Easter is the most important religious festival in Greece. From the major streets to the back alleys, everything is beautifully lighted with candles and midnight fireworks, and grilled lamb is unquestionably one of the must-have dishes during these events. Some Greek islands are also known for their own distinctive Easter celebrations, which draw enormous crowds of Greeks and visitors from all over the world to come and participate in.

Each day of Easter week, or Holy Week, is marked by a distinct event. It all starts on Lazarus Saturday (one week before Easter Sunday), when youngsters go door-to-door singing the 'Lazaros' song and collecting money and eggs. Throughout the week, inhabitants adorn their churches and epitaphs, perform daily services, fast, and observe special rituals, bringing villages, towns, and cities to life.

Easter Sunday is a day for eating and festivity, with lamb roasts and joy. It's a fantastic opportunity to be welcomed to a Greek household. Traditional dance and pyrotechnics sometimes follow a leisurely midday lunch on flower-draped tables. The Monastery of St John the Theologian on Patmos holds one of the greatest festivities as a significant Christian pilgrimage site.

If you're planning an Orthodox Easter trip to Greece, keep in mind that the date of Greek Orthodox Easter is determined by the Julian calendar, thus it may not coincide with Catholic Easter, which is determined by the Gregorian calendar.

Takes place: between April 4 and May 8

Carnival Apokreas is one of Greece's oldest carnivals, bringing millions of travelers each year to experience and visit the country. This is considered one of the most famous festivals in Greece and the classic festivals associated with ancient Greek culture. The Apokreas Carnival is thought to have originated in ancient times as a kind of memory to celebrate Dionysus - the saint who symbolizes the renewal of life, assisting the land to sprout, and the trees are luxuriant.

Carnival Apokreas Greece is held in the spring and lasts for a variety of exciting activities, rather than a set period of time like other yearly Greek holidays. Carnival is known in Greece as Apokria, which means "no meat."

A series of lesser festivities build up to the wild weekend of Carnival – Apokreas in Greek – which is filled with costume parades, colorful floats, eating, and traditional dance. Even small towns in Apokreas dine, drink, and dress up in (often garish) costumes to march through the streets. Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera), the first day of Lent, concludes the festivities, with family picnicking and flying kites.

Apokreas is interpreted differently in each locale. For the biggest and craziest events, head to Patra in the Peloponnese. In the Sporades, entire communities are clothed like goats, complete with copper bells. In Crete, Rethymno celebrates with a Venetian flair. Check the calendar if you're planning a trip: the date of Apokreas changes every year.

Takes place: February 24 - March 2

It is no surprise that Navy Week has become one of the most famous festivals of Greece people. Greece is a sea-faring country, thus they have a strong affinity towards the ocean. That is why, every year at the end of June, Greeks celebrate Navy Week, a week dedicated to the sea.

Navy Week in Crete celebrates the island's marine heritage with music, dancing, swimming, and sailing; the festivities are particularly large at Soudha, near Hania. The Miaoulia celebration in Hydra honors local naval hero Admiral Miaoulis and the role of the Hydriots to the War of Independence. It all comes to a head with a magnificent sound and light performance that includes the burning of a boat that portrays a Turkish cruiser and pyrotechnics over Hydra harbor. Celebrations are also held in Lesvos (Mytilini), Molyvos, and Kaloni.

Takes place: June 23 to June 24

The August moon, being the year's brightest and most beautiful moon, motivates cities all throughout Greece to conduct unique nocturnal festivities and parties. In Athens, beautiful historical settings such as the Acropolis and the Roman Agora host free moonlight theater and dance events. The program varies every year, so double-check when you come.

Mark your calendars for an important event in Greece in August. At this one of the most famous festivals in Greece, the moon rises and shines brightly. The view from Athens was too beautiful to ignore, thus a festival was born. Everyone is entitled to free entrance to archaeological sites and historical centers on this day! Enjoy amazing musicals at the Acropolis or the Roman Agora. Make a date with your significant other in a restaurant with a clear view of the city and the moon. It will be amazing to see Greece in a new light and participate in these experiences beneath the night.

Beautiful ancient landmarks in Athens, such as the Acropolis and the Roman Agora, host free moonlight theater and dance events. The performance varies every year, so check when you go to make sure you don't miss out on the fun and thrilling Moon festival shows!

Takes place: August

The Athens and Epidaurus Festival is an annual arts festival that includes a full program of music, theatre, dance, and visual arts events taking place at several venues around Athens, including the Onassis Cultural Centre or the Ancient Agora, as well as the Theatre of Epidaurus, where classical playwrights' works are presented. The Athens-Epidaurus Festival, a month-long celebration of art and the country's cultural legacy, is undoubtedly one of the best events to visit.

Greece's art scene is incredibly vibrant and busy. It blooms during the annual Athens-Epidarius Festival, which takes place from May through October. Spectacular shows from Greece's musical, artistic, and dramatic sectors will be performed here. Have all of this in great locations like the Odeon Herodes Atticus and other antique theatres! With this magnificent event, fill your nights with amazement and enjoy in Athens' creative culture - it's surely something you shouldn't miss!

Address: Athens - Epidaurus, Greece
Takes place: June to October

You might not know it, but Greece organizes a terrific festival for individuals who enjoy modern dance and art. It is called Kalamata International Dance Festival - one of the most famous festivals in Greece. Every July, in the Peloponnese town of Kalamata, dancers and dance groups from all over the world converge to share their passion with tourists during an annual dance festival. This is your chance to learn more about this unique event as well as the surrounding area.

Kalamata will host an annual dance festival including local and international acts for ten days. This is an exciting and instructive method to learning more about different dance styles and techniques for folks who appreciate everything about dancing. And there's more. There are open to the public side events and workshops. Watch performances by both professional and amateur dancers to be impressed. Make friends with local dancing enthusiasts! This is a terrific place to meet new people.

Address: Kalamáta, Greece
Takes place: July
Price: From 17 USD

Who doesn't like rock? The legendary Rockwave Festival should not be missed while you are in Greece! This historic event, which takes place at TerraVibe Park every year, draws a crowd of around 20,000 people. Check out the lineup for this year's concert to learn more about the great names that will appear. Take notice that Rockwave is not only one of Greece's largest music events, but also one of Europe's! Feel the energizing energy of worldwide performers as they shake the stage. The ever-popular Rockwave Festival makes for fantastic days and nights.

Rockwave Festival, one of the most famous festivals in Greece about music, takes place at Terra Vibe in Malakasa, near Athens. This rock event, which is well-known across the world, has a remarkable lineup of world-famous performers and bands, including Iron Maiden, Placebo, Deus, and Metallica. Rockwave, an annual gathering of rock fans, is the ideal reason to spend the summer in Athens (just in case you needed one).

Website: Rockwave Festival

Takes place: July

The Flour Throwing Festival is one of the famous and unique festivals of Greece. The "flour war" always draws a significant number of Greeks and tourists who come to see this "bizarre" celebration.

Hundreds of Greeks attend the celebration, dressed in plastic costumes with black charcoal drawn faces. People who participate in this flour throwing celebration usually wear glasses or a mask to keep the flour from pouring into their eyes when flinging flour. Each individual wore a cow bell around their necks, which they dangled down the street to launch a flour-throwing war. They did traditional Greek dances together and tossed flour at one other, creating a vibrant and enjoyable mood.

Melasma is not just a holiday for the Greeks, but it also has a spiritual meaning for them. The celebration is seen as a spiritual release, as well as a fun way for Greeks to alleviate tension and exhaustion. This is also a clear indication of the Greeks' ability to laugh at themselves and remain optimistic in the face of adversity.