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DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024 | Highlights Days 8 (Alonia Pierias- Pontian Panigiri)

ALONIA PIERIAS HIGHLIGHTS Day 8 (Pontian Panigiri) After dinner on our arrival in Neoi Poroi, we were off to the neighbouring prefecture of Pieria (the southern-most region of Macedonia), to the village of Alonia for a traditional panigiri (festival). Alonia is predominantly populated with Pontians- Greeks originally from the Southern Black Sea region of Modern-Day Turkey, who were exiled during the population exchange and genocides of the early 1900's. The survivors of these atrocities entered Greece as refugees, and established villages and towns which now thrive and have contributed immensely to economic, and cultural growth. The Εκπολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Αλωνίων Πιερίας "Διογένης ο Κυνικός" organised their annual two-night gathering, with esteemed Pontian artists Θεόφιλος Πουταχίδης and Kyriakos Papadopoulos . Unbeknown to us at the time, the ancestry of one of our team members, Joanna Vasil's family originates from this village. As the locals were anticipating our arrival, upon entry we were warmly greeted by the organisation's committee, and directed to our tables, reserved at the front-and-centre of the event! Locals, artists and visitors alike were consumed with pride and emotion upon the realisation that 'one of their own', albeit generations in the diaspora, now found themselves in their grandparents' ancestral homeland. The night was a festival of epic proportions, with non-stop Pontic music until the early hours of the morning! We extend our appreciation to Εκπολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Αλωνίων Πιερίας "Διογένης ο Κυνικός" for their incredible warmth and hospitality, and philoxenia, and congratulate artists Θεόφιλος Πουταχίδης and Kyriakos Papadopoulos for their mastery, kefi and passion. Equally, we extend our appreciation to the committee and locals of Alonia who all welcomed us and made our team feel immensely appreciated and valued- particularly our Joanna Vasil.