Thick clouds of smoke and the smell of burning meat are all over a huge area as the traditional trade fair of Agios Mamas (Saint Mammes) one of the most famous and important fairs across Greece, kicks off, seen here in Mamas, on Monday (August 29).

After a hiatus of 2 years due to the pandemic, the renowned fair is back attracting hundreds of thousands of people and visitors from the wider area and neighboring Balkan countries like Bulgaria, north Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.

The trump card of this old-fashioned fair is the thousands of merchants selling goods of all kinds, from violins and copies of renaissance paintings like El Greco's to provocative lingerie and gas mask bongs. During the huge trade fair various cultural and folk events are also taking place alongside concerts of traditional music and feasts.

At the nearby Orthodox temple of Saint Mammes pilgrims flock in dozens to light candles and pray to the patron saint of the fair. According to legend Mammes was thrown to the lions but managed to make the beasts docile. He preached to animals in the fields, and a lion remained with him as a companion. That's why the fair was originally established as an animal fair.

The fair’s roots have been lost over the centuries. The tradition refers that it began as a memorial service for the unburied dead people who fell in a battle. Two battles like this one are referred to in the area, one during the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and one during the ancient Greek era Peloponnese War. The first mention of the fair was in 1870 and in 1932 it was legislated by law.

The fair is organized by the locals every first week of September and thousands of people come to the small village in order to participate in the event. The feast of Agios Mamas (Saint Mammes) is characterized by its strong commercial and cultural interest and it is estimated that every September flock to Agios Mamas more than 1000 exhibitors and over 200.000 visitors

Thick clouds of smoke and the smell of burning meat are all over a huge area as the traditional trade fair of Agios Mamas (Saint Mammes) one of the most famous and important fairs across Greece, kicks off. After a hiatus of 2 years due to the pandemic, the renowned fair is back attracting hundreds of thousands of people and visitors from the wider area and neighboring Balkan countries like Bulgaria, north Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.

The trump card of this old-fashioned fair is the thousands of merchants selling goods of all kinds, from violins and copies of renaissance paintings like El Greco's to provocative lingerie and gas mask bongs. During the huge trade fair various cultural and folk events are also taking place alongside concerts of traditional music and feasts.

At the nearby Orthodox temple of Saint Mammes pilgrims flock in dozens to light candles and pray to the patron saint of the fair. According to legend Mammes was thrown to the lions but managed to make the beasts docile. He preached to animals in the fields, and a lion remained with him as a companion. That's why the fair was originally established as an animal fair.

The fair’s roots have been lost over the centuries. The tradition refers that it began as a memorial service for the unburied dead people who fell in a battle. Two battles like this one are referred to in the area, one during the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and one during the ancient Greek era Peloponnese War. The first mention of the fair was in 1870 and in 1932 it was legislated by law.

The fair is organized by the locals every first week of September and thousands of people come to the small village in order to participate in the event. The feast of Agios Mamas (Saint Mammes) is characterized by its strong commercial and cultural interest and it is estimated that every September flock to Agios Mamas more than 1000 exhibitors and over 200.000 visitors.