Ikaria is a place of numerous traditions that endure still nowadays. In this section, we will try to describe some of these to you.

The most prominent tradition is that of the festivals organized in every village on the island. These festivals began as religious ceremonies celebrating the respective patron saint of each village. Though these celebrations started as a religious event, little by little, they evolved towards cultural festivities. Their aim today is to raise funds which will be used to restore and enhance each village.

The festivals are great feasting parties, which, one must say, are incomparable in Ikaria. For instance, there are the Traditional Weddings which occur on the island. Unlike weddings in urban centers, most weddings in Ikaria are open to everyone. The wedding does not take place in a closed place, but outdoors or in a hall of the village where all types of celebrations take place.

Furthermore, there are many customs which are linked to the Christian celebrations, like Christmas and Easter.

For Christmas, New Year’s and the Epiphany, as in most of Greece, children go around singing Christmas carols. But what other places and villages do not have, is the custom of Saint Basil. For this event, groups of people (usually men), from each village, go from door to door singing carols. But, unlike what children usually do, these groups of people stay a little longer in each house. Indeed, a small party actually takes place in each house. The hosts (usually women) offer various dishes of mezze to their guests, but above all homemade wine. The party goes on for quite some time, eating, drinking and having a fun. The carols are traditional and usually every village has its own variant.

In some villages, they have adopted a continuation to this custom. On the following day, women go out together, and men stay at home!

As for Christmas, there are some Easter traditions. Most importantly, the custom Soros in the villages of Agios Kirikos, or the Afantos (Invisible) variant which takes place in Karavastamo. For these customs, every village makes a pile of wood, which they light at the time of the resurrection. Villages compete with each other for the biggest fire. So, the days before the resurrection, the piles of wood are guarded because not only do people from other villages try to steal the wood, they also try to set fire to the piles. In Karavostamo, the village is divided into upper and lower side, and the competition for the greatest fire exists within the same village.

In the villages of Christ and Glaredo in the region of Agios Kirikos, take place “Antilampra” (celebrations) and the burning of Judas. The villagers make an effigy of Judas, which they burn at one of the churches (each year they change churches). This is followed by a "war" of fireworks and dynamites.

It is also very common throughout the island to throw dynamites for Easter.

As you can see, most of the customs come from religious celebrations. However, the inhabitants of the island have modified them to their taste.


Ancient Theatrical Representations
Each year the theatrical group "Exit Aegean" under the direction of Nikos Parikos, brings ancient drama to open spaces within the breathtaking mountain scenery of Ikaria.

Various Schools
The “Center for Greek Culture”, near the mountain village of Arethousa, teach the Greek language and elements of Greek culture to foreign visitors. In the courses Greek dances, music, film screenings, tours and other events also take place.

The "Environmental School» is worth mentioning. It is a non-profit, non-governmental environmental organization called "Aegean Archipelago".It is active since the year 2000 in all of the eastern Aegean, the main branch being on the island of Ikaria. The overall activity of the organization is scientific research and the study of the special natural environment of the Aegean.

Art Exhibitions
The Cultural Organization of the municipality of Evdilos in cooperation with the other municipalities of Ikaria, organize annual road shows of its artists. The exhibits are either traditional or modern.

Ikaria Eleftheria
The custom of "Ikaria Eleftheria" takes place at the end of July. As a continuation of the celebrations for the island's liberation from the Ottoman rule, the "Ikaria Eleftheria" celebrations comprise free speech, art, book fairs, folk art, painting, music events, poetry readings and folk etc. These events take place in various parts of Ikaria and especially in the bakeries. These events were introduced in the mid 1980's.

Part of the events take place in the central square of Christos Rachon and include lectures, recitations of one-act plays by authors from Ikaria thus highlighting the old dialect of Ikaria.

The music and dance troupes of Agios Kirikos and Raches enhance the festive atmosphere playing traditional music and dancing traditional dances dressed in traditional costumes.

Lyceum of Greek Women
In Ikaria, it is obvious that the art of dance is very popular. Because traditional fairs and events are not enough for the inhabitants to show off their dancing skills, in the last years the Lyceum of Greek Women was founded and immediately started dancing activities. Besides they offer theatrical performances and organize popular customs.