A tiny island village of fewer than 100 residents explodes every year on August 15 as thousands converge on Lagada in Ikaria to celebrate — the way only Ikarians know how to do.
In addition to locals, visitors come from throughout the world to participate in the annual panygeri, or village festival.
Commemorating the assumption of the Virgin Mary, the feast day involves religious services, food — and a lot of dancing.
Ikaria has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years, especially as islands like Mykonos and Santorini grapple with over-tourism.
The island is considered one of the world’s five “Blue Zones,” which are places where the population regularly lives to an advanced age — i.e. one in three people live into their 90s.
The video below comes from the most recent August 15 celebration in Lagada and has already received more than 60,000 views in less than two weeks of being online.
In the video, thousands of people of all ages participate in the island’s namesake dance, known as the “Ikariotikos.”
See the video
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2 comments
Wonderful, wonderful video. Great way to start my week.
The Best I Loved it!!!!