In Poles,among the ruins of the ancient temples of Karthea, there is a small church located almost in the sea. This is where the festival of the Holy Trinity takes place every year on June 13. On the festival’s eve, the locals carry supplies, food and drinks so that everything is ready for the feast. At the seashore, they clean the fish and prepare the meal that will be served in the churchyard. When the service is over, the feast begins with coffees and huts and later the celebrants sit at the so-called “table of love”, blessed by the priest. The dance called Balos of Kea differs from the rest of the Aegean islands Balos, as they don’t dance face to face but “tied” with their hands clasped. Along with the sound of tsampouna (a greek instrument similar to a bagpipe) and the music of the live orchestra, locals and visitors dance till the sun comes up!

(photo credits: simadiatouaigaiou.files.wordpress.com)