June is the sixth month of the year and the first month of summer. It takes its name from Juno, the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus.

In Cyprus, June is also known as Protogiounis (Protos meaning “first” and Giounis meaning “June”), because it marks the beginning of summer.

This name reflects the close relationship of the local people with the cycle of seasons and agricultural life, as June signals the start of the harvest and the ripening of many fruits.

This connection is beautifully captured in the Cypriot saying: “May with the roses and June with the apples…” (Cyp. O Mas me ta trantafylla tzi’ o Giounis me ta mila…).

On the night of June 6^th, the constellation of the Pleiades – known as Opleia in our dialect – appears in the sky. By this date, the harvest should be completed; otherwise, the crops will dry out too much and can no longer be harvested. Farmers believed that Opleia had a significant influence on agriculture.

June 24^th marks the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, commemorating saint’s birth.

On the eve of the feast day, it is customary to light small bonfires (lampratzia) just after sunset, in the streets and in front of house entrances. Young people and children would leap over these fires while chanting: Fleas, Fleas, go away, and bugs die, and here comes Ai Yiannis to strike you with his wooden pole (Cyp. Psilloi, psilloi fyete, tzai korkoi psofisete, tzi o Ai Giannis erketai me to kontaroksylo tzai kontaroksylizei sas).

Because of this tradition, Saint John is also revered as Lamproforos (the fire bearer).  It was also customary to throw the dried-out May flower wreaths into the flames of these bonfires.

The feast of Pentecost, known by the Cypriots as Kataklysmos, is one of the most significant festivities still celebrated today. Kataklysmos, meaning “The Flood”, is linked to the story of Noah, whose Ark saved humanity from the Great Flood. On this day, it is a long-standing custom for people to swim in the sea, but the most cherished tradition of all is splashing each other with water.

Religious fairs, known as panigyria, are a cherished tradition in our villages, celebrating their patron saints. This month, panigyria are being held in the village of Avgorou in honor of Saints Paul and Peter on June 29^th. Special church services take place on June 11^th in honor of Saint Varnavas, the founder of the Church of Cyprus.