St. George’s Day will be celebrated in Greece on Wednesday, April 23, as in many countries, including the UK.

On Kos, one of the principal day’s events is the annual horse racing through the streets of the village of Pyli. The winner receives a prize of an Easter egg, which is then traditionally broken in front of the winning horse. The custom dates back to antiquity.

Pyli is one of the oldest traditional villages of Kos, located 15 km west of Kos Town and 4km south of Marmari. It is built at the centre of the island around a lush green plain with olive tree groves and colourful gardens. The authentic layout of the village reveals stone-built houses, most of which lie around the central square, next to the old-fashioned kafenia and small tavernas.