Eventi culturali a Creta

Crete today – just as it has been throughout its long history – is a cosmopolitan island. Nonetheless, it has managed to preserve those elements which belong customarily to the folk tradition.

Cultural events on the island – traditional or otherwise – can be found year-round, though they reach their peak in the summer. On the one hand, the big cities organize summer festivals embracing every sort of matter in the spectrum of folk art – usually lasting days or weeks. In this category, we can put the Kyrveia (Ierapetra), il Kornareia (Sitia), il Festival estivo (Heraklion) e il Festival del Rinascimento (Rethymno). On the other hand, there are many villages in Crete that organize various smaller festivals and traditional celebrations. There are feasts and carnivals, Cretan music and a rich artistic output that retains the linkage between Crete today and that of times gone – a past that lives on, albeit constantly evolving. Thus, in the big cities, you can get a taste of the cosmopolitan and contemporary art scene, whereas, in the villages, you may experience old-style festivals accompanied by traditional music, much dancing and local delicacies.

Festival e fiere tradizionali

Every summer the traditional festivals and fairs are the primary attractions of the Cretan villages, for locals and international visitors alike. In particular, they provide occasions for social gatherings and the maintenance of old customs and habits. The festivals are usually connected to a religious occasion, taking place in the village square where there is dancing to the tunes of the lyra and the lute – of course, accompanied by plenty of local food and wine.

La più significativa di queste feste estive è probabilmente quella legata alla Assunzione della Vergine Maria che si svolge il 15 agosto ed è una festa nazionale. Si tratta di una festività pubblica in tutta la Grecia e, anche se si tratta di un solo giorno, nelle ultime due settimane di agosto ci sono diverse feste associate a questo giorno. Altre volte, queste feste tradizionali sono organizzate intorno a un prodotto locale. Così abbiamo il Festa della patata (Tzermiado sul Altopiano di Lasithi), il Festival del vino (Dafni, Prefettura di Heraklion), Festival della ceramica (Trapsano, Heraklion), Sagra degli agrumi (Garazo, Mylopotamos), Festival dei pastori e dei loro formaggi (Zoniana, Mylopotamos) e così via. Il prodotto locale viene celebrato e consumato in grandi quantità, ma non bisogna dimenticare che l'evento comprende anche altri tipi di cibo, musica e balli.

“Kazani” – Raki Distilling

Questo è il processo di distillazione del raki quando il mosto d'uva viene convertito in fuoco liquido. Il mosto è ciò che rimane una volta che l'uva è stata pressata per ottenere il vino. Il rituale della distillazione del raki si svolge in tutta l'isola dopo la vendemmia e in particolare tra ottobre e metà dicembre. L'evento si svolge presso il kazania – around the copper or modern stills, which are to be found wherever grapes are grown. Some are almost industrial in scale and export while others are small local producers. Usually, a part of the process is accompanied by a small feast with food, wine and obviously warm and fresh raki! All this has an important and central place in society as raki, or tsikoudia svolge un ruolo fondamentale nella cultura cretese.

Rethymnon – The Renaissance Festival

La città di Rethymno onora il proprio passato organizzando (negli ultimi 25 anni) il Festival del Rinascimento. Every summer, the festival brings to the city music, art exhibitions, theatrical performances – all drawn from the Rinascimento cretese ed europeo – as well as childrens’ events and other happenings. The festival is always a success and there are various events for everyone, with happenings housed in the Fortestanelle chiese veneziane, nelle moschee, così come nelle strade e nelle piazze della città.

Festival estivo di Heraklion

In recent years, Heraklion has established the vibrant Heraklion Summer Festival, which combines theatre, music, dance and the visual arts, with the participation of important Greek and foreign artists. This includes also several events that involve local groups and clubs. The performances take place primarily at the outdoor-theatres of ‘Nikos Kazantzakis’ and ‘Manos Hatzidakis’, both located in the moat outside the Venetian walls to the south, and also in other recently renovated spaces in the gates and galleries of the same walls, as well as in the main Piazza Plateia Eleftherias accanto al Museo Archeologico di Heraklion.

Festival musicale di Houdetsi

One of the newest projects on the island – with tremendous potential and surely destined to play an important role in the coming years is the Festival musicale di Houdetsi. È organizzato dal musical workshop ‘Labyrinth’ and is the brain-child of Ross Daly. The festival takes place in early August and includes dozens of concerts, spotlighting major Cretan artists and musicians from all around the world. It covers a wide range of music tastes – from the most experimental to the ultra-traditional, and naturally includes dancing too! At the same time, there is often a bazaar, a market with local produce, and an exhibition of musical instruments.

Carnevale a Rethymno

Il carnevale di Rethymno ha una lunga storia, essendo stata istituita per la prima volta nel 1914. Recentemente si è sviluppata ulteriormente, tanto che quasi tutta la città è coinvolta attivamente; molte migliaia di visitatori arrivano qui da tutta Creta e da tutta la Grecia per partecipare. I festeggiamenti durano diversi giorni e raggiungono l'apice durante il periodo della festa. Sfilata cerimoniale sull'ultimo Domenica di Apokrias. A key feature during the festival is the ‘Caccia al tesoro’ – a game for children and adults alike. It spans the whole city and the participants are organized into teams. This also provides an excellent way for the locals and visitors to learn more about their city and its history. A similar festival has also been established in Heraklion.

Hyakintheia in Anogeia – Rethymno

Si tratta di un evento di tre giorni, che si svolge ogni anno a luglio ed è dedicato a Agios Hyakinthos – the Cretan “Santo dell'amore”. It takes place in an area a little outside the village of Anogia, sulle pendici di Monte Psiloriti at an altitude of about 1200 m. Each year the festival has a different theme, which often combines traditional Cretan music and folk traditions with those from other parts of Greece, or even from further afield in the Mediterranean. At the same time, there are workshops showcasing traditional cheese-making methods – whilst guests can drink raki and other Cretan delicacies.