OTZIAS PANIGIRI

A “panigiri” is a centuries-old traditional festival that celebrates a saint or a local anniversary organized typically in the villages of Greek islands during the summer months. Panigiris include traditional music, plenty of food and local wine; the three key elements that make a panigiri successful. On the 19 of July the people from Otzias, a small village on the north of Kea, organize such an event. After the ceremony, the people gather for a big feast by the sea. They sit together to taste Kakavia, a traditional fish soup, along with local olives, meat, cod, Greek salad, and wine. Live bands are present while both guests and locals dance and sing to festive island music till dawn. Meanwhile, above the panigiri grounds, perched on top of a hill is the beautiful Cycladic-style church of Saint Sostis. Its white and blue colored dome matches the crystal blue water of the nearby sea. In the church yard, local artists have the chance to display and exhibit their most recent painting collections. The panigiri is a balance between the serene and the wild, innovation and tradition. The occasion brings together the young and the old, to sing, dance, discuss, eat, drink, to feast. The Otzias panigiri is a blending of a religious ceremony and a social festival that remains in the heart of its guests long after. It is a unique experience one should not miss during their stay in Kea.

          

Guest and locals dancing and singing at the panigiri.

 

Art exhibit at the church of Saint Sostis.