August Moon Festival in Greece 2023: Date, History, Facts, Events

Greece celebrates the August Moon Festival on the day of the full moon in August. This year’s date is August 1. The August Moon is the brightest moon of the year, almost rivalling the brightness of the sun. The day heralds in various celebrations, the most anticipated of which are the Olympic Games. Ancient Olympia hosted the Olympic Games to honour Zeus, the ruler of the gods. They were typically conducted every four years in August. In modern times, it is a matter of chance whether the inaugural night of the Olympics coincides with the night of the August Moon.

The background of August Moon Festival

Greek Mythology plays a significant role in the August Moon Festival celebrations. As with most celebrations, locals and visitors leave their hectic lives behind for a day, or in this case, a night, of enjoyment. Various archaeological sites and museums are open throughout the night for the August Moon Festival, an event that occurs only during the month of August.

The August Moon Festival can be traced back to Greek Mythology. From the legend of Selene, a Titan deity who is also one of the Greek words for the moon. She traversed the night sky in her silver chariot, the moon, pulled by two snow-white winged horses.

Selene fell in love with Endymion, a shepherd prince whom Zeus had placed in an eternal slumber. She paid Endymion nocturnal visits in his cave on Mount Latmos, where he eventually gave birth to fifty daughters. In 776 B.C., these 50 daughters represented the 50 lunar months of the Olympiad, or four years, and were used to mark the commencement of the Olympic Games.

A tradition that began in 1996, the August full moon festival is the only day of the year when visitors receive free admission to participating archaeological sites and institutions after sunset.
The moon hanging low over the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion or the brilliant white marble of the Acropolis glistening in the moonlight is a site to behold, and both locals and tourists take advantage of this opportunity.

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August Moon Festival Events

Read about the day in detail

Learn about the August Moon Festival through literature. As it is historically rich, it would make for an excellent read.

Go to a Greek Museum.

The best method to celebrate the August Moon Festival in Greece is by visiting a museum. The concerts in museums and viewing ancient historical sites under the radiance of the moonlight are memorable experiences.

Spread knowledge

Spread awareness of the day through social media posts. This includes others in the festivities.

5 FACTS REGARDING THE MOON

Earth’s only natural satellite is the Moon, whereas other planets have multiple satellites.

Without the Moon, the inclination of the Earth’s axis would fluctuate more, which could have severe climate effects.

The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system, with Jupiter’s Ganymede being the largest.

The moon’s atmosphere is known as an exosphere because it is too small and lacks a strong magnetic field to support wind.

The Moon rotates synchronously with the Earth, so it always presents the same side to the planet.

AUGUST MOON FESTIVAL DATES