Easter in Milos revives the custom of gunpowder. There are two settlements facing each other (Triovasalos and Pera Triovasalos). Opposite are their churches, Agios Spyridon and Agios Georgios. On Easter Sunday at noon, the inhabitants of each settlement gather in front of their church. After first burning Judas (who has been "hanging" since morning), they ring the bells three times. After the third strike both sides start throwing dynamite that "pops" in the air while simultaneously shouting the word "spread". The question is which settlement will fly the most. Also, as we said before, on Easter Sunday they burn Judas, which is a straw doll. Earlier there was the custom of the cradle, where young people would make a swing and swing until the Ascension and this symbolized the rebirth of Nature. Also, this custom served the meeting of young people so that they would have a chance to get to know each other and fall in love. The "swingers" would then visit the girls' houses and the girls would buy them drinks and snacks. On May Day the girls would gather wild flowers and make a wreath to hang outside their door. At night, the boys would "steal" them and place them in the square, thus showing that for every girl there was an interested party. At Halloween there is a carnival in Milos where masquerades roam the streets. " Klidonas"is a popular divination process where the identity of their future husband is revealed to unmarried girls. It is held on the eve and on the day of Ai Gianni, June 23 and 24. Usually, the summer closes with the Fotares of Kyriaugustos, on August 31. It is a traditional custom found in Milos, especially in Trypiti, The locals light big fires just before sunset and jump over the flames, to be able to face the cold of Winter. Weddings in Milosit is a great social event and was celebrated with feasting, island fiddles and rifle fire. Initially, the matchmaker met the bride's parents, proposed a groom to them and negotiated the dowry on his behalf. Then he went to the groom's family and after they all agreed together they went to the bride's house. There a mutual promise was made and the groom from then on had the right to accompany the bride to church and visit her until late at her home. The wedding always took place on a Sunday afternoon. The guests started from the best man's house and went to the groom's house with violins and lutes. Afterwards, all together, they went to the bride's house and followed by the bride and her relatives, they went to the church. On the street, as in the church, everyone was throwing cottonseed. When the groom was taking the bride home, he had to break a pomegranate so that the life of the couple would be rosy. For the wedding feast, the relatives brought 12 loaves of bread, a lamb and a skin of sweet wine. In the days before the wedding there was also a feast. And the following Sunday after the wedding, the anti-marriage took place, another feast, this time at the groom's house. The inhabitants of Milos, preserving the customs and traditions, organize festivals, where you will have the opportunity to taste traditional mezes, local wine and to the sounds of island music to dance and have fun. Festivals take place on the following dates: 50 days after Easter: in Agia Triada, Adamantas June 30 in Agioi Anargyros July 6 in Agia Kyriaki July 17 in Agia Marina, Adamantas July 19 Prophet Elias, in Halaka and Komia July 21 in Agia Markella, in Kipos July 25 in Agia Paraskevi, in Pollonia July 26 in Agios Panteleimonas, Plakotas and Korfos July 26th is a traditional festival in Apollonia on the feast of Agia Paraskevi July 27th Saint Panteleimon celebrates outside Emporio July 31st Progress of the Holy Cross, at Calvary at Plakes August 5th of the Transfiguration, at Parasporos August 14th at the Dormition of the Virgin, at Zephyria 15th August at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary or Agios Charalambos Adamanta 15 August there is a celebration with dances and feasting in the forecourt of the Holy Trinity 17 August at Agios Floros, in Komia 22 August at Panagia Yatrissa, in Komia 22 August at Panagia of the Garden 22 August at Panagia the Faneromeni, in Trypiti, August 26, in Agios Fanourios, in Pollonia August 28 to Agios Ioannis the Forerunner, Agrilies and Provatas August 29 to Agios Alexandros, Katsoulis August 31 to Pantokrator, Mytakas September 6 to Agios Sostis, Provatas September 7 to Panagia Eleusa, Psathadika September 8 to Panagia the Korfiatissa, in Plaka 13 September in Stavros, in Kaneria 16 September in Agios Ioannis, in Halaka During the summer, the Municipality of Milos organizes cultural events as part of the "Festival of Milos". The Festival is not limited only to artistic events but also includes activities of the cultural institutions of Milos. Exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, music and dance evenings are held
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou