In Drama, where history and tradition intertwine, the cherished custom of the “Little Boats of Saint Barbara” lives on. Every year, on the eve of Saint Barbara’s feast day, locals and visitors gather around the lake to honor a custom that stretches back centuries. According to legend, when Drama fell under Ottoman rule in 1830, the conquerors tried to demolish the small chapel of Saint Barbara to build a mosque. But on her feast day, the area flooded mysteriously, and the mosque was never built. Since then, Saint Barbara has been honored as the city’s protector.
On this special night, young and old gather around the lake, united by a sense of joy and nostalgia. Children with bright eyes and parents filled with pride bring the small wooden boats they’ve lovingly decorated with candles or tiny lights. Through this ritual, they send their wishes, dreams, and hopes to the submerged chapel, hoping that their candle will stay lit and their wish will come true.
Tradition tells two enchanting versions of the custom: one where young girls would send their wishes for love and happiness on small, floating candles, and then wash in the blessed waters of Saint Barbara’s lake the next morning for good fortune and protection. Over the years, these customs, passed down from generation to generation, have kept the magic alive.
As three generations stand side by side around the lake, watching the lights drift across the water, the custom of the little boats offers a sight that stirs the heart, a true sense of connection to the past. It is the joy of sharing something so deeply rooted with one’s children, just as their ancestors did before them. And in the moment each boat floats into the quiet lake waters, between the gentle waves and the chapel of Saint Barbara, we feel that our history and wishes are always carried forward.
The “Little Boats of Saint Barbara” is not just a spectacle but a promise: our past lives through memory, and our faith in the future shines through with every little boat carrying its soft, hopeful glow across the lake.