Colors of Lemnos - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Lemnos is one of the most amazing Greek islands that is linked to many beautiful legends. According to one of them, in ancient times, the island became a haven for the god Hephaestus. In gratitude for his saving, the god of fire taught Lemnos residents blacksmithing and the basics of metal processing. On the same island, Hephaestus built his own forge where he worked along with the Cyclopes. When the god left these places, a sacred fire remained in his forge.

Another legend tells that Lemnos is the birthplace of the modern pentathlon. When Jason went on a journey for the Golden Fleece, the island was ruled by the Amazons. One day his ships approached the coast of the island, Jason asked the warrior women for refuge and permission to spend a few days on the island. The Queen of the Amazons allowed them to stay and organized sports competitions in honor of worthy guests. For many years, Lemnos has been under the rule of many conquerors. It was conquered by the Romans and Byzantines, and one of the longest for the island was the reign of the Ottoman Empire. In such difficult conditions, the islanders managed to preserve their unique cultural traditions, which have vivid embodiments even now.

Lemnos residents are very friendly and welcoming, treating all travelers as long-awaited guests. Most tourists visiting the island do not stay in classic hotels. They rent houses or rooms from locals in order to get better acquainted with their traditional lifestyle. Hard-work people living in Lemnos made it one of the main agricultural and fishing centers of the country. Tourists can even go fishing with hereditary fishermen whose families live here to this day. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Like hundreds of years ago, many farms breed domestic animals and cultivate crops in Lemnos. All cities and villages have craft workshops, including forges as a reminder of ancient culture. An important component of local culture is gastronomic traditions. Every year, Lemnos hosts an interesting festival dedicated to gastronomy and wine. The culinary holiday is usually held at the end of July and participated by the best local farmers.

Festival guests are offered to try unique cheeses and meat delicacies produced on the island, as well as one of the main local specialties - Lemnos Philema wine. Local fishermen catch rare seafood, from which cooks prepare incredible dishes. Lemnos is also a major olive oil production center. It is impossible to imagine traditional cuisine without this product. The annual festival is attended by many famous chefs who create their masterpieces in front of the audience and hold master classes for all comers. This holiday always attracts many foreign guests, among whom there are both great culinary gurus and ordinary curious tourists.

Despite the distinctive way of life, in recent years, Lemnos has been the venue for a number of original modern festivals and youth events. One of these is Lemnos in Action, which is usually held in the first half of August. The main purpose of this holiday is to strengthen the cultural and business positions of the island. Here they conduct seminars on entrepreneurial activities, as well as programs aimed at developing the tourism industry in Lemnos.

Many young people take part in programs aimed at the development of sports and sports infrastructure of the island. Such programs are already bearing fruit, Lemnos is the location of some of the best surfing schools in Greece. Within the framework of such a multifaceted holiday, special attention is paid to children's culture and creativity. For the youngest participants, they organize the Junior Festival. The main events of the children's festival are theatrical performances, sports competitions, and traditional games.

Guests of the beautiful August holiday will enjoy interesting art and craft exhibitions, fascinating master classes on various folk arts, as well as a lot of traditional treats. It is noteworthy that the organization of such a large-scale festival is carried out by volunteers - ordinary people from among the local residents who are not indifferent to their culture and care about the future of the island. Lemnos will fascinate guests with its peaceful atmosphere and unique culture, for the preservation of which locals put a lot of efforts.