Hydra in JanuaryEpiphany 6th January This day marks the start of the religious calendar in Greece. In churches all over the country, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Epiphany each year with a beautiful morning service of psalms. In Hydra the church services are followed by a procession to the water's edge where the priests will throw the cross into the water from the centre of the main outside jetty facing the harbour shops more or less opposite the clock tower of the Monastary.

Hydra Carnival"Apokries" meaning Carnival and held 41 days before Greek Orthodox Easter, is essentially a pagan celebration at the beginning of spring with emphasis on fertility hence the bride and groom leading the procession, although it must be said that some of the "brides" on Hydra could be described as more of a deterrent to fertility than an encouragement.In the Roman and Byzantine period, the carnival was marked as a tribute to the magical qualities of nature - now as with all carnivals, fancy dress is worn with everyone parading their costumes along the carnival route and through the town.

Leonard CohenIn the 50's Hydra Island Greece was discovered by some artists visiting the island from Athens. In those days Hydra was inexpensive and its close proximity to Athens made it a good destination for those looking for inspiration. And still today Hydra's picture postcard perfection, lack of blatant tourism, amazing light, stillness and the more human sounds of island living rather than noisy intrusive motors inspires not just artists but musicians, composers, singers, actors, film makers and writers who have made Hydra their home or favourite regular destination because they have discovered a rare atmosphere that's conducive to creative contemplation unique to Hydra.

Hydra in JanuaryEpiphany 6th January - This day marks the start of the religious calendar in Greece. In churches all over the country, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Epiphany each year with a beautiful morning service of psalms.

In Hydra the church services are followed by a procession to the water's edge where the priests will throw the cross into the water from the centre of the main outside jetty facing the harbour shops more or less opposite the clock tower of the Monastary.

Since I have just picked and cured a batch of black olives, I remembered an old poem I wrote about buying the tree, which is five years old now. If you are interested in gardening and bringing up an olive tree...

I am somewhat pleased with myself after preparing the six litres of olives that I picked yesterday, spending a couple of hours up on a ladder under the large olive tree. Some investigation showed that the best method for these kind of olives is the salt and water mix, no vinegar and no slicing, just mix ten litres of water with one kilo of salt.

Miaoulis Festival Re-EnactmentMiaoulis Festival - week preceding the closest weekend to the 24th June. Admiral Miaoulis is a favourite hero of Hydra. He was instrumental in the defeat of the Turkish navy when Greece won its independence in the last century. A week long celebration culminating in a massive firework display is held to mark his birth date and to honour one of Hydra's greatest leaders as well as to celebrate Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Generally the week includes dancing at various squares of Hydra and Kamini, various events and exhibitions around the island, with the fireworks on the Saturday evening and the final memorial service on the Sunday.

Marching past the donkeysIndependence Day 25th March is a very important day in the Greek calendar, as not only is it the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary but is also the Greek Independence Day. This religious and national, holiday is known as Evangelismós and most people bearing the name of Evangelos or Evangelia will celebrate this day as their name day. On this day in 1821, Germanos, the Bishop of Patras hoisted the Greek flag in defiance of the Turks at the Monastery of Ayia Lavra.

This symbolic action was enough to prompt the War of Independence against the occupying Turkish forces.

Seafood for Clean MondayKathará Dheftéra - Clean Monday follows immediately after the Sunday that Carnival lands on and therefore the date changes each year depending upon when the Greek Orthodox Easter lands.

This is the first day of Lent and the start of the fasting period. The Orthodox Church maintains the rules that during the seven weeks of Lent no meat or fish (that is, fish with backbones) should be eaten. Also no animal products such as milk, cheese, butter and eggs. Oil and wine should be omitted too, except on a Saturday and Sunday. This is why it is known as Clean Monday because it's the first day of a complete purge at the start of Lent.

Building DeliveriesCars, mopeds, bikes and motorised vehicles, with the exception of a couple of municipal trucks, are completely banned on Hydra. Quite aside from there being very few roads that they can travel on, the island is so hilly and steep in most places with narrow lanes and paths that it would make getting around and parking in a car impossible. This is never likely to change because of the status of the island as a preserved Greek National Monument. Instead everyone gets around by walking or taking a donkey ride. All items are transported in the main by donkey. Everything from holiday makers luggage to building material for house construction is delivered by donkey or mule.