Klidonas
Every summer, on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, Florina faithfully revives the ancient custom of Klidonas, a divinatory ritual said by tradition to reveal each person’s fate and destiny. Young women dressed in colourful traditional costumes walk through the neighbourhoods singing songs dedicated to the saint, while the fires of Saint John illuminate the summer night. The event, which gathers large crowds of locals and visitors, is accompanied by music, wishes, and joyful voices, echoing the belief that Saint John—herald of Christ’s coming—also reveals human destiny, which is why he is known in tradition as “Rizikaris” or Klidonas. Deeply rooted in Macedonia’s ritual heritage, Klidonas endures as a vibrant expression of tradition, where memory, faith, and celebration continue to meet.