At school, along with "eight sparrows fell on a grapevine", we learned about first rains of autumn όμως But come that in recent years the times in the Cyclades have changed. And while since October you hear about rains and storms, in the Ionian Islands and Western Greece, in the Cyclades the rains, year by year, decrease.

Thus, while in the old days in the Cyclades, the average rainfall ranged from 400 to 550 millimeters, compared to 1000-1500 in Western Greece, in recent years it dropped to 300-400, culminating in last year, when it did not exceed 200 millimeters.

The effects were significant in livestock and agriculture, as the animals did not find food in the pastures, while the crops suffered and were destroyed, especially the oil production, cereals and vegetables. And that was not enough, from this April until the end of November not a drop had fallen.

In the old days in Paros, there were some droughts, where the Christians, at the end of November, in Agia Aikaterini made processions to rain. This year the faithful Christians had dwindled and no liturgies took place, and of course not a drop fell.

Thus, the three loops that fell in the first days of December, with 20 mm each the first two, and 60 mm yesterday, completely changed the scenery on the island and watered the thirsty fields, which had to see so much water here and many months. Joys and festivities for the farmers, since lately with the prolonged drought they were in despair.

And my boss, crazy about the rains and measuring the rainfall with my amateur rain gauge, a glass and a sub-meter, I was counting and I could not believe the daily performance! The earth has softened, the fields will be plowed even late, in the hope that the next rains will follow for the seeds to sprout, and I will be able to rain happily!

The day after the rain, the weather opened again, ideal for a morning walk to the white windmills.

The thirsty fields sucked the water at once, and only in the pressed dirt roads did you see pools of water, indicative of the water that fell the day before.

And it is strange that under other conditions the waters on the roads, we consider them mud and obstacles in our path, now we consider them a blessing of God and we long to enter and splash like little children.

The sheep and goats, full and fed by the feed and the sheaves, in a few days will pour into the pastures to find fresh food.

Both the leaves and the flowers of the trees and the plants were revived, and the scents of the wet soil and the joy of nature wafted into the air.

The roofs of the people's houses of the settlements were also happy because they fulfilled their destination, to channel the rain water in jars, for irrigation use.

The rain water polished the cobbled streets and pebbles of the village of Lefka.

And as soon as the walks were over we went down to the shore to see its joys. Good luck Angelos, who keeps his shop open all year round. Because while in Piso Livadi in summer you will find more than ten taverns and restaurants, in winter the place is deserted, and it is Angelos with his cafe-bar Remezzo, which saves the value of the east coast of the island. Angele, thank you.

In Remezzo find refuge in winter, not only the locals, the Athenians who spend the winter, but also several Europeans who do not move from Paros, such as the Austrian Nina Mueller-Erben who has been living permanently on the island for 10 years.

Nina does not waste her time and from time to time she makes and brings us from her house Austrian delicacies, like the one here, Liptaver μένος made a-la-greque. Anthotyro, yogurt, garlic, capers, Florin peppers, peppers and much more with cumin predominating. Something like a hot cheese with plenty of cumin and capers.

They will not miss the shop and the musical instruments of the mountain villages, the tsambouna and the toumpaki, which will also express their joy, guided by the company of the inexhaustible Clarinet.

Even the sun came out to admire the creations of the rain, the joy of nature and people, and to contribute with its life-giving rays to the festival of life.

Somehow we celebrated with our good friends, the December first rains in Paros, just before 2021 and the time of the coronavirus leaves.