Nemea
Nemea got its name from the nymph Nemea, daughter of the river Asopus. In the plains of Nemea, viticulture and winemaking has a tradition of thousands of years, with particularity in the Agiorgi grape, which borrowed its name from the settlement of Agios Georgios, a name that Nemea kept until the beginning of the 20th century. The wines of the region, with an intense, deep ruby color and an aroma reminiscent of noble spices, are considered among the best in the Peloponnese. Varieties of wines that can be found in the area are the fox, the white, the Sabbatiano, the Rhoditis and also cosmopolitan varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) as well as reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot... etc.).
Wine Festival
At the end of August - beginning of September, in Nemea "Ampeloesa" a wine festival is organized with the participation of local wine producers. During the three days, which are the Great Days of Nemea, various cultural (theatre, choirs) and musical events take place in the neighborhoods and squares of the city. At the same time, there is an exhibition of wines from local producers, while the visitor can follow various routes in the vineyards of the area. Every day the winemakers' bus takes visitors on a free tour of the vineyards.
Since 1997, the Agricultural Technical - Vocational School has been operating in Nemea with a modern system of agricultural education on viticulture and winemaking aimed mainly at young people from rural families, high school graduates.
The Nemea
In the summer of 1996, after an effort by the Local Government and the American School of Archaeology, the Nemean Games were revived after 2,300 years with the aim of preserving the ancient Greek sporting ideal. Thousands of spectators and athletes attend the games to experience the greatness of the noble rivalry. Nemea became famous from the labor of Hercules, the extermination of the lion that was ravaging the area. The participants in the races follow the same steps of the mythical hero, from Kleones to Nemea, through a unique route of olive groves and vineyards.
The custom of Psychokoris
On the night of Christmas Eve, the residents of Nemea put plastic branches over the fireplaces, cover the sweets with aluminum foil and wash well so that the goblins don't pee on them. On Christmas morning, after church, the teenage daughter of the family serves the traditional sweets of Nemea on a plate (kourabiedes, melomakarona, diples, spoon sweets... etc) and offers liquor to the man of the family.
Traditional Wedding
On Monday, the bride's friends and the girls from the neighborhood wash the dowries singing and dancing. The bride's mother prepares hot pancakes and serves homemade liqueur. In the groom's house a youth, friend or relative of the groom, who has both his parents, is responsible for the groom's preparation. He is called brazeris, which means close friend, step-son-in-law. A girl, friend of the bride, the brazera, had a similar role. On Tuesday, the girls gather again to iron the dowries. On Wednesday they arrange the clothes making a yukko as they called it. In other words, they put on top of the mattresses, the quilts, the woven blankets and the kilims, which the bride wove on the traditional loom and finally the grandmother's knitted lace. Then they hung all the embroideries on a rope fixed from one wall to the other. The rest of the dowries were placed on benches (sheets with lace, embroidery, the bride's nightgowns...etc.). In the afternoon they called the priest, the teacher, the president and together with the parents of the betrothed, the assessment of the bride's dowry took place. The dowry agreement was drawn up by the notary of the village. At the end, gifts of rice, almonds, walnuts and coins were distributed. A custom that is preserved to this day is the laughing of both companions in order to hide or steal something from the house, to "ring the bell" as they say, showing the "stolen" object when they leave. the president and together with the parents of the betrothed, the assessment of the bride's dowry took place. The dowry agreement was drawn up by the notary of the village. At the end, gifts of rice, almonds, walnuts and coins were distributed. A custom that is preserved to this day is the laughing of both companions in order to hide or steal something from the house, to "ring the bell" as they say, showing the "stolen" object when they leave. the president and together with the parents of the betrothed, the assessment of the bride's dowry took place. The dowry agreement was drawn up by the notary of the village. At the end, gifts of rice, almonds, walnuts and coins were distributed. A custom that is preserved to this day is the laughing of both companions in order to hide or steal something from the house, to "ring the bell" as they say, showing the "stolen" object when they leave.
On Thursday morning, the parents of the bride and groom send out invitations to relatives and friends. The priest and the best man are called separately by the groom and the best man, sending a roll of bread, 2-3 kilos of meat and a bottle of wine for each. On Friday afternoon, the brazier, with 5-6 friends and relatives of the groom, receive the bride's dowry. First, the brazier changes the rolls with the brazier. They stand opposite each other and each one shows her off to see whose is better dressed. On Saturday morning, the groom gathers with his relatives and friends to carry the dowries from the bride's house, singing "Let my eyes see how my love is doing...". In the afternoon, the bride is bathed by her friends who carry water from the tap. The bride throws her underwear to the girls to get their luck. The groom and the best man go to the best man with dances and songs and offer him "the best man's lamb", sweets, a decorated pie and the "tsitsa" full of wine. On Saturday night, the bride and groom feast at their homes with relatives and friends.
On Sunday, the in-laws bring their gifts to the bride, a back of meat, a jug of wine and a bagatsa. Then the bride's friends and mother begin to decorate the bride. They tie her waist with a green cotton to be strong like this, they tie a lock to her to lock the androgynous, they put a pair of scissors for bad tongues, they wear a talisman (made of bread, gunpowder, a loom knife, a piece of broom, some incense and charcoal powder) and hide a charm for the evil eye and bad words under her underwear. At the groom's house, friends with his father put on his underwear upside down so that he won't be seen, wash him upside down 3 times with water and shave him while singing. Around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the groom starts for the church with songs and dances. His mother puts candy in his pocket, which free girls take after marriage and put under their pillow, to see in their sleep who they will marry. After the ceremony, the bride throws a pomegranate at the entrance of the house to bring happiness to the new household. The bride's mother-in-law would take a glass of honey and bless the newlyweds to be united forever. A large scarf or ribbon was then passed around the newlyweds' necks and placed inside the house. They entered with the right foot so that everything would go well and happily in their new life. The bride's mother-in-law would take a glass of honey and bless the newlyweds to be united forever. A large scarf or ribbon was then passed around the newlyweds' necks and placed inside the house. They entered with the right foot so that everything would go well and happily in their new life. The bride's mother-in-law would take a glass of honey and bless the newlyweds to be united forever. A large scarf or ribbon was then passed around the newlyweds' necks and placed inside the house. They entered with the right foot so that everything would go well and happily in their new life.
Stefani
Post-Byzantine buildings of the 12th, 14th and 16th centuries are preserved in Stefani, which outline the Christian history of the plateau that stretches between the village and the medieval Agionori. In the village is also the well-known Stefaniou Monastery, dedicated to Agios Dimitrios, which is visited by many pilgrims throughout the year. It celebrates and celebrates annually on October 26.
Loutro Xylokastro
The village of Loutro belongs to the Municipality of Xylokastro and celebrates Sotiros on August 6 and Agia Kyriaki on July 17. During the festivities, music and dance groups are invited.
Sofiko
The village of Sofiko is the seat of the Municipal Unit of Solygeia and is located 30 km southeast of Corinth. The church of Agia Paraskevi (single-aisle basilica) built in 1617 and with its entire surface covered in frescoes is considered important. The performances (dance of the Neanidos) refer to the Dance of Gem, a custom that is unique in the Corinthian region. It is the dance of the Easter days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) where all the residents of Sofikos gather in the square of I.N. Evangelistrias, sing and dance. The dance used to last a week. The lyrics of the songs refer to strangeness, love, freedom.. The most popular song that is sung in Gem is: "You birds of the plain and the sea, you always pass by our place / letter, I have to give you a small letter to go to my good love not to wait for me and to punish me because I was married in Armenia. I got Armenotopoula, a wicked witch/ She bewitches the ships and they don't come, she bewitched me too and I don't come/ I take the road to come, mud and water/ I turn back again sun and sea".
(source: Stock of the Folk tradition of Sofikos)