The panigyri, or religious folk festival, is an inextricable part of locals’ lives and combine ancient customs with worship ritual. On the feast days of their respective saints, churches large and small hold glorious services after which the faithful are served a treat or join in a communal feast on the church grounds. Each panigyri has its traditional dish: chickpeas are served at the feast of Ayia Varvara, smoked sardines at the Ktikados panigyri, dolmas or stuffed grape leaves at the feast of the Entry of the Theotokos at Tripotamos and so on. On the feast day, the church interior and exterior are whitewashed and cleaned—vigil lights and candle stands are polished, flowers placed on the altar. After church services, treats or food are shared with the faithful. Local homes are opened to guests: tables set with good cutlery and china on crisp white tablecloths are laden with delicacies and wine. Families with members celebrating their name day play host to visitors until late at night, offering foods like psarakia (sweet cheese pies), merengues, pastelli (sesame seed and honey bars), and kserotigana (fried dough strips drizzled with honey) and the family’s own raki. The panigyri itself is held in the village square where pilgrims join in traditional dances like the ballos and syrto to the folk tunes played on the violin and other instruments. The main vocalist will sometimes stop the musicians to recite spontaneous two-stanza verses praising the dancers or similar statements. The calendar is filled with folk festivals on Tinos, with each month featuring at least one. On January 25, the memory of Grigorios Theologos is observed at Falatado and on January 30, the discovery of the miraculous icon of the Panayia Megalohari is celebrated in the capital, Hora. In February there is the panigyri of Ayios Haralambos at Tarabado, Ayia Triada, Hora, and Vathi. In March, the Annunciation of the Virgin is observed in Hora. On April 24, the maranda is celebrated at Panayia Kalaman at Volax where with spit-roasted lamb, wine, and music. On May 2, the feast of the Zoodohos Pigi is observed at Xoburgo and Dyo Horia; on May 16, the feast of the Ayii Theodorii is observed at the Andros strait; and, on May 21, Ayia Triada hosts a panigyri in observance of the feast of the saints Constantine and Helen. On June 5, Ascension Day is observed at Arnado and on June 13, the feast of the Holy Spirit is observed at Ayia Triada, Kardiani, Falatado and Hatzirado. The feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul is observed with a two-day panigyri on June 29-30 at Triantaro. The panigyri of the Ayii Anargyri at Arnado, Marla, and Porto ushers in the month of July, while twenty days later the feast of the Profitis Ilias is observed at Vaketa. On July 25, Ayia Anna at Tzado hosts a panigyri and the following day, Ayia Paraskevi at Ysternia also celebrates a feast day. The Transfiguration of the Savior (Metamorphosi Sotiros) is observed on August 6 at Priastro and Karya. On August 15, the Dormition of the Virgin is celebrated at Hora and Vryssi. On August 18, Agapi hosts the feast of Ayios Agapitos, on June 23, Pyrgos observes the feast of Kyra Xeni, on August 23, the Apodosis of the Dormition is observed at Tsiknias, and on August 29, Komi hosts the panigyri of Ayios Ioannis Apokefalistis. On September 6, the village of Ayios Sostis celebrates the feast of the saint it is named after, while on September 8, the birth of the Virgin Mary is observed at Vourniotissa. The feast of the Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) is observed in September 14 at Ktikado and Hora, while the feast of Ayios Demetrios is celebrated on October 26 at Karya and Tsiknias. On November 8, the feast of the Taxiarches is celebrated at Hora, on November 11, Kardiani observes the feast of Ayios Minas, on November 21, the Entry of the Theotokos is observed at Tripotamos, and on November 25, the feast of Ayia Aikaterini is observed at Kampos. At Hora, the feast of Ayia Varvara is observed on December 4 and Ayios Savvas on December 5, while there is a panigyri for the feast of Ayios Nikolaos at Steni on December 6, for the feast of Ayios Spyridon at Ktikado on Dcember 12, and for the feast of Ayia Loukia at Karya and Arnado on December 13.