celebration, which is the birth of Christ. Christmas in Corfu island is celebrated on December the 25th.
Christmas: Christmas is celebrated here but not in such a big way as Easter. There are lots of church services and the day is celebrated with a big feast of turkey and trimmings just like in the UK. Presents are generally given to children on New Year's Day instead of Christmas. People with names such as Christos and Christina celebrate their Name Day and they will often hold a big party and receive presents.
December 24th: Children go from door to door singing the Greek Christmas carols ( Kalanda ). The carols are accompanied by small, metal triangles and little clay drums. According to tradition beautiful carols called Kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. On Christmas Eve, families eat dried figs, nuts, honey, and Christopsomo bread. Nowadays Corfiot families trim an evergreen tree with tinsel and top it off with a star.
December 25th: Christmas morning begins with an early Mass at the Greek Orthodox Church. It is traditional for the Christmas Day feast to include four generations. Greeks feast on roast turkey stuffed with chestnuts, rice, pine nuts, and a nut cookie called kourambiethes.
New Year's Day: Gifts are exchanged on January 1st, St. Basil's Day. St. Basil is the Greek version of Santa Claus; some families leave a log in the fireplace for St. Basil to step on as he slips down the chimney with a bag of toys. On this day the "renewal of waters" also takes place, a ritual in which all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water."
January 6th: Christmas celebrations end on Epiphany, January 6. On this day, the priests dip crucifixes in the sea and give them the Blessing of the Waters. Crosses are thrown into the sea where the locals race to retrieve them.
Carnival
During carnival time, Corfu normally puts on celebrations that fuse both the Ancient Greek paganistic worship of the Olympian god Dionysos and the Venetian carnival spirit. Every year celebrations vary according to the local Corfu Mayor plannings. Overall it is a time of music, celebration, bright costumes and laughter.
During the 3 weeks before the start of Lent, February-March, carnivals take place around the island, the biggest one being in Corfu Town. The main carnival takes place on the Sunday before Lent, 6 weeks before Easter. It is a real fun atmosphere and every one of all ages dresses up in costumes. Fancy dress parties are held in all the villages. The next day, Kathari Deftera or Clean Monday is the first day of Lent and families celebrate by going on picnics, weather permitting and flying kites.
Major Corfu Events
March 25th: Celebration of Greek Independence Day - The celebration of Greek Independence Day on March 25th draws inspiration from one of the holiest days for Greek Orthodox Christians, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. This is the day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. In 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras seized the opportunity by raising the banner of revolution, in an act of defiance against the Turks and marked the beginning of the War of Independence. After centuries of unsuccessful uprisings and failure of the Ottoman Empire to assimilate and convert the Greeks, The War of Independence began in 1821 rising up against 400 years of occupation and oppression by the Ottoman Turks. The origin of the Turkish occupancy began in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople (currently referred to as Istanbul). The flag of Greece has not changed since the revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. The white cross in the upper left hand corner covering one fourth of the flag signifies the important role of the Greek Orthodox Church in the formation of the Hellenic Nation. The blue and white alternating stripes represent the sea and the relentless waves of the Aegean. According to legend, the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite emerged from these waves. There are nine stripes representing each letter of the Greek word for freedom, Eleftheria.
May 21st: Celebration of The Unification of Corfu with Greece - Corfu (Kerkyra) and the Ionian Islands were united with Greece on May 21st, 1864 by a decision of the Ionian Parliament and the ratification of the British Government.
Cultural Corfu
The Corfu Choir
Founded in 1981 with 500 members, this 50-voice choir has given concerts all over Greece, and abroad has taken part in world festivals and international forums, as well as having had the honor of performing at the Vatican in front of the Pope. The choir's repertoire is a journey through the history of choral music and includes pre-classical, classical and contemporary pieces, as well as cantades and pieces from musicals and operas and modern songs.
Contact: Mr Pantelis Kontos tel: +30 26610 31021 / 6976 942 486 email: info@corfuchoir.gr
The Corfu Cantada
The Corfu Cantada was founded in 1954 by Corfiot musicians and choristers, music and song enthusiasts. It is one of the three oldest music and choral groups in Corfu, and is maintained chiefly by its 50 members. It consists of a choir and a group of musicians with guitars and accordions. Apart from the traditional songs and cantades, the repertoire is enriched by both old and modern Greek songs, without this affecting in any way its original identity. The Corfu Cantada has taken part in many concerts and festivals throughout Greece, and has also travelled abroad extensively, inspiring nostalgia and reminiscences in its audiences, and earning warm applause, honoring and perpetuating in its own way the musical tradition of Corfu.
Corfu Philharmonic Orchestras
The Philharmonic Orchestras of Corfu are renowned throughout the world. They owe their establishment to the general climate in which clubs and societies flourished in Europe during the 19th century, a climate with which the Corfiot studying at European universities had become familiar. There are fifteen Philharmonic orchestras on Corfu island amongst the most popular been the 'The Old Philharmonic Society of Corfu' (the Red) and 'The Mantzaros Philharmonic Society' (The Blue) based in Old Corfu Town.
Contact: Old Philharmonic Tel +30 26610 39289/38765 email: info@fek.gr
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Village Festivals: Many of the villages hold festivals, locally called Panayiri, during the summer season. Many of them celebrate miracles that happened in days gone by. During these festivals there will be music and dancing and often lambs are roasted on spits. Everyone, locals and visitors alike are encouraged to join in.
Bella studios hotel serviced apartments are ideal for spending winter in Corfu for either short or long term rentals.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you over to Corfu and Bella Studios.
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