Apollonas, one of the last traditional villages in the Cyclades, preserves a rich tapestry of local customs and festivities. Visitors can experience these traditions throughout the year, reflecting the island’s culture and community spirit.

Carnival (Apokries):
Apollonas celebrates Carnival with torch parades, the Koudounatoi and Kordelatoi, creating vibrant spectacles of music, dance, and local costume traditions.

Easter:
Easter is celebrated with unique local customs, such as dyeing eggs with a special root from the region that produces vibrant, long-lasting red eggs on Holy Thursday. The Easter Sunday feast features the traditional Bátoudo, a stuffed goat with herbs, rice, and local spices, roasted to perfection. Village festivities with music, wine, raki, and dance accompany the celebration.

May Day:
On May 1st, locals collect flowers to create the May Wreath (Mái), which is traditionally hung on doors until the ritual of Kleídonas on June 23rd. A thorn is placed in the center to ward off evil.

Summer – Kleídonas Celebration:
On the evening of June 23rd, communities gather in village squares, light bonfires, and jump over the flames for purification. In some villages, straw figures are also burned. Traditional music, dance, and women’s rituals (such as salted fig leaves and dream interpretations) enrich the festival.

Weddings:
Summer weddings remain a central social celebration, often open to the community and visitors, featuring music, dancing, and shared local food.

Autumn – Rakitzá:
The distillation of local raki, or Rakitzá, is an autumn tradition, especially in October and November. The first batch, Proto-raki, is potent and traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Music, grilled local delicacies, and shared toasts accompany the celebration, creating a festive atmosphere.

Experience the living traditions of Apollonas, where culture, history, and community come together in a genuine Cycladic village setting.