Ancient Greece Events and Modern Day Festivals

Ancient Greek Olympic:

The son of Zeus started a sporting festival in honor of his father in 776 B.C. and nowadays these are known as the ancient Greek Olympic Games. These games took place near Mt Olympus which was where the Greek gods resided and ruled over their people in Greek mythology. Free men from Greece were allowed to come and show their athletic abilities in the ancient Greek Olympic Games that were observed by all the Greek gods, goddesses and other high powered individuals of the times.

During the ancient Greek Olympic times there were only a few different events that were based in sports like running, wrestling, boxing, and racing. There were also daily feasts and toasts to the Gods and the ancient Greek people loved this celebration that happened only once every four years.

The men of Greece were very full of pride and passion and they would give everything to be able to win in the ancient Greek Olympic Games, there were also men that got caught cheating and they had many methods of catching the cheaters as well. If you visit modern day Greece you can still see where the ancient games were thought to be held. There have been some great movies made about this period in time and about some of the games and traditions that were celebrated back in these times of Ancient Greece.

Nowadays the Olympics are just an international sporting event but back in their times this was an extremely religious time and celebration. The modern Olympics are just a continuum of the original ancient Olympics and are still as popular as they ever were. The Olympics were just important for different reasons back in the times of the ancient Greeks but they are still important for worldwide peace in the modern day and it is a time when many nations can celebrate their sports together.

Greece Cultural Events:

Many of the most important Greek festivals honor religious traditions, national pride and the performing arts. It only seems befitting that the birthplace of the Greek tragedy and the developing grounds for modern philosophy would celebrate a number of performances and plays throughout the year. While there are many small holidays or events, the following are some of the most significant Greece cultural events.

Hellenic Festival:

The Hellenic Festival takes place in Athens Herodes Atticus Theatre and offers a large range of performances: modern and ancient theatre, ballet, opera, jazz and classical music, dances, symphonic music and great singers and many other special events. The festival takes place from June to September.

International Jazz & Blues Festival:

The International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place in Links Athens, in June, is welcomed by the theatre of Lycabettus. Lycabettus also welcomes every year many other events, such as music, dances and theatrical performances from the national and international scene.

Epidaurus Festival:

The Epidaurus Festival: The ancient theatre of Epidaurus welcomes a festival of Classical and some Modern drama performances every summer during the months of July and August. This is one of Greece's top events which attract thousands of visitors every year.

The Film Festival of Thessaloniki:

The International Film Festival is one of the most important cultural events in Thessaloniki. It takes place every year in autumn and it works as a stand for new directors to present their work.

Rockwave Festival:

The Rockwave Festival welcomes every summer international bands and musicians. Rock concerts take place in a special area in Malakasa, about 40 km north of Athens. The festival lasts for three days and concerts are performed all day long.

European Music day:

The Music Day which also welcomes every summer in Athens, during 3 days, international and national bands and musicians for all night long.

Samothraki Festival:

The Samothraki Island World music festival, apart from a musical event, is an important gathering for ecology. It takes place in the small island of Samothrace, Eastern Aegean, every June.

Sani Festival:

The Sani Festival: A yearly celebration since 1993, bringing together nationally and internationally acclaimed artists at Sani, Halkidiki. Events, such as music concerts, dance performances and painting exhibitions, are held in different venues around the Sani Resort from July to September every year.

A large range of minor cultural events and festivals take place all around Greece and the Greek islands. Most festivals are celebrated in summer.

Ancient Greek Life History / Ancient Greece Facts for Kids

We owe a lot to Ancient Greek Civilization. History of ancient Greece is a fascinating. On this site, we have given information on various ancient Greek life aspects - Arts, Boys and Girls, Architecture, Dancing, Gods, Myths, Medicine, Inventions, Houses, Government, Religions, Wars, Politics, Weapons and ancient Greece Cities.