The legend of the "Voulismeno Aloni" (Sunken Threshing Floor) originates from a village in Crete and tells a tragic tale of disobedience and divine punishment. According to tradition, there was once a large threshing floor near Mount Stroumboulas, where a farmer lived with his family. On July 20th, the day of the local saint’s celebration — the feast of Prophet Elias — the entire village was preparing to attend church to honor the saint.
    When the neighbors saw that the farmer was still threshing grain, they went to him and warned that it was a sin to work on such a holy day. But the farmer dismissed their concerns and replied, “The Saint won’t be angry over a little work.” Ignoring their pleas, he continued his labor with his family.
But his disrespect angered the Prophet. Suddenly, the sky turned dark, thunder echoed through the mountains, and the earth opened beneath the threshing floor. In aninstant, the farmer, his family, and all their animals were swallowed by the ground. Since then, the place has been known as the "Voulismeno Aloni" — the Sunken Threshing Floor.

THE SUNKEN THRESHING FLOOR

Once upon  a time, there was a close-knit but poor family living in a small village in Crete. The members of the family were hardworking and worked day and night, every day.  One day again they woke up early and got ready to go to work as usual. But it was not an ordinary day. Their neighbours told them that day was special sacred for all of them. It was the holly fest of profet Elias and warned them not to work on that day.  

Unfortunately, they didn't give importance to whatever they told and went once again to work in the field, while all the villagers where going to the church to pray and honour the saint.

 The man started working hard in the field together with his wife and children. He decided not to waste a day of work. His entire family helped him happily. He thought it was important to harvest the wheat crops in time, before rainy days might come. All his other neighbours were worried,  because he was disregarding common religious norms and beliefs everybody followed and obeyed.    

 An old wise man ran from the church towards the fields to warn the farmer that Prophet disliked his decision and he would punish him and his family soon, unless they stopped working and cherished that holy day with the rest of the villagers at church.