The Klidonas
Every summer, on the occasion of the feast of Saint John the Baptist, Florina reverently revives the ancient custom of Klidonas—a divinatory ritual that, according to tradition, reveals one’s fate and destiny. Young women dressed in colorful traditional costumes walk through the neighborhoods singing hymns dedicated to the saint, while the bonfires of Agios Giannis light up the summer night. The ritual, which draws large crowds of locals and visitors, is accompanied by music, wishes, and cheerful voices, recalling the belief that since Saint John foretold the coming of Christ, he also reveals human destiny—hence the names Rizikaris or Klidonas. One of the most ceremonial traditions of Macedonia, Klidonas remains a living symbol of cultural continuity and collective memory.
