Many of you will already be familiar with komboloi (κομπολόι) and in Greece will have seen it flowing, grain after grain, between the fingers of men of all ages in cafés and on the streets. For those who are wondering what we are talking about, the komboloi is a string closed in a circle on which pearls of different materials are strung. It is a pastime, if necessary a rosary, a precursor of modern anti-stress but also and above all a powerful cultural symbol which was and still remains a predominantly male accessory.

If for those who don't speak Greek it can be almost a challenge to pronounce the term Tsiknopempti, for those who don't know at least a little about Greek culture it can be equally difficult to imagine that there is a day entirely dedicated to meat and, even more specifically, to perfume of grilled meat. Not only taverns and takeaways, but also shops, squares and even schools will be filled today with grills, meat, music and festive voices.

In many countries May 1st is Labor Day, but in Greece it is so much more! The month of Μάιος (May) owes its name to Maia, a nymph associated with fertility and the earth, but it is also dedicated to the goddess of agriculture Dimitra and her daughter Persephone, who emerges from Hades and comes to earth to restore life . In May we celebrate the victory of life over death and of summer over winter, a bit as if May had the magical property of making everything new.

Easter in the Ionian Islands is a real explosion of sounds and colours. Did you know that on the morning of Holy Saturday the bells ring for the "First Resurrection" and red terracotta pots are thrown from the balconies, filled with water to make them even noisier?

The Easter holidays are an excellent opportunity to introduce your children to Greek traditions. Candles to decorate, eggs to dye red, biscuits to bake together, palm leaves to weave... There are so many activities to do as a family to get to know your next holiday destination better!