Albania: Today's Summer Day, the tradition that lasts for centuries

Contrary to the winter's departure day, this holiday has already created its own tradition, not only in the inhabitants of the town of Elbasan, but also in other cities of Albania and especially in Tirana.

Numerous events have been organised in Elbasan and Tirana, including the Ballechime Festival, musical performances, fairs, retro car exhibits, etc. Some roads will be blocked.

On this marked day, Elbasan returns to the center of the diverse events from wilderness treks to family fun lunch, where the balls are not lacking.

Genesis “The Day of Wine” has it at the Zana of Cermenica shrine built on the outskirts of the city of Elbasan, the goddess of hunting, forests, and all nature.

According to the mouthpiece, this fairy came out of her shrine on the day of March 14. Born from generation to generation, this popular festival is a day that today identifies the very city of Elbasan. Anyone who spends the last few days near Elbasan will smell the scent of ballaclam.

Balloks are traditional holiday candy. It's not just this day. That makes them even more special. It's sweets cooked with fine corn flour, butter and sugar, writes Euronews, transmeotn Klan Kosova. Also, a detail of this festival is the putting into the hands of “tore”, a bracelet of white and red fibers tied to the wrist and selected when the first swallow is seen.

In some provinces, summers depend on tree branches, mostly lards, that swallows receive and bring prosperity.

Summer Day was the beginning of the year according to the very ancient calendar of Albanians - a day celebrated many centuries before Christianity was born. It was celebrated on March 1, Julian calendar, the first day of the new year (according to the Gregorian calendar, “14 March”).

Summer Day was a nationwide festival, celebrated both in the north and in the south but in various shades, according to the provinces.