The “Stamna tou Klidona”, or “Pitcher of Fortune”, is a fortune-telling rite for teenagers of both sexes. Boys and girls gather round one of the village wells and secretly carve the name of their true love on pieces of fruit. The fruit is placed in a pitcher which is then sealed and lowered into the well, where it will remain all night long in the “voiceless water”. Next day, the young people gather again and read out the names on the fruit one by one. As the group knows more or less who’s secretly attracted to whom, the wittiest make up teasing romantic couplets on the spot concerning the presumed couple, but without naming names. The whole process is an opportunity for fun, teasing and innuendo.
CARNIVAL
Carnival is celebrated in strictly traditional Crete as in all countries that preserve this ancient ritual of disguise, which allows public indulgence in sexual taboos in an excessive and satirical form. Absolutely all Cretan villages take part in the carnival with spontaneous disguises and visits to houses, where people have to welcome the masqueraders. The latter don’t speak so as not to be recognised by their voices and engage in various lewd pantomimes, but never harm their hosts. They demand titbits, sweets and wine with grunts and gestures. Apart from the “domestic” carnival, there is also the “general” village celebration in which everyone takes part. In many cases this is regulated by a form of ritual unique to Crete, whose origins remain unknown. There are also innovations to the form and composition of the carnival, but these are ephemeral.
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