Author: M Mykonos Villas

In the morning before the first day of the New Year, hundreds of children alone or in small groups, carrying “childish” musical instruments like harmonicas and little metallic triangles, fly around the narrow alleys of Mykonos town, knocking on every door to sing the carols —known as kalanda in Greece— and be rewarded with home sweets, pocket money and wishes.

It is funny to watch them perform their festive duties, dressed like tiny Santas, with fake snow spread on their shoulders; especially when New Year’s Eve happens to be a warm, sunny day, with skies of brilliant blue and with the dazzling azure sea slightly moving, like repeating its promise for a great summer lying ahead. And warm, sunny winter days are not at all rare in this blessed corner of the world!

For those who are fortunate enough to be spending Xmas and New Year holidays on the beautiful islands of the Cyclades, there is a lot of magic to be discovered: beautiful religious rituals, ancient customs revived, dancing, singing and tasting homemade culinary delicacies like melomakarona (honey cookies), kourabiedes (sugar coated almond cookies) and diples, a festive dessert made from fried dough dipped in honey. There is also the famous Vassilopita, a sweet special cake with a coin baked inside, that will bring good luck to the person who finds it!

But the most spectacular feast of all is the Epiphany, celebrated every year on the 6th of January. It is a ritual through which waters are blessed with the Holy Cross. In seaside areas, the priest throws the Cross in the water and young men dive to recover it. It is believed that he who catches the Holy Cross will be blessed with good luck for the whole year!

And then, from January 7th and onwards, activities on the island change course to include the first ‘official’ preparations for the coming holiday season that is usually inaugurated in April, turning the party spirit on!

In a fascinating country like Greece, home —among others— of Parthenon and Delphi, surrounded by friendly azure blue seas, with hundreds of picturesque islands and an amazing landscape, the question is: why Mykonos? What is so special about this dry rock planted in the Aegean Sea that attracts millions of visitors from around the world? Here are a few reasons why, that will definitely make you want to catch the next plane there!

Blue-blood DNA

Besides its amazing beauties, Mykonos “knows” that its guests should be treated like royalties. The locals have known it since the late ‘50s, when the port of the island was still too small to accommodate ferries and disembarkation used to be a real challenge. Even then, the most prominent people in the world would meet in Mykonos for their summer holidays; tycoons, stars, VIPs and —of course— royalties! Pictures of Soraya the “sad princess” or Grace Kelly onboard elegant yachts moored out of Mykonos’ spectacular beaches, was reason enough to create a frenzy about the island.

Weather to die for

The climate in Mykonos is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers. It can also be very windy; this is why Greeks call it “island of the winds”, which also justifies the fact that it is full of beautiful old windmills. Average temperatures range from 10°C in January to around 30°C in July and August. Beach life normally starts in April and lasts till early November, while there are many warm, sunny winter days, tempting daring swimmers!

Never hungry!

Local, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, French, Argentinean, Indian; just name it and you will find it, either in high-end international restaurants or in humble seaside taverns. Besides, as a local friend says, if you are never hungry you are also never angry! Also, while in Mykonos make sure you try the local kopanisti, a spicy soft cheese, louza, slices of spiced, cooked pork and amygdalota, the famous almond cookies that will take you to heaven!

Contradictions

Mykonos is full of them! We give you one example that may be enough: on summer Sundays, around 10am, there are two groups of people meeting around town: one consists of all night partyers having a last drink or espresso in trendy bars before going to sleep. The other group consists of men exiting from church after the morning services (while the women fly home to cook for the typical Sunday family lunch) and crowding the traditional kafeneia for a cup of slowly brewed Greek coffee or an ouzo with “meze”; that is, strong liquor and delicious bites. Not much of interaction between the two “tribes”, but still a great contradiction!

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Many say that September is the sweetest month for holidaying in the Greek islands. Warm weather —usually as hot as in July and August—, long hours of sunshine as it rarely rains before October, super calm seas with delightful water temperatures, amazing sunsets washed in explosive purple and fuchsia colors; a breathtaking scenery that makes you wish holidays could last forever on the Aegean paradises!

But while in most islands the end of August marks the change of season, with the crowds leaving and the summer frenzy giving place to the quietness and melancholy of the fall, Mykonos in autumn refuses to obey the official calendar rules. On this ever-rocking place, the time for putting an end to the all-day beach partying and the all night clubbing is still at least one and a half month away!

On the contrary, for the lucky autumn travellers there are some special privileges that can make September holidays a truly unforgettable, “royalty” experience:

✔ Everything becomes a bit easier; from parking your car nearer to one of the most spectacular yet almost unbearably packed in the high season beaches, to finding a sunbed by the seaside with some free space around you for better relaxing.

✔ While on the beach, the party will be still going strong and the music will be loud, but you will also get the chance to learn or practice your favorite water sport without having to wait for a time longer than the desired.

✔ Same applies for booking a table in the fanciest, hottest bars, clubs and restaurants. You can make your choice even on the same morning and expect to find later in the evening a place in the venue of your dreams.

✔ Quality-wise, there is no transition whatsoever between high and lower season. You will still try the same mouthwatering delicacies in fine restaurants and local taverns or dance to the same fantastic music in the clubs.

✔ Shopping in Mykonos during the month of September can be a party on its own: shops stay open until late at night but at this time of the year you will find some discounts and great deals in art pieces, jewelry, accessories and clothing that will make not only your day but your whole month!

✔ Last but not least there is this special atmosphere; a “je ne sais quoi”, combining an easy-going luxury delight, with a zen-nish chill out aura and at the same time a sky rocketing energy that will make you want to come back for all the next Septembers of your life!