In recent years it has been the fashion for local yiortes to avoid the traditional multi-course meal, and charge only a small entrance fee, leaving visitors to purchase their own food choices from a buffet. This has been appreciated by many who did not feel inclined to consume large quantities of meat and carbohydrate on a hot summer’s evening, accompanied by traditional Cretan music played at deafening volume. The disadvantage for the organisers was uncertainty about the quantities of food which might be needed, with many people restricting themselves to downing large quantities of beer and wine.

The Afrata Honey Festival, originally scheduled for 17th July but cancelled because of the death of Stefanos Skarakis, will now take place on Wednesday 21st August – at the end of the customary 40-day mourning period.