Crete Greece : STIGMES magazine

Whether you are Cretan living abroad and would like to indulge in your nostalgia, a Cretan fanatic in love with its unique culture and history, or a soon-to-be visitor of this island, STIGMES has all the information for you. From Crete's extraordinary history to current events, enchanting tales and folklore to practical tourist recommendations, STIGMES should not only be seen as an outstanding publication, but also as a splendid symbol of Cretan pride.

Letter from the editor

This month's issue

(No 110 January - February 2010)

A regional magazine published every two months in the island of Crete, STIGMES is the most important local periodical publication in Greece, in terms of standing and circulation (~10000 copies per issue). STIGMES has been honored as "BEST REGIONAL MAGAZINE" for Greece. It's distribution area covers the whole world, wherever Cretans and Crete lovers live...

TSIKOUDIA WARMS THE COCKLES OF OUR HEART! After centuries of evolution of the distillation techniques and equipment by different peoples around the world, and after its use for the distillation of various fluids (as for example, in perfumery and pharmaceutics), the first distillation of tsikoudia officially takes place in 1920, in Crete. Since then, tsikoudia is distilled in copper cauldrons (called rakokazana) from the beginning of October to the end of November. The whole process becomes a celebration in which friends and relatives take part by sampling the tsikoudia as it is being made!

THE GENUINE MUSIC OF ASTEROUSIA MOUNTAINS The ongoing research of Savas Petrakis, conducted since 1999, has been a true apocalypse, as it brought to light the original music of Crete, a form of direct artistic interaction between the performer and the listener without microphones, mp3 or video clips.

I AM A CRETAN KNIFE, WEAPON OF HONOR AND GALLANTRY A symbol of gallantry, a souvenir of tradition, a decorative item of sentimental value, an irreplaceable accessory of the Cretan costume, the Cretan knife is unique in the world and a reminder of the successive battles for freedom and the revolutions against the conquerors.

THE “SHEPHERD” PROFESSORS FROM ZONIANA The “shepherd festival” in Zoniana was organized as a response to the urgent need of the inhabitants of the village to cast away the “stigma” and promote the cultural dimensions of animal husbandry.

A CONFERENCE “AT SEA” FOR THE CRETANS OF AMERICA The 41st Conference of the Pan-Cretan Association of America was realized “at sea”, at the Libyan and the Cretan sea to be precise. Among the attendants were the President of the Republic, Karolos Papoulias, the Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Theodore II, and the minister of Foreign Affairs, Dora Bakoyanni

The adventures of Sifis, the popular hero of the 100% Cretan comic, are now issued by Magazine Editions in an album, available at all press points of Crete and "Road" bookshop (7 Solonos str) in Athens. The digital edition can be downloaded from e-na.com.

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DOWNLOAD Cretan musical themes, images and applications: an ambient Cretan melody composed and perfomed by the unique Giorgos Zervakis, a background for your desktop featuring "Sifis" the main hero of a 100% Cretan comic and more....

CRETA SHOP, discover Crete through it's unique products! Shop securely online for Cretan music, maps and guides, dittany and other Cretan herbs and spices, raki and Cretan wine, books, Minoan art, olive oil and more...

THE GREATNESS OF CRETAN MUSIC An in-depth historic research of Cretan music through time. A must-read for all Cretans and Cretan music lovers

LOVE FOR THE CRETAN WINE Consumers’ wider and expanding knowledge on wines, the open markets and the improvement of varieties, today’s know-how and new scientific data, technological progress and many other factors, affect vitally the Cretan wine producers and help them through their beautiful and resourceful annual journey.

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