On the lemon blossom-scented island of Andros, custom dictates that after church services, it is customary to call on anyone celebrating their “name day” after church services on the saint’s feast day. Hosts, in turn, offer their guests a drink and sweets. At noon, in the church forecourt, roast meat, stuffed courgette flowers, pastitsio, fourtalia, sausages, almond sweets, and skaltsounia are offered to church-goers and guests. Numerous religious folk festivals are held on Andros. One of the most significant for the island is on the Saturday following the chanting of Akathist Hymn which sings the praises of the Holy Mother, as this coincides with the moveable feast of the island’s patron-saint, Panayia Theoskepasti. After the icon of the Panayia is taken around in procession, the feast is celebrated with traditional folk dances and a torch race in the evening. The feast of the Zoodohos Pigi, or light-giving source, is also a moveable feast and held on the Friday following Easter Sunday. The panigyri is held at the Moni Zoodohou Pigis or Ayia above Batsi. The klidonas is an ancient tradition still observed in many parts of Greece, albeit with small variations, on June 23, the eve of the feast of Ayios Ioannis (John). On July 7, a panigyri is held at Remata in observance of the feast of Ayia Kyriaki. On July 17, the feast of Ayia Marina at the old Monastery of Ayia Marina is marked with door-to-door blessings at the village, followed by dancing to traditional folk instruments in the evening. A smaller celebration is held at the church of Ayia Marina by the Ayios Petros settlement on the road to Vitali. On July 27, the feast of Ayios Panteleimonas, there is a panigyri at Moni Panachrantou at Fallika. On August 15, the feast of the Dormition of the Holy Mother, there are folk festivals at Pano Katakoilo, Moni Panachrantou at Korthi, Kapparia, Kochylou, Mesaria, st’Ypsilou, Strapourgies, as well as at Panayia Thalassini, a small church perched on a rocky outcrop, at Hora. Guests are treated to the traditional Andros omelet, froutalia, and locally-made almond cordial or soumada while violins play traditional music until dawn. On August 28, the feast of Ayios Ioannis Nisteftis (Saint John the Faster), there is bread-breaking and a celebration featuring traditional music at Kato Katakoilo. On August 29, there is a panigyri to mark the feast of Ayios Ioannis Prodromos at Makrantalo. On September 7, a panigyri is held at the church of Ayios Sostis at Akrotiri. On October 2, the feast of Ayios Kyprianos is celebrated at picturesque Kypri. From October through December, traditional celebrations include the hirosfagia or “pig’s wedding”, which involves the killing of the family pig and curing its meat to be stored for the year ahead. Although no longer necessary to ensure the family’s survival and food, this tradition is still observed as a communal celebration.