The traveler in search of ancient Greece may be curious to know Greek culture was not all stark white facades and philosophy. Between the black and the white of history reruns, a great deal of color was to be found in lives of the ancient Greeks. Not least of this color was likely painted on the great temples, which today appear to us washed so clean. In the land of Greece, the historical and the mythical are deeply intertwined. Zeus might have been the most respected of Greek gods, but Dionysus was perhaps most favored. And while ancient Greek art displays all the strange calm of the terribly rational, so much of it is about either warring or drinking. For those interested in more than the simplified version of history, Greece itself is the place to explore the roots of Western society as we know it today.

Although Greece is a predominantly Catholic society, many Greek religious and cultural traditions continue to manifest esoteric pagan roots. Similar to many Eastern and Far East cultures in this way, Greek celebrations are often extravagant affairs, complete with music, dancing, and feasting. Simply turning a corner onto the street, presents to the traveler the possibility of becoming apart of the celebrations as well. However a little research on Greek festivals can turn up even greater opportunities to experience firsthand the lesser known aspects of Greek culture.

Characteristically, Greek festivals can be anything from pagan influenced Christian celebrations to celebrations that are outright pagan but still manage to come attached with some semblance of Christian religious meaning. Amongst the latter type, the better known is the Anastenarides fire walking festival, associated with benevolent possession by a dead Christian saint. The festival begins with a dance procession that continues into the night, and is intended to induce a trance-like state, or possession. An animal is sacrificed at dawn, and at the evening the dancing again goes on until participants are ready to walk into the fire and over the burning coals. Perhaps several dozen major and minor Greek festivals take place throughout the year.