Each year on June 23/24, there are celebrations of the ancient tradition of Klidonas in many villages on Rhodes. This year, the festival falls on a Monday and Tuesday.

Klidonas is an ancient custom revolving around fortune-telling, which begins on the eve of the Feast of Agios Ioannis (St. John the Baptist) on June 23. The Klidonas requires that all the single girls of the village, who are dressed in traditional costume, offer in silence a water jug to the other members of the village. They, in turn, are required to throw a personal item such as a ring, earring, or brooch into the jug.

After passing amongst all present, the girls remove the items one by one, whilst reciting traditional incantations. These verses are supposed to reveal the fate of the girl in relation to each item. The evening celebrations continue with song and dance around bonfires, which are lit with old ‘May Day’ wreaths and from which it derives its name of ‘Fire Night’ (Fanos).

The Cultural Association of the village of Pastida, “Kamari”, invites all on Monday, June 23, at 22:00 to celebrate the custom of Klidonas. The event will take place in the courtyard of the old Pastida Primary School.

The village of Pastida is 11 km southwest of Rhodes Town.