by Priscilla Babiolakis

Created on: December 15, 2008

Festivals in Greece corresponded to a lunar calendar. They were held in honour of the various gods. Men dominated over festivals praising male gods and women similarly over goddesses. There was much gaiety with song and dance, and typically included a sacrifice to the god being honoured. The sacrifice was served at a banquet which was also part of the festival. Wine and oil was sprinkled on the meat as an offering to the relevant deity, so the smoke rising towards heaven would smell sweet.

The Athenians celebrated over thirty different festivals, often religious in theme and directly worshipping their gods. One of the main festivals, The Festival of Eleusinia, was sacred to Demeter, the Earth Mother, and her daughter Persephone. On the fifth day of this festival, the sacred procession walked for about twelve miles from Athens across the mountain pass to Eleusis.

Dionysus has four festivals dedicated to him. They were celebrated from the beginning of winter to the beginning of spring. The Rustic Dionysus, during the month of Poseidon, corresponds to December, while The Lenaea is celebrated during the month of Gamelion - between January and February. During Anthesterion, which is February and March, The Anthesteria is observed. The Great Dionysia was celebrated during the month of Elaphebolion, the old Athenian name for the period between March and April

The Panathenaic Festival was an exclusively Athenian celebration, and was one of the city's most important festivals. This was one of the most elaborate and impressive events in the entire Greek world. Everyone in the city, apart from the slaves, was able to participate. This festival was to praise and celebrate the goddess Athena's birthday, as well as honouring the goddess, who was the city's patron. However, in 566 BC the ruler Pisistratus - who would later gain fame as an oppressor - extended this festival. A special aspect of this festival was created for every fourth year, extending over a number of days with many public events - it became known and observed as the Great Panathenaea.

Modern reconstruction indicates this celebration lasted at least eight days. There were athletic contests for boys, the youth and men, equestrian and tribal proceedings, musical and rhapsodic events, and boat races. The end of the festival was marked with the awarding of prizes, feasting and merriment.

Demeter's great festival, the Themophoria, was celebrated in Athens. This was in honour of women who prayed for fertility for themselves

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