Festival of Klidonas, Megalochori
On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Megalochori Cultural Association will have its annual Klidonas event. Starting at 20:30, the event takes place in Megalochori’s main square. It is open to everyone and is free to attend.
Beginning on the eve of the Feast of Agios Ioannis (St. John the Baptist), Klidonas is an age-old tradition centered around fortune-telling. The Klidonas demands that all the village’s single girls, who are attired in traditional garb, silently present a water jug to the other villagers. They are then expected to drop a personal item into the jug, such as a ring, earring, or brooch.
The females distribute the trinkets to everyone in attendance before removing each one one at a time while reciting ancient incantations. According to each item, these verses are thought to indicate the girl’s fate. The celebrations continue into the night with music and dancing around bonfires that are lit with old “May Day” wreaths, giving it its moniker of “Fire Night” (Fanos).