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All Saints
This used to be my name day. Anyone not named after a Saint can celebrate their name day today. However, I have a grandaughter named Lydia, the closest greek name to Linda, and just to make life easier for all of us I decided to have my name day on May 21st along with her.
23rd June
The observance of the birth day of St John the Baptist. As you can see this has been lined up with midsummer and the summer solstice. Very clever of the Orthodox church.
Besides the ringing of the bells and the church service it is also the day, or night
- We burn the May Day wreaths and
- Leap over the flames of the bonfire
Time to burn the May Day wreaths on a big bonfire. Time for the children and oldies who dare to leap over the flames. Those who do will be free from fleas for the rest of the summer, so I was told 30 years ago when I first saw these traditions being carried out on a beach in Crete.
We used to build a bonfire in our neighbourhood, burn the wreaths and whatever big lumps of timber we could find and while the kids were leaping through the fire the adults were grilling souvlaki and drinking beers. Now with the fire hazard we would need a permit and a fire engine at the ready, so the celebration for the whole island takes place down in one of the squares on the waterfront.
The grandaughters do a few traditonal dances
A fire is lit and the kids do still jump the flames much to their great delight
Oh yes, years and years ago, the Church was quite sneaky-wise, with incorporating Pagan rituals, into the *New* Church Holy Days.
ReplyDeleteBurning wreaths and a big fire, to jump over!!!!!! Grabbed by the *New* Church, from the Pagans.
Very clever of them! >,-))))))
Churches built over ancient temples, 'borrowed' traditions. It's all there
DeleteMore wonderful traditions.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely one for the kids. Once again this year I forgot to take our wreath to burn it on the fire
DeleteI’d love to spend a year in Greece and it would be one long party lol
ReplyDeleteYes the Christian church did steal the pagan holidays and rebrand them. It was much easier to convert all the people.
It’s all so muddled now I don’t think it really matters anymore
No it doesn't matter. It's all tradition here now. The people enjoy all these festivites, there's music and dancing. It doesn't matter what they are celebrating
DeleteDo they ever accidentally burn themselves while jumping over the flames?
ReplyDeleteCertainly around here I've never heard of anyone being burnt. I almost fell in the fire one year, many years ago. I was wearing a narrow skirt and legs wouldn't make the distance. Just made it over the flames.
DeleteIts a wonder the Health and Safety people haven't banned the fires. They would have done in Britain or Ireland. It looks like a good time was had by all?
ReplyDeleteI suppose one day they'll be banned but in the meantime we have everyone letting off fireworks at easter, firewalkers in the north of greece and fire jumpers on the 23rd without any constraints
ReplyDelete