The folklore in the greater area of Drama shows a unique interest not only for the variety of events or the energy behind them, but also for the continuous presence of them since the antiquity and through the byzantine period.
Choose the month of your visit.
- January
MOMOYERI / KALLIFYTOS CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
2 January
The custom of Momoyeri is revived every year after New Year’s Day. It’s a type of folk pantomime that used to take place in a number of villages in the area of Pontos (the area around the Black Sea). The participants are dressed up like old men.
Distance from the Hotel: 7km
Arapides / Monastiraki Cultural Association
January 6
Events here take place on the day of Epiphany. The main figures of that day are the “Arapides”, dressed in distinctive high hoods out of goat skin and heavy cow bells around their waist. After visiting door to door every house in the village, drinking alcohol and teasing everyone in sight, they end up in the main square where they take to an intense circular dancing.
Distance from the Hotel: 6km
Arapides / Arkoudes / Traditional Wedding / “bara Day”
6-7-8 January
“Bara Day” takes place on January 6th. It is the revival of an old custom in which the newly weds make a stop at the Jesus Christening Fountain for health and prosperity. “Arapides” is an age old custom with peculiar costumes and pagan festivities (drinking and dancing until you drop and cheeky behavior) while the next day (January 8th) there is a reenactment of the local wedding day and the custom of “arkoudes” takes place. The day is dedicated to the elderly mid wife which in essence reveals the parental character of the celebration.
Distance from the Hotel: 36km
Arapides / Pirgi
6 January
On Epiphany Day and the one following that , a lot of noisy events take place that involve animal costumes, cow bells, teasing and non- stop partying!
Distance from the Hotel: 21km
Arapides / Xiropotamos
6-7 January
On January 7th here in Xiropotamos, as well as Monastiraki on the same day, the day of Arapides is celebrated. The disguised Arapides knock on every door as early as the break of dawn and they don’t stop screaming and shouting and teasing everybody until very late in the night.
Distance from the Hotel: 8km
Pagoneri “Arapides Carnival”
6 January
A slightly different Arapides Day celebration takes place in Pagoneri on Epiphany Day ( January 6 ), as the participants with their animal like costumes and big bells are flanked by additional characters such as the “Gupsy”, the “Bride” and the “Doctor” (hatli).
Distance from the Hotel: 54km
Babougera / Traditional Local Wedding Reenactment/ Pagoneri
6-7-8 January
In Kali Vrisi the most awaited holiday is the three days of Babougera ( 6-7-8 of January). It is about men dressed up in animal skins with cow bells tied around them, that wander around the village making noise and lifting everyone’s spirits sky high. The last day of Babougera is celebrated by the reenactment of a traditional wedding during which the make believe priest mimics mostly the civil ceremony than the religious one.
Distance from the Hotel: 23km
Babiden / Petrousa
7-8 January
The most important traditional festivity of Petrousa, is the day of the mid-wife (Babo) “Babiden” that revives every day on the 7th and 8th of January. This event has a parental character as “Babo” symbolizes the elder women that would offer their experience and expertise to help younger women during labor. The high light of the events is the presence of a camel that symbolizes the endurance during difficult times.
Distance from the Hotel: 13km
- March
Kalithea Carnival / Kalithea Cultural Association
Ash Monday Eve
Cultural events with local treats and the burning of the Carnival Spirit. The age old custom of big fires lives on and takes place on the last Sunday before Lent. It is a ritual of repent and catharsis that ends up in a big spree and in the lighting of great cathartic fires, for which big piles of cedar logs are used.
Distance from the Hotel: 26km
Choristi Carnival
Ash Monday
Until recently Choristi Carnival was an exclusively folklore event limited to the community of Choristi. Nowadays the traditional character has been dropped and it is open to a wider audience, as it includes samba dancing, theme vehicles and parades.
Distance from the Hotel: 7km
- May
Paranesti Virgin Forest Mountain Trail
2 May
Website: https://paranestivft.com/
Distance from the Hotel: 40kmNational Seed Exchange Festival / Pelliti Community
2 May
Webpage: https://peliti.gr/
Distance from the Hotel: 40kmDoxato Horse Racing
2 May
Distance from the Hotel: 15km
Anastenaria / Maurolefki Cultural Association
20-22 May
The most important event of Saint Konstantin’s and Saint Helen’s day is the fire walking, a ceremony where the participants after initiatory procedures walk on burning coals bare foot.
Distance from the Hotel: 12km
- June
ΔΕΚΠΟΤΑ: Liberation Day
June 19th – July 8th
Corn Festival / Kalampaki Cultural Association
During the summer the Kalampaki Public Developing Company holds the “Summer Corn Festival”. The festivities include long weekends with dancing and music and free distribution of corn bread, grilled corn, boiled corn, pop corn and other corn products.
- July
Fillipi International Festival
Early July – Late august
Distance from the Hotel: 38km
- August
Assumption Of Holy Mary / Pagoneri Cultural Association
15 August
The most important date for Pagoneri is August 15th, when the local church ( church of the Assumption) celebrates. The festival takes place at the picturesque village square, under the sycamore tree, with food, traditional music and all night dancing for everyone!
Distance from the hotel: 54km
- September
International Short Film Festival of Drama
Mid September
Website: www.dramafilmfestival.gr
Wine Tasting / Vine & Wine of Terra Oedonida
End of September
- December
Festivities in Honor of Agia Varvara (Patron saint of Drama)
3-4 December
Oniroupoli (Dream City)
Anything can change in this City if you want it to!
The biggest Christmas festival of the country takes place here, “ in the City where anything can change if you want it to, in the City where all your dreams come true”.
Every year for a whole month, starting December 4th, Drama puts on her best smile and the jolliest mood and awaits the younger and the older to embrace them!
Enter the dream and enjoy your own magical tour!
Website: www.oneiroupoli.gr