The document summarizes Christmas and New Year traditions in Greece. Some key traditions include: - Christmas is celebrated from December 25th until January 6th, with caroling groups singing kalanda songs and visiting homes. - Kallikantzari, mischievous elves, are said to emerge during this 12-day period to play tricks. - New Year's gifts are exchanged on January 1st, brought by Saint Basil instead of Santa Claus. - Epiphany on January 6th involves blessing waters and brave swimmers retrieving crosses for blessings. - Popular Christmas foods include melomakarona cookies, christopsomo bread, and roast pork as the main dish.

1. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR TRADITIONS
IN GREECE

2. Christmas (Xristougenna)
The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is one of the most joyful days of the Greek Orthodox Church. Traditionally,
the Christmas holiday period in Greece lasts 12 days, until January 6, which marks the celebration of the Feast
of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany). There are many customs associated with the Christmas holidays, some of
which are relatively recent, “imported” from other parts of the world (like eating turkey on Christmas day and
decorating the Christmas tree). In the past, Greeks decorated small Christmas boats in honour of St. Nicholas
and today, they are increasingly choosing to decorate boats, instead of trees, reviving this age-old Christmas
tradition.

3. Carols or “Kalanda”
The singing of Christmas carols (or kalanda) is a custom preserved in its entirety to this day. On
Christmas and New Year Eve, children go from house to house in groups singing carols,
accompanied usually by the sounds of the musical instrument “triangle”, but also by guitars,
accordions, lyres and harmonicas. Until some time ago, children were rewarded with pastries
but nowadays they are usually given money.

4. Christmas Elves (Kallikantzari)
Greece’s hobgoblins are called “kallikantzari”, friendly but troublesome little creatures which
look like elves. Kallikantzari live deep down inside the earth and come to surface only during
the 12-day period from Christmas until Epiphany. While on the earth’s surface, they love to
hide in houses, slipping down chimneys and frightening people. Throughout Greece, there are
various customs and rituals performed to keep hobgoblins away. Kallikantzari disappear on the
day of Epiphany when all waters are blessed, and they return to the earth’s core.

5. NEW YEAR DAY IN GREECE (Protohronia)
After Christmas, the children impatiently await the New Year
(Protohronia ) because that's when St. Basil ( Ayios Vasilis ) delivers their gifts.
In Greece it is the custom to exchange gifts on the New Year instead of Christmas. The
presents are delivered by Saint Basil (Agios Vasilis). Agios Vasilis is the Greek Santa Claus.
On New Year's Eve in Greece it is customary for most people to gather in the town's center, or
plaza, for last minute shopping or just a pleasant stroll. On the main roads, teenagers and other
young ones create a maniacal scene by declaring a bloodless war on each other, using plastic
clubs, giant plastic hammers, foam spray and whistles as "weapons."
Later, all the friends gather at one of their houses to ring in the New Year together.

6. Epiphany (Theofania)
Epiphany in Greece is known as Theofania or Fota. The first sanctification of the Epiphany
(The Enlightenment) takes place in church on the eve of the holiday. Afterwards, the priest goes
from house to house holding a cross and a basil branch. As he walks through each house, he
uses the basil to sprinkle (bless) all the areas of the home.
An old custom in Crete , which is almost forgotten today, was the preparation of the fotokoliva
(boiled wheat with peas) on the eve of Epiphany. The fotokoliva was eaten by the people, but
they also fed it to their livestock, which was believed to insure good health and fortune in the
homes.
The big sanctification takes place the following day, January 6, the day of the Epiphany in
Greece.
In all Greek cities and villages the priests bless the waters with the Holy Cross on that day,
while many brave swimmers jump into the icy sea or river waters despite the cold weather to
catch the Cross and get the priest’s blessing for the year. However, the benediction of the
waters is not the only tradition coming alive in modern day Greece.

7. Christmas Food in Greece
Roast Pork
Christmas, like many other holidays in Greece, is a time for feasting. In the past years,
Christmas turkey has become very popular as the main dish of the holiday. Traditionally, the
main course of Christmas dinner in Greece is roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies. No
matter what the main dish is, one thing is certain: Christmas food in Greece is delicious!

8. Melomakarona
Melomakarona and kourabiedes are the two varieties of Christmas and New Year's cookies in
Greece. The first are semolina, cinnamon, and clove cookies drenched in honey, while the
second are rosewater and fresh butter cookies sprinkled with powdered sugar that are normally
served on New Year's but many succumb to temptation and begin consuming them earlier.
Melomakarona
Kourabiedes

9. Christopsomo
Christopsomo is the bread that is made on Christmas Eve, which has a cross carved into the top
crust before it is baked. On Christmas Day, the head of the household makes the sign of the
cross above the loaf of bread, cuts it and gives a piece to each person at the dining table.
Greek New Year Cake (Vasilopita)
Vasilopita is a cake that is eaten on New Year's Day. Before the cake is baked, a coin covered
in foil is placed in it. The New Year is written on top of the cake with almonds. The person who
cuts the cake makes the sign of the cross three times above it and then starts serving the pieces,
one to each person, the house, Christ, The Virgin Mary and Saint Vasileios. Whoever has the
coin in his piece of cake will have luck for the rest of the year.

10. Greek Christmas Recipes
Melomakarona
Ingredients
• 2 cups of olive oil
• 1 cup of sugar
• ½ cup of orange juice
• 1 wine glass of cognac
• 2 tablespoons of baking powder
• 1 tablespoon of slightly crushed cloves and cinnamon
• Zest of a lemon
• 1 kilo of flour (for all uses)
• 200 gr of crushed walnuts
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
Ingredients for the syrup
• 2 cups of honey
• 2 cups of sugar
• 2 cups of water
Directions
Mix the sugar with the oil for 5 minutes. Pour the cognac and then the orange
juice in which we have dissolved the soda. Add the lemon zest as well as the
cloves and cinnamon.
Transfer the mixture in a bowl. Mix the flour with the baking powder and then
add it in the mixture progressively, kneading at the same time until you get a
soft and fluffy dough.
Give the melomakarona a rounded at the edges shape. Place them in a large
baking pan and bake them in the oven at 180 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.
After baking, allow the melomakarona to cool off.
Meantime, you can prepare the syrup by boiling water with sugar and honey.
Once the sugar has dissolved, you should lower the fire a lot.
Immerse the melomakarona little by little in the syrup. Drain them with a
slotted spoon. Place them in a platter and sprinkle their top with walnuts and
cinnamon (optional).

11. Roast Lamb with Potatoes
Ingredients
• 1 shoulder of lamb about 2 kg, or 2 kg of beef cut in serving pieces or 1 kg
chuck or stewing steak
• 400 gr. (a can) of chopped tomatoes or 500 gr. of fresh tomatoes, peeled and
sliced
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• salt and black pepper
• 2 medium onions, finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley
• 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 kg of potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
Directions
Rinse the meat and remove any loose splinters. Drain.
Heat both the oils in a large saucepan, and fry the pieces of meat in it,
browning them on both sides and taking them out as they are ready.
When all the pieces are fried, add the onions and the carrots and sautee them.
Add the tomatoes, bring to the boil and return the meat pieces to the pan.
They should be covered with the liquid. If not, add a little hot water.
Cover and cook until the meat is almost tender, approximately for 50 minutes
(beef will need slightly more cooking).
Season with salt and pepper, add the parsley and the raw potatoes.
Add enough water to cover them, then cover and cook for a further 20-30
minutes, until the potatoes are soft.

12. Christmas biscuits
Ingredients
• ½ kilo of butter
• ¼ kilo of sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon of powder soda
• 2 aroma vanillas
• 1 glass of lemon juice
• 1 kilo of flour
Directions
Beat the butter with the sugar and the egg yolks. Mix the lemon juice and the
powder soda and put it into the mixture and at last add the flour.
Start forming biscuits in Christmas shapes such as Christmas trees, angels
or snowmen.
Bake the biscuits for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees.

13. BEST WISHES FOR MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
TO
ALL OUR ETWINNER FRIENDS