A feast among friends

Agia Matrona, Santorini

Tonight, at the village of Finikia in Santorini, another unique Aegean panigiri will take place: the canaves are opening and people gather to celebrate Agia Matrona, the Saint who protects the village. For the habitants of Santorini, the time to relax and meet with friends has come; a few weeks away from the first winter’ s cold, they will catch you up on all the summer news and share their thoughts and feelings.

At this breathtaking architectural scenery, there will be music, there will be dancing, there will be a feast to remember: the pure local wine will fill the glasses, the sound of the tsambounes will become the dancer’ s heartbeat and the shadows of the musicians will reflect on the old cave walls. If you observe the faces of the musicians, you will notice that they are looking at the dancer’ s steps as they play… They are searching for the good dancers, in order to be inspired and play for them. It’ s a dionysiac breeze of joy, self-expression and unity; one of those special Aegean experiences; to celebrate like a child and to feel eternal in the same time. Magic.

words by maria alipranti

photography by christos drazos