July was
named after the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, who was born this month. July is
also called Alonaris in Greek as during
this month the threshing of grains harvested from the fields used to take place
in older times. In Santorini you can see threshing floors called “alonia” scattered throughout the island, where, along with the donkeys the farmers stepped on the barley and fava to separate the straws from the beans. If you are lucky enough you could trace some local farmer out who keeps this charming tradition.
