Experience one of the most interesting Cretan customs at Kastelli Pediados! Klidonas is a custom with ancient roots that involves a series of ceremonies relating to fortune telling and luck (the name comes from the word “klidi” meaning key, and refers to unlocking prophecies). Today it takes place on the celebration day of Agios Ioannis (St. John), on June 24.
The central ceremony revolves around a pot of clean water, where unmarried girls place a personal lucky charm. The pot is then covered and left outside to be bathed in starlight. During the night, the women will dream about the man they will marry. The next day, the girls who had left a lucky charm in the pot gather together with their friends. A Cretan musician and lyricist is also present. As each lucky charm in taken out of the pot, the lyricist will compose a “Mantinada”, a Cretan short poem, making a prophesy about the future, without knowing to which girl the lucky charm belongs.
The Cultural Association of Kastelli Pediados celebrates Klidonas at the village square 'Meintani' together with the cretan music group of Yiorgos Glikokokalou.