tourism

Ancient Klidonas Fire Festival Returns to Crete's Agios Syllas

Wednesday, 24 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The village of Agios Syllas in Crete hosted a revival of Klidonas, the traditional Greek midsummer celebration held on the eve of Saint John's Day (June 23). Klidonas is one of the oldest folk customs in Greece, rooted in ancient solstice rituals. During the celebration, locals light bonfires and jump over them for good luck, while unmarried women collect "silent water" and place personal objects in clay pots left overnight under the stars for fortune-telling the following day. The event features traditional music, dancing, and communal gathering. Tourists visiting Crete around June 23 each year can look for similar celebrations in villages and town squares across the island. The festivities are free, open to all, and offer an authentic window into Cretan folk culture. Joining locals around the bonfire is welcomed and encouraged.

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