Saturday 29 April 2017

Protomagya

What is Protomaya

May Day celebrations ( a reason to visit Greece this time of year) mean a celebration of Spring.
According to legend May was named after the Roman goddess Maia ( Greek word for midwife, mother and nurse). In the Ancient time this month was dedicated to Dimitra, the goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone, who would return to her mother each May after spending her winter in the underworld with Adis ( Hades). One of the celebrations was Anthesteria, the first Greek flower festival as both Greeks and Romans believed that flowers represent the beauty of the gods and bring power, happiness, health and glory .
May Day is a bank holiday in Greece and families pick up flowers to make a Mayatiko Stefani/ May Day wreath. The process of making this brings people closer to nature. The wreaths are decorated by the whole family, especially with the help of children, singing and dancing, and they hang on the doors, balconies and walls.
What a great start of the season!


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