Folklore Museum of Vainia
A loom which was abandoned and rotting away in a small garden provided the impetus that encouraged Eleni Rovithakis, an employee of the Ministry for Culture to start the collection of traditional items for the Museum of Vainias in 1992. The Cultural Society of Vainias and the other inhabitants of the surrounding area responded with great effort to this initiative. Thus in 1992, the first folklore exhibits were presented in Vainias and also in the castle of Halea in Ierapetra, displaying valuable folk-cultural items from the wooden chests of the local ladies, from farmers storage rooms, and from the threshers floors.
The loom and woven material, a baby coat , a low dining table, a wood and iron plough of the farmer, priests vestments, old icons from the church, a somewhat damaged sanctuary , a sacred chalice, an old calculator, an old flag and some books, pictures of heroes from 1821, dove cages, ceramic containers for olive oil, an oil lamp, a wooden chest, the wine container, a wooden washboard, a soldier's dish and water canteen from the time of the Occupation, embroideries, weavings, crochet and knitted items have all been carefully displayed in the old Primary school.
The building is provided by the Local Council in order to house the Folklore Museum of Vainias. Here, actual creations of local Cretan artisans, made with dedication and attention to detail by their experienced hands, bear testimony to the cultural traditions and heritage as well as to the majesty of the Cretan race. Much evidence of this incomparable Cretan heritage remains today in Vainias, as women still weave, knit and crochet, and cook in the traditional charcoal oven and farmers still sew , reap and harvest, and thresh in the traditional manner.
The Folklore collection at Vainias continues to be enriched with additional items, and this also serves as a source of research regarding the local Cretan fine arts and life. The water cauldron, the wine press, the furnace, the oven and the fireplace that still smoke to this day in Vainias demonstrate that the Cretan race continue to be proud of their heritage and remain dedicated to their traditions.
