LOCAL FEASTS AND FESTIVALS
DATE	TYPE OF FEAST / FESTIVAL
1st January	St. Basil's day. Feast at Keramies, where at midnight the St. Basil cake is cut and distributed to the assembly.
6th January	Theofania (God Revelation) at Sissiotissa Church in Argostoli.
Early March	Day of remembrance for the dead of the Acqui Division, executed by the Germans just outside Argostoli in Lassi area.
24th March	Parade in Argostoli for the celebration of the 1821 Greek Revolution. After the church service, feast with dance and food.
25th March	Theotokos Evangelismos in Faraklata village.
15th April	Easter
Late April	Grande feast of Zoodohos Pigi at "Mega Horio" church in Ksenopoulo, where boiled goat is offered to guests.
9th May	St. Christopher's celebration in Farsa village, with church service and dancing. One of the richest villages of Cephalonia offers, although early, a well organized feast.
21st May	Anniversary of the island's union with Greece. Celebration with parade in Argostoli and Lixouri.
2nd July	Celebration for Diotissa Virgin Mary, in Koriana.
7th July	Feast for St. Kyriaki celebration, in Ksenopoulo.
11th July	St. Efimia celebration at the same region. Evening service combined with feast at the central square.
17th July	St. Marina celebration, at the church of Vlahata village. Church service in the morning, food and dancing in the evening.
20th July	Feast for Prophet Elijah, in Razata village (near Argostoli)
25th July	St. Anne feast, at Lakithra, with traditional songs and dancing.
26th July	St. Paraskevi feast in Troianata village.
27th July	St. Panteleimonas feast in Poulata village. Well-known feast for the delicious pork offered.
27th July	Another feast in honor of St. Panteleimonas, this time in Kontogourata village.
6th August	Sotiras (Savior) feast celebrated with church service and feasts in three different places: Kalligata, St. Efimia and Travliata.
11th August	St. Spiridonas feast in Vrahos (rock) church of Kourouklata
15th August	Grand celebration of Virgin Mary. At the ruins of the old steeple in Markopoulo village and Arginia, the miraculous snakes of Virgin Mary appear. They remain in both churches area until the night of 15th August, when they disappear. These snakes are completely harmless. Their characteristic feature is the cross on their head. A very important fact is that they do not appear on any other day apart from the period between 6-15 August, when they disappear. Tradition has it that in 16th c. during a raid of the Pirate Barbarossa, the nuns who lived there, prayed to Virgin Mary to save them, so they were transformed into snakes. One should take into account that in two particular years, the snakes did not appear. The first time was during the German and Italian occupation and the second in 1953, the year of the disastrous earthquake.
15th August	Grande feast in Anatolikos Convent
16th August	St. Gerassimos celebration. Litany with procession of the icon, which is infamous for its wonder-working properties on the mentally deranged. Big feast in the great area of the monastery, with vendors attracting the vast majority of locals and tourists.
17th August	Well-known feast of Tsakarissiano, Digaleto, Charakti all pertaining to Pyrgi area. This feast has a big turnout due to its good organization and home made food.
1st Sunday after 16th August	Robola wine festival, takes place in Fragata village, for two days in a row. The festival brings in all wine lovers, by combining food and drink, alleging to Dionyssian feasts of antiquity. Our advice is don't drink and drive!
18th August	St. John's feast in Zervata village. Infamous feast for its immaculate organization, where all inhabitants participate. The musical score is arranged by Mr. Gerassimos Kopsahilis, to whom, the great Cephalonian fiddler, Mr. Lykourgos Tzakis, donated his violin.
23rd August	St. John Antimiris celebration in Sami. Majestic service in the central church, followed by feast with food, dancing, lotary etc.
Late August	Musical Choir Festival in Argostoli, where choirs from all over Greece and Europe present a marvelous spectacle.
8th September	Celebration of Lamia Virgin Mary in Dilinata village. Also, celebration of the Platitera Virgin Mary in the Convent of Paliohersos, in Erissos. Exquisite feast with food and dancing. Celebration of Virgin Mary's birthday in the pretty convent of Atros.
14th September	Holly Cross celebration in Kipouria Convent, west of Cephalonia.
24th September	Virgin Mary celebration in Drapano, Argostoli
26th September	Celebration of St. John Evangelistis, in Sarlata village. Church service takes place on 25th, while the feast at 26th.
20th October	St. Gerassimos great celebration, at the convent. Litany with procession of the icon, placed in the big church of the convent. Needless to say that, on that particular day, every house celebrates, since there isn't one single family in the island that does not have a member named Gerassimos.
28th October	1940 "NO" Anniversary, with parade in Argostoli.
30th November	St. Andreas celebration in the monastery by the same name, in Peratata village.
4th December	St. Barbara celebration in Prokopata. Church service takes place on 3rd December.
25th December	Christmas. Nocturnal services throughout the island.
31st December	Along Lithostroto street in Argostoli, Cephalonian choirs and bands sing Christmas carols to people passing by and storeowners.