Christmas in Greece is celebrated with carols called "kalanda" sung throughout the country. Special sweets like melomakarona and kourabiedes are prepared, as well as meals like stuffed turkey, roast pork, and christopsomo bread made on Christmas Eve. On New Year's Day, a vasilopita cake is eaten. The Christmas season concludes on January 6 with the blessing and throwing of a cross into waters, where young people dive in to retrieve it for good luck in the new year. Decorations include Christmas trees and boats decorated on some islands.

1. Christmas in Greece
Adamopoulou Vassilina,
Kavoura Maria

2. Christmas carols
Beautiful carols, called “kalanda”, coming from
Byzantine times, are being sung through all
the country
Christmas ‘kalanta’

3. Christmas Elves
During the Greek 12 days of Christmas
(December 25 to January 6), goblins called
“Callicantzari” - or “Kallinkantzari” come out
to tease people and eat their food

4. Christmas Food
During Christmas there are special sweets and
meals which are prepared in every house

5. • Melomakarona
• Kourabiedes
• Diples

6. • Christopsomo
(bread that is made on Christmas Eve)
• Vasilopita
(cake that is eaten on New Year's Day)

7. Christmas meals
• Stuffed turkey

8. • roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies.

9. The Christmas season comes to an end
with the Theophania, on January 6
• On this day around Greece, waters are blessed
and a cross is thrown into the waters. Young
people dive into the freezing water to retrieve
the cross, which is said to bring good luck to
the person that reaches it first.

10. Christmas decorations
• Christmas tree
• In some regions,
especially islands,
people decorate a boat
instead of a christmas
tree

11. Christmas and New Year’s wishes in
Greek
• Kala Christougenna! (Merry Christmas)
• Kali chronia! (Happy new year)
Sources:
Customs and traditions shared by grandmothers and parents
Pictures found on the internet