AYAZMA FAIR

The 26 of July are the days when the Greeks get together to celebrate the Holy Paraskevi. It is also known as the Ayazma Fair.

You must visit this place with its double-spouted historical fountain, its eight gigantic plane trees and the small chapel. Many Greeks from abroad come to the island for this festival every year. Some are old residents of the island while others are young Greeks who are curious about their origins. Sirtaki is danced to the music of groups coming from Greece. Priests come from Istanbul or Gökçeada.

All through the day, a local restaurant owner offers a buffet and drinks in honour of the occasion. The joyful crowd eats at the wooden tables placed in the centre of the square, accompanied by the island wine and they dance to the traditional music. The priest rings the bell when it time for people to attend the service.

The Turks who have lived side by side with the Greeks for many years don’t abandon them on this special day and attend the ceremony with equal enthusiasm. You must stop by to witness how these two cultures fuse with each other as they breathe the air of this joyous atmosphere…