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Crete Care Center Revives Ancient Klidonas Festival

Thursday, 25 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The elderly care center (KAPI) of Arkalochori, a town in the Heraklion regional unit of central Crete, recently revived the traditional midsummer festival of Klidonas. Celebrated each year on the eve of St. John's Day (June 23), Klidonas is one of Greece's oldest folk customs. Young women place personal items into a clay jar filled with "silent water," collected without speaking, and leave it under the stars overnight. The following day, items are drawn out one by one while participants recite rhyming verses to predict the future. The ritual is typically accompanied by singing, dancing, and the lighting of bonfires. Visitors in Crete around late June may encounter local Klidonas celebrations in villages across the island. Events are usually open to the public and offer an authentic glimpse into Cretan folk tradition.

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