An educational activity proposed for the Erasmus+ project regarding Christmas activities throughout Europe 2016-1-LT01-KA219-023125 "Children's mission Europe without borders!"

1. TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES
GREECE

2. PENTOVOLA
Pentovola [pen-do-vo-la] (five marbles) or gems is a team game, with its roots
in Ancient Greece. It is played on a flat surface by two or more players. Each
of the players uses five marbles, stones or pebbles.
How to play
The players sit facing each other as they place four marbles in front of them
and hold the fifth marble in their hand. They ballot to decide who will go first
and the person who is first tosses the marble who has in his hand. With the
same hand he tossed the marble, he must pick one of the marbles lying on the
floor plus the one that tossed and is now falling. Then he puts one of the
marbles aside, holds the other one in his hand and tosses it up again trying to
catch it along with another one from the floor. If he manages to collect all the
marbles, the other player will go next trying to do the same. The one to catch
most of the marbles is the winner.

3. PENTOVOLA
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DEF45V4NMPQ

4. HOPSCOTCH! IT’S A TRADITIONAL GAME THAT CHILDREN USED TO PLAY IN
THE PAST. THEY DREW BOXES WITH NUMBERS ON THE PAVEMENT AND
THREW A STONE TO SEE HOW FAR THEY SHOULD GO. WE CHANGED IT A BIT
BY USING HOOPS AND SEE HOW GOOD OUR CHILDREN ARE IN
COORDINATION. IT WAS A FUN GAME AND WE IMPROVED OUR COORDINATING
AND COUNTING SKILLS.

5. NEW YEAR S ACTIVITIES
GREECE

6. FROM THE ANCIENT TIMES POMEGRANATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE A SIGN OF
FERTILITY, PROSPERITY AND REGENERATION. IT HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM SINCE
ANCIENT TIMES FOR GREEK HOUSEHOLDS TO HANG A POMEGRANATE ABOVE THE
MAIN ENTRANCEDOOR OF THE HOUSE. A LITTLE BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE
MARKING THE ADVENT OF THE NEW YEAR IT IS THE CUSTOM TO TURN OFF ALL
LIGHTS AND FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO STEP OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE FAMILY
MEMBERS THEN STEP IN AGAIN WITH THEIR RIGHT FOOT. THE FIRST PERSON TO
ENTER ROLLS THE FRUIT HOLDING IT IN THE RIGHT HAND WITH FORCE AGAINST THE
DOOR AND SMASHES IT OPEN. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE NUMBER OF SEEDS THAT
GETS SCATTERED IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF GOOD LUCK THE
FAMILY WOULD BE BLESSED WITH IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

7. A VERY OLD CUSTOM WHICH REMAINS TODAY PRACTICALLY UNCHANGED IS THE GREEK
CHRISTMAS CAROLS, WHICH IS CALLED “CALANDA” IN GREEK. CHILDREN IN GROUPS OF
TWO OR MORE, STILL MAKE THE ROUNDS OF HOUSES SINGING CAROLS, USUALLY
ACCOMPANIED BY THE TRIANGLE OR GUITARS, ACCORDIONS OR HARMONICAS. THE
CHILDREN GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, KNOCK ON DOORS AND SAY “SHALL WE SING
THEM?”. IF THE HOMEOWNER ANSWERS YES, THE KIDS SING THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS
AND BEFORE THEY FINISH THEY WISH “AND FOR THE NEXT YEAR, MANY HAPPY
RETURNS.” YEARS AGO HOMEOWNERS OFFERED CHILDREN HOLIDAYS SWEETS AND
PASTRIES, BUT TODAY THEY USUALLY GIVE THEM SOME MONEY.