On Paros, the beautiful island of Archilochus whose land yielded the marble from which the Parthenon was built, the panigyri can entwined with religious observances, or customs rooted in historical events, or dedicated to the tasty silver-scaled fish and the island’s industrious fishermen. Once a year, every church honors its saint with a festive celebration that includes plenty of food as well as lively music and dancing. For centuries now, Paros has celebrated the carnival, or apokries, with a mardi gras events at Marpissa on the final Sunday. Easter observances at Marpissa, Marmara, Prodromos, Lefkes, and Aspro Horio are conducted in a somber mood on Holy Friday with the epitafios, or funerary bier with Christ’s effigy, taken around the village in candlelight procession. And, on Easter Sunday, the Feast of Love is observed at Marpissa. Other religious folk festivals with a long tradition are the observance of the feast of Ayios Georgios at Alyki on April 23; the feast of the Ascension at Ayios Fokas, Paroikia, and Piso Livadi forty days after Easter; Ayios Yiannis Theologos at Dryos on May 8; the feast of the Holy Spirit at the church of Ayia Triada in Lefkes; the feast of the Ayii Anargyri on June 30 is celebrated at Paroikia with a seafood feast, wine, and Paros folk songs. On July 24, Paroikia hosts a panigyri in observance of the feast of Ayia Anna, while Alyki and Marpissa both host religious folk festivals on August 6, feast of the Sotiros. One of the largest observances is on the August 15, feast of the Dormition of the Virgin, when pilgrims flock to the Byzantine-era church of Ekantotapyliani in Paroikia. Following church services and the procession of the icon through the town, the revelry starts with ceremonial lighting of the boats in the harbor, fireworks, and folk dancing. Nine days later, on August 23, the Apodosis of the Virgin is observed at Naoussa, where youths dressed as pirates and wielding torches come to steal the hearts of their beloved, who are dressed in period costume. A panigyri is also held on August 27 at Ampela to observe the feast of Ayios Fanourios and on August 28-29 at Naoussa and Lefkes on the feast of Ayios Yiannis Detis. The feast of Pera Panayia is observed on September 8 at Marmara, while the feast of the Cross is observed with a panigyri at Alyki on September 14. A panigyri is also held at Methysti on November 3, feast of Ai Georgis. The custom of klidonas is revived at Agkaria and Alyki on June 23, feast of Ayios Ioannis; wreaths made from flowers picked on May 1 are burned in a communal bonfire amid feasting and dancing. On the first Sunday in July, the Fisherman’s Feast is held in Naoussa harbor where guests are treated to fish and seafood dishes as well as local wine. The custom of the tsabouna, a type of bagpipe, is revived at Naoussa on July 17. The fishing boat, or trata, is honored in a special celebration at Paroikia in early September. As autumn gives way to winter, from roughly mid-October through the month of November, islanders celebrate the change of season by preparing for the holidays. The grape harvest is followed by the customary making of raki, a sharp distilled liquor with (42-48o vol.) made from grape skins and stems left in the press. These are covered or placed in barrels to ferment, then combined with water and herbs for flavor, and distilled. The process is a communal celebration as family and friends help, carrying firewood or jugs for the raki; a feast is set up around the still as locally made sausages, chops, Paros mushrooms, and other delicacies are grilled as accompaniment to the first taste of raki.