Wydarzenia kulturalne na Krecie

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) Kornareia (Sitia) Letni festiwal (Heraklion) i Festiwal renesansowy (Rethymnon). 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.

Tradycyjne festiwale i targi

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.

Najważniejszym z tych letnich festiwali jest prawdopodobnie ten związany z Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny które odbywa się 15 sierpnia i jest świętem narodowym. Jest to święto państwowe w całej Grecji i chociaż jest to tylko jeden dzień, w ostatnich dwóch tygodniach sierpnia odbywają się różne uroczystości związane z tym dniem. Innym razem te tradycyjne festiwale organizowane są wokół lokalnego produktu. Tak więc mamy Święto ziemniaka (Tzermiado na Płaskowyż Lasithi) Festiwal Wina (Dafni, prefektura Heraklion), Festiwal ceramiki (Thrapsano, Heraklion), Festiwal owoców cytrusowych (Garazo, Mylopotamos), Festiwal pasterzy i ich serów (Zoniana, Mylopotamos) i tak dalej. Lokalny produkt jest celebrowany i spożywany w dużych ilościach, ale można być pewnym, że nie zabraknie również innych potraw, muzyki i tańców.

“Kazani” – Raki Distilling

Jest to proces destylacja raki kiedy moszcz winogronowy jest przekształcany w płynny ogień. Moszcz jest tym, co pozostaje po wyciśnięciu winogron na wino. Rytuał destylacji raki odbywa się na całej wyspie po zbiorach, a w szczególności między październikiem a połową grudnia. Wydarzenie to ma miejsce w 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 odgrywa istotną rolę w kreteńskiej kulturze.

Rethymnon – The Renaissance Festival

Miasto Rethymno honoruje swoją przeszłość, organizując (w ciągu ostatnich 25 lat) Festiwal Renesansu. Every summer, the festival brings to the city music, art exhibitions, theatrical performances – all drawn from the Kreteński i europejski renesans – 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 Fortestaw weneckich kościołach, meczetach, a także na ulicach i placach miasta.

Letni Festiwal w Heraklionie

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 Plateia Eleftherias Square obok Muzeum Archeologiczne w Heraklionie.

Houdetsi Music Festival

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 Houdetsi Music Festival. Jest on organizowany przez 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.

Karnawał w Rethymno

Karnawał Rethymno ma długą historię, ponieważ po raz pierwszy została założona w 1914 roku. Ostatnio rozwinęło się jeszcze bardziej, tak że prawie całe miasto jest aktywnie zaangażowane; wiele tysięcy odwiedzających przyjeżdża tu z całej Krety, a nawet z całej Grecji, aby wziąć udział. Uroczystości trwają kilka dni i osiągają swój szczyt podczas Uroczysta parada na ostatnim Niedziela Apokrias. A key feature during the festival is the ‘Poszukiwanie skarbów’ – 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

Jest to trzydniowe wydarzenie, odbywające się co roku w lipcu, poświęcone Agios Hyakinthos – the Cretan “Święty Miłości”. It takes place in an area a little outside the village of Anogiana zboczach Góra 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.