Kleidonas
The Kleidonas is a traditional Greek summer festivity celebrated on June 19th at 9:00 pm in Rethymno (Lykeion Elinidon sqr), the entrance of the old port.
It is open for everyone to attend.
The event includes lighting a big bonfire, performing rituals, and having "silent water." Traditional dances from Crete and other parts of Greece will also be performed with live music.
The musicians performing are:
- Cretan Lyra George Vranas
- Lute Yannis Michalas with their band
- Lyra player from Drama, Alexandros Papoutsis
- Alexis Partinoudis on percussion
- Konstantinos Georgiadis on percussion
- Michael Arampatzis playing the gaida
The festival happens at the old port entrance at Kallirois Siganou Square. It occurs on the same day as the Saint John the Baptist feast day.
The Kleidonas celebrations are an old Greek tradition that symbolizes the transition from spring to summer and the renewal of nature.
During the festival, one main activity is lighting and jumping over a big bonfire three times. It is believed this brings good luck and protects against evil spirits or misfortune.
There is also traditional singing and dancing from folk music and dances of Crete, Thrace, and Epirus regions. In some areas, unmarried women do a "kleidonas" ritual where they put personal items under their pillow. The next day, they get the items back, which is believed to reveal things about their future husbands.
It is a festive occasion where locals and visitors celebrate together to welcome the summer with age-old Greek customs and traditions.
