Every year in the village of Langada on the island of Ikaria, thousands come from throughout the world to participate in the annual panygeri, or village festival.
Commemorating the assumption of the Virgin Mary on August 15, the feast day involves religious services, food — and a lot of dancing.
Ikaria has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years, especially as islands like Mykonos and Santorini grapple with over-tourism.
The island is also considered one of the world’s five “Blue Zones,” which are places where the population regularly lives to an advanced age — i.e. one in three people live into their 90s.
The video below comes from the Ikarian village of Langada. It first appeared on YouTube a few years ago and has been circulating ever since — to the tune of more than 2 million views.
The video features thousands of people of all ages participating in the island’s namesake dance, known as the “Ikariotikos.”
See the video
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