This day is celebrated every year to commemorate the start of the Greek uprising in 1821 against the Turks who had occupied Greece for 400 years. Greece was finally liberated in 1832.

Easter throughout Greece is the most important celebration on the Orthodox calendar. The week leading up to Easter Sunday has an air of anticipation with families preparing Easter fare and many who do not fast for Lent will do so for the final week.

Traditionally new clothes are bought and worn to the midnight church service on Saturday night. Everyone has a candle which is lit from a flame which has originally been brought back to Greece from the Holy light of Jerusalem. On returning home, the smoke from the flame is used to make a cross above the front door. This is to protect those living in the house. The fast is then broken with a soup made from offal.

The celebrations start early on Easter Sunday and continue until late at night. A lamb or goat is slowly roasted on a spit, salads, cheeses, pies and many other delicacies are produced throughout the day as well as copious amounts of wine to wash it down.

Crete was the site of a bloody battle during the Second World War with devastating loss of lives. The memory of all those who died, ceremonies take place with both local and foreign dignitaries as well as the remaining few ex servicemen surviving and well enough to make the journey. One of the services takes place in the Allied cemetery in Souda which is always kept in immaculate condition by the War Graves Commission.

In mid July a wine festival opens in the park of Rethymnon where local wines can be tasted and bought from local producers. The quality of Cretan wines has improved enormously over the last 15 years with many achieving awards from recognised bodies.

The municipalities of Chania and Iraklion arrange for many well known artists to perform at theatres around the towns. Some are free entry and some will charge an entrance fee to see both Greek and foreign performers.

On 15th August another important Orthodox celebration is recognised. This is the name day for all the women of Greece with the name Maria. Having said that, Crete is unique in so far as only married Marias celebrates this day. Unmarried Marias celebrate on 21st November.