Christmas
The following traditions stand out:

The Slaughter of the pigs
The Carols
The "Christokoutsouro" (a piece of wood which burns in the fireplace all night to keep the bad elves out)
The Vassilopita (Special New Year's Cake)
The first one to enter the house on New Year's must do so using their right leg to bring good fortune
Carols

Carnival
The following traditions stand out:

Methidotia
Lampadifories
Koudounatoi
Kordelatoi
Lampadifories
Easter
The Holy Week is of great importance in Naxos island. On Holy Thursday morning, we dye the eggs red, using a special root that can be found on the village of Komiaki. On Holy Thursday evening, after the mass has ended, all the women are assembled in the church and they start decorating the Epitaph that will be carried around the evening of the next day throughout the village.

Epitaph

When the procession ends, it is considered a blessing to pass under the Epitaph and, after the mass has ended, to take a flower out of its decorations. On Holy Saturday evening, everyone is gathered at the church, wearing their best clothes and waiting for Chirst to be ressurected. They bring with them candles in order to take the Holy Fire with them and bless with it their homes. When "Christos Anesti" is heard, everyone sings together and exchange wishes while fireworks are thrown in the air.

Dying the eggs red

The Holy Week ends on Easter Sunday when we cook and eatlamp on the pit, as well as red eggs, kokoretsi and magiritsa. However, if you find yourself on the island of Naxos on this day, you must try the traditional recipe, the "batoudo", goat stuffed with rice and herbs cooked in the oven. In most villages, the festivals and events are many on this day, where you can enjoy the traditional greek music and dancing. Plenty of food, wine and rakiwill accompany you until the morning.

Traditional Batoudo

1st of May
The first day of May finds the people of Naxos in the countryside, collecting flowers to make the well-known "May", a wreath that will be hung on the door of the houses until June and will be burned during the "Kleidonas" on June 23rd. On Naxos, it is customary to use a thorny flower to decorate the center of the wreath, because it is said that it will keep out the evil spirits.

May's wreath

Summer
Klidonas
On the evening of June 23, on the eve of the celebration of St. John in the villages of Naxos, the residents gather on the squares, light fires and burn the May wreaths. Then each one must jump three times over the fire to banish the evil spirits. In some villages, the straw man is also burned. Finally there is a feast with music and dancing.
The celebration of Klidonas is accompanied in a few villages by women's traditions (silent water, marshmallows, fig leafs with salt) so that the girls can dream of the man they are going to marry.

Klidonas

Weddings
Marriage is an important social event that occurs most often in the summer. It includes various activities and in all the villages everyone is invited, even the visitors and tourists!

Autumn
Rakitza
"Rakitza" is called the distillation process of raki, but the word "kazememata" is also used.
The best period is in October and November.

Rakitzo
The first raki that is produced is called "protoraki" and is so strong that it is used for pharmaceutical purposes (rubbing, compresses).
Of course, like most of the island's customs, "rakitza" are a celebration, so musik, dancing and food are an integral part of the process. The world and visitors are offered ample raki to try and see if it is good.