2. Greece is a country where traditions and customs are a
part of everyday life. Most holidays in Greece are
celebrated traditionally, and Christmas in no exception.
Christmas caroling is very popular, and although you
might hear them being sung at any given moment
during the holiday season, there are actually three
"official" caroling days. The custom is that children go
from house to house singing the carol, with the
accompaniment of a triangle, and residents of the
houses give them a small amount of money. Greek
Christmas carols (calanda) are sung on the mornings
of Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 5, the
Eve of the Epiphany.

4. According to tradition, during the Greek
12 days of Christmas (December 25 to
January 6), goblins come out to tease
people and eat their food. This tradition
is based on the legend that the "waters
aren't christened" since Christ has not
yet been baptized. The goblins are
renowned for their ugliness and their
impishness. They are not very intelligent
and can't really hurt anybody. It is said
that they enter houses through
chimneys, and this is the reason people,
especially in villages, keep the fireplace
lit during the 12 days of Christmas.

6. In many parts of Greece, people
hang a pomegranate above the front
door of their house. By the New
Year, when the fruit will have dried,
Greeks throw it on the ground so it
breaks, and step into their house on
their right foot. According to
tradition, this brings good luck for
the year to come.