EVENTS

ARCHITECTURE
The architecture in Andros does not obey strict rules of Cycladic traditional building. Typical Aegean houses coexist with neoclassical buildings, Venetian tower houses and stone houses. The types of houses that one meets in Andros are the makrynari, various types of towers and tower houses, rural houses in various forms and typical mansions of captains and merchants.
Other interesting buildings with idiosyncratic elements are the konakia (small rural buildings), the fountains with the characteristic bosounari or with a canopy, the watermills and the pigeon houses. Characteristic elements of the Andriotian architecture are the visible slab-like stonework, the sardeloma (external attics), the canal (watercourse), the stamens on the mantrowalls (vertical slabs), etc. Several stone bridges are preserved in the ravines of the island. Built of slate, simple and in harmony with the landscape, they were part of the old transport network.
WATER MILLS
At the beginning of the century, approximately one hundred and fifty watermills were operating in Andros. In the valley of the Two Rivers, which starts from Gianissaio and ends at Synetio bay, a few dozen watermills are preserved in good condition. The valley has been designated a protected area and its buildings have been declared modern pre-industrial monuments. A similar network of watermills also exists in Frousai, near Ammolochos, while individual watermills are scattered in other areas of the island. There are also windmills on the island, among them horizontal impeller windmills, a type that is particularly rare in Greece. One of them is preserved in good condition near Piskopio.

Source: Municipality of Andros
http://www.andros.gr/

THE CUSTOM OF GREETING
The greeting is one of the biggest customs of the island. Every year there is a celebration of the Saint who is honored in the church of each village, after the end of the service groups are formed that go from house to house for the "greeting". There the table is laid with various foods and the housewives serve sweets (kourabiedes, kalisounia or almonds and pastries), as well as raki.
PIG SLAUGHTER Pig slaughter
is a kind of celebration where relatives gathered for the necessary work with the ultimate purpose of preparing pork and storing it to be consumed during the winter. During the preparation they eat sisira (pieces of pork with fat) accompanied by wine or raki, as well as other pork dishes.
ANDRIOTIC WEDDING
The Andriotic Wedding takes place in a traditional way on the island. Before the liturgy of the sacrament, the families of the groom and the bride gather at home and enjoy traditional sweets, kufeta, sponge cake and sumada. The groom, riding a horse and followed by his relatives accompanied by violins and lutes goes to receive the bride. The bride's parents give him a ram decorated with flowers and a red ribbon as a gift. Then everyone together, always accompanied by music, starts for the church. After the ceremony is over, there is a feast at the home of the bridegroom or the bride.
ANDRIOTIAN EASTER
Easter is a very important holiday for Andros. On Good Friday there is a procession of Epitaphs decorated by the women of the island. On the night of the Resurrection, the island is flooded with firecrackers and sparklers, the so-called "sbara". In Andros on Easter Sunday they bake "Labriati". It is lamb or goat stuffed with eggs, cheese and various herbs that is baked in a traditional wood-fired oven, accompanied by potatoes. After the meal, the square of the Municipal Apartment of Paleopolis fills up with people for the Tsunias to begin. A game like bowling played on Easter Sunday afternoon. In the evening, feasts and dances are organized in the island's taverns.
CULTURAL EVENTS
- In Chora is the Kydonieos Foundation, where every year Ploes is organized, an event with music and visual events.
- The foundation of Vassilis and Eliza Goulandris organizes international exhibitions every summer at the Museum of Modern Art.
- In Gavrio, during the first ten days of August, cultural events are organized, the so-called Gavriotika. The celebrations last five days and sports events, chess tournaments, "egg races", "sack races", painting exhibition with works of local amateur painters etc. are held. At the end of the events there is a celebration where the traditional kakavia and wine are offered.
- The international offshore sailing race, Faliro-Andros-Faliro is organized every year on the last weekend of August.
- From time to time, the antique rally is hosted in Andros, which attracts the lovers of the genre.
- Every June the choral festival of the Music Club is organized while the landscaping clubs of the island have traditional fun with balls and ouzo celebrations.
CELEBRATION
On October 2nd in Cyprus, the feast of Saint Kyprian is held. On December 6th, the day of Saint Nicholas, on the beach street of Gavrio, there is a parade of students with lighted torches and accompanied by the philharmonic band, in honor of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Gavrio .
In Andros, several religious festivals take place. In Makrotantalos, a festival is organized in the small church of Agios Sostis in Akrotiri, on September 7. A church service is held and after the end of the service treats are given in the church yard. The festival of Saint John the Forerunner is also organized on August 29 with treats and dancing.
The fifteenth of August is celebrated in a traditional way. In the morning, after the end of the divine service, there is a greeting from house to house where sweets and drinks are offered, and in the evening in the courtyard of the Primary School a traditional feast with local instruments, loukumades, tsipouro, tripe and appetizers.
Some more festivals hosted by the island of Andros are the Festival of Agia Sophia, on September 17th, the Festival of Agia Marina in upper Gavrio on July 17th, the Nine Days Festival of Panagia, on August 23rd, the Festival of Agios Panteleimon on the 27th July in Kato Katakoilos where there is a Church service and then a greeting from house to house where sweets and drinks are offered. In the evening, dancing in the courtyards of the houses with traditional instruments, local wine, tsipouro and kourabiedes.
The Feast of Saint John the Fast takes place on August 28 in Kato Katakoilos, Vespers is celebrated with bread baking and then a dance with traditional instruments.
Very important festivals are also the festival of the Fifteenth of August in Pano Katakoilos, the Festival of Saint John the Theologian on September 26 and the Festival of Evangelism on March 25 where there is a Church service and then greetings from house to house where sweets and drinks are offered.

Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou