Epiphany, the celebration of 6 January

I was spending this day in Matala and could participate of this Greek celebration,Festival of Epiphany, or 'The Blessing of the Waters', is held every year on January 6 throughout all of Greece. It is the day of Jesus got babtized and this is the special occasion when many daring young Greek men brave the chilly waters to dive for a cross after it has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water. They say the first man who recovers the cross is going to have good luck throughout the coming year. Priest throws the cross three times, but the first one who gets it gets the glory. The day long festival also features the blessing of small boats and ships, and later on affords entertainment, music, dancing and food to all those who are present. I was tasting first time Metaxa in my life (!!).

Was nice to see this village full of life, when the streets are usually empty this time of year. I was also told that last five previous years it has always been rainy, but this year we had luck, bathing in full sun, great!

Ceremony is held on these rocks, getting ready to start soon

First aid is also ready..

All the tavernas and streets where full

Priest arriving to the "stage"

Ceremony is about to start

Cross has been thrown!!!

You can see the cross in the air circled

young men searching the cross

This young man was the lucky one this year, bless him!

After catching the cross, all boys may kiss it by turn

The winner climbing up to return the cross to the priest

second time cross throwing

One catched it again

priest giving his speach

ceremony in its end

Matala full of life ;)