Every year on the 14th of March, Albania celebrates Dita e Verës (Summer Day). It marks the end of the winter season and the start of the summer season. The strengthening of the sun (Dielli) is celebrated, as daylight finally becomes longer than the nights again.

The day is usually spent together with other family members or relatives who share a meal at someone’s home or have an outdoor picnic. A particular food item that is associated with Dita e Vëres is Ballokume, a cookie that originates from Elbasan but is now widely consumed in Albania on this particular day.

The Municipality of Saranda (Bashkia Sarandë) usually also organizes some activities for families and kids on the beachfront promenade on this day.

As Saranda is a very seasonal tourist destination, it is also around this time that the city starts to transform as it awakens from its winter sleep. Although it is still very early in the season, the first tourists start to arrive, and businesses that have been closed all winter slowly start to open up again between March and May.