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The “shepherd festival” in Zoniana was organized as a response to the
urgent need of the inhabitants of the village to promote the cultural dimensions of animal husbandry. The “Shepherd
Festival” was first realized last year and its success was beyond any
expectation, as the number of visitors reached 1.900. Encouraged by this
success, the hosts of the event –all the residents of the village, as
the preparation of the festival is a collective effort- set higher
goals, impressing the 2.500 visitors who arrived in Zoniana to attend
the second “Shepherd Festival”. The results were clearly better than
last year’s. The exhibit of traditional cheese making techniques by
local shepherds and representatives of unions of Agricultural
Cooperatives from different regions in Crete; the presentation of local
dishes prepared by the village women; the rich art program with
traditional Cretan music and dances; and above all, the presentation of
one of the largest cheese wheels in the world were some of the goals
achieved and the starting point to set even higher goals for next year’s
festival, which, as the member of the Association state, will be larger
and even more impressive.
Riki Matalliotaki |
