Valentine's Day in Greece

Valentine's Day in Greece is not a big holiday, but each year brings more red and white stuffed bears and heart-shaped candy boxes to Greek shops. Like Halloween in Greece, it's becoming a bigger holiday each year, at least in the hearts of merchants.

While Greece is no stranger to tales of love - especially since Aphrodite and her son Eros, now often reduced to just a cherubic fraction of his former vigorous self - the holiday itself is still considered a foreign invention. But other Greeks believe it originally celebrated the marriage between Zeus and Hera - and launched a three-hundred year honeymoon on her island of Samos.

More on Valentine's Day in Greece:

A Greek Valentine's Day Quest - A romantic American tries to grant his Greek sweetheart's heart's desire with the help of visitors to this site.

Taste of Crete for Valentine's Day - Baklava popcorn? Well, it's one way of getting honey to your honey for Valentine's Day. They offer a list of Valentine's Day baskets with Greek ingredients.

Greek Valentine's baskets from Demeter's Pantry - Choose from a heart-healthy Greek olive oil selection to a very ancient and traditional lover's gift of honey at this Maryland-based Cretan food company.

Valentine's Day Events in Greece

• The Athens Backpackers Hostel offers their annual "Big Pink Party". However, this will be held on February 16th.
• Keeping up the pink theme, The Pink Palace Hotel on Corfu will be celebrating Valentine's Day, along with every other possible excuse for a party throughout the year. Not for the timid or sensible.
• Go to Greece for Valentine's Day - Asiminia Tours has a special "Curious Lovers Tour" - 8 nights and 10 days in Greece, visiting Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini.
• The Athens Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel is offering several special Valentine's Day packages, including a special dinner at the award-winning Premiere restaurant and a package including a special rate on a romantic room at the hotel.
• The Ledra Marriott is also offering special meal and room packages

Yannis Samatas at Explore Crete reminds me that there is another "Valentine's Day" in Greece - the ancient feast of Agios Yakinthos, celebrated at the mountain village of Anogia in Crete. And you can expect better weather for that festival - it's on July 3rd.

Want to remember someone in Greece for Valentine's Day? You can send a gift to Greece. Want to remember someone with an e-card? Check out the free images available from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at the "Iconograms" link above.

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