The Monday after Pentecost is the holiday of the Holy Spirit. This year, it coincides with the start of June. In Greece, the day is a public holiday for white-collar workers, therefore, banks and schools are shut though retail stores are open. Hairdressers and barbers are closed, possibly because the spirit is in the …head. In many parts of Greece, any work that requires “inspiration and thought” is avoided on this day.

Churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity celebrate with feasts and street fairs on this day. In Thrace, sheep are even sacrificed with their meat offered to parishioners.

The Day of the Holy Spirit is a day for remembering loved ones. Offerings of food are taken to graves. In the region of Pontos, people would have a picnic of sorts on the graves.

Many people remain awake the night before Whit Monday in the fear lest their soul be taken down to Hell if they sleep… Inspiration for Nightmare on Elm Street? In some areas, dust and dirt from church is taken to people’s homes and thrown around the four corners of the house so as to prevent negativity from entering the premises.

While many will be tempted to head to the beaches of Greece, superstition forbids bathing in the sea and climbing on trees on this day.

In many places, the ceremony of the Kledona is practised to predict the future. Water is put in a pitcher with tokens to be drawn the next morning so as to see the fate of the person interested in participating.