Greek fair back in February

Greek fair back in February

Greek and Cypriot organisations from around Wellington will be coming together once again this February for the annual Paniyiri, or Greek Food Festival, taking place on Hania Street in Mount Victoria, on 24 February.

The event is a proud celebration of Greek culture, where everyone can enjoy delicious Greek treats such as souvlaki, baklava, and loukoumades, plus live Greek music and dancing.

While the event acts as a fundraiser, the main purpose is to promote  Greek culture, according to President of the Greek Orthodox Community, Demetri Christoforou:

“The food, the dancing, the music.”

The Greek church, properly known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation, is a wellknown landmark in Mount Victoria.  It has served as the centre of the local Greek community for many decades, since Greek families first started arriving en masse to New Zealand.

Demetri’s  family history is one such story of how this occurred.

His parents, then single young people, were enticed to New Zealand with the offer of free passage and jobs.

Greece had just been through a Civil War and going through difficult times, and emigration was attractive. 

Meanwhile New Zealand was desperate for workers in the 1950s.  The New Zealand government sponsored a ship, the SS GOYA, to sail back and forth several times from Europe to collect war refugees. 

Demetri’s parents met on the first sailing of the GOYA, and although his mother first settled in Canterbury and his father in Wellington, they eventually married and lived in Wellington.

Demetri grew up in and around the church, attending the Greek language school and community events.

As immigration continued through the 50s and 60s, newly arriving Greek families sought out the familiar culture of their homeland, and joined other established families in the suburb.  Mount Victoria became such a well-known hub for the Greek community, it was known as ‘Mount Olympus’ for a time, Demetri says. 

Land for the church was donated by a wealthy Greek couple, Mr and Mrs Kathistidis, in 1940.

Originally an army barracks was used for the church, before the present church with its impressive stained glass windows, cupola and icons was built in 1971. As well as the church, the site has an expansive and newly refurbished community and events centre, a Greek language school, administration rooms and a library.

Today, several Greek societies and organisations exist across wider Wellington, however the Hania Street base remains the most important.

The festival has been running for decades, originally timed to coincide with Greek  National Day (25 March), but moved forward over the years to ensure better weather.

At least a thousand people from across Wellington are expected to descend on the church grounds for Paniyiri – the Greek name for festival - on 24 February. 

Mount Victorians are fortunate to have this popular festival on their doorstep.