Αρχείο ετικέτας Archanes

Κλήδονας στις Αρχάνες – Klidonas at Archanes

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Το έθιμο αναβίωσε φέτος και στις Αρχάνες. Ακολούθει το σχετικό video από τοπικό τηλεοπτικό κανάλι

…….. English version ……..

This tradition is taking place the 23rd and 24th of June when we burn the wreaths we have made 1st of May. Single women are required to fill up their pitchers with water from a nearby well and then pour the water in a big, earthen container. The tradition demands that they remain silent all over the way from the well until they pour the water in the container. The young men will try to make them talk by teasing them on their way, but they must not talk. If they do, the whole procedure starts again.

After the women have poured the water in the container, anybody can put a fruit or vegetable or something else in the container and scratch a mark on it for identification. After this, the container is covered tightly and left for the rest of the night. It is believed that this bestows it with heavenly powers.

The very next day, on the evening of June 24th, a large fire is sparked, the 1st May wreaths are burnt. Men and women jump over the fire to ward off evil forces.

The container that was left the previous night is later uncovered and one by one everybody takes out something and before seeing it he/she says some verse. It is believed that the verse is revealing the future of the owner of the article that is taken out. After this ritual, men tease women with some stanzas and women reply similarly. This is an old custom that dates from centuries ago.

This is happening in many places of Greece. The video here below shows the event organised at Archanes (this link will take you to a previous post with pictures of the town.

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Αρχάνες, το κρασί από την Μινωική εποχή – Archanes, the wine since the Minoan Period

arrowEnglish version further below

Για τις Αρχάνες μπορείτε να διαβάσετε και να δείτε φωτογραφίες σε σχετική σελίδα φωτογραφιών, όπου θα βρείτε και συνδέσμους για σχετικές παλαιότερες δημοσιεύσεις στο ιστολόγιο.

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Archanes has a long time tradition to grapes cultivation and wine making. This is proven by findings that date since the Minoan Period.

minoan patitiri
Vessel used to press grapes by feet to take out their juice

minoan patitiri
Representation on how Minoans used to press grapes by feet to take out their juice

You can read more about Archanes at a relevant page of the blog where you can find more links to older posts and pictures taken during Autumn 2008.

The video here below is from a local TV channel and shows the way the grapes are pressed today at homes to make private wine.