tourism

Ancient Greek fortune-telling ritual revived in Crete village

Friday, 26 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The ancient midsummer custom of Klidonas was revived in the village of Agios Thomas in the Heraklion regional unit. Celebrated traditionally on June 24th, the Eve of St. John the Baptist, Klidonas is one of the oldest folk rituals in Greece. Participants gather "silent water" drawn without speaking at dawn, place personal items in a sealed jar left under the stars overnight, and the following day a child draws each item out while the crowd recites rhyming verses predicting the owner's fortune. The evening also features bonfires that locals jump over for good luck. Visitors interested in authentic Cretan folk traditions can look for similar celebrations in villages across the island around June 24th each year. The event in Agios Thomas was open to the public and included music and dancing.

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