In Greece, Christmas is celebrated with traditional foods and customs that vary slightly by region. People in this region traditionally eat "babo," made with handmade sausages boiled with water and lemon, and desserts like "kourabiedes" and "melomakarona." While decorating the Christmas tree has become common, older customs included decorating a small wooden boat outside the house. On Christmas Eve, children still go door to door singing carols as they did years ago, and Santa Claus comes on January 1st instead of Christmas day.

1. How we celebrateHow we celebrate
Christmas in Greece!Christmas in Greece!

2. Christmas is a religious celebration widelyChristmas is a religious celebration widely
celebrated around the world! In Greececelebrated around the world! In Greece
the Christmas day and the days before wethe Christmas day and the days before we
eat traditional foods and we have manyeat traditional foods and we have many
customs! Most of the people in Greececustoms! Most of the people in Greece
have pork in the Christmas table and drinkhave pork in the Christmas table and drink
wine. Our region has a little differentwine. Our region has a little different
customs than the other regions in Greece!customs than the other regions in Greece!
So here are some of our customs andSo here are some of our customs and
foods…foods…

3. People here eat a foodPeople here eat a food called “babo”. It’s made withcalled “babo”. It’s made with
handmade sausages boiled with water and lemon! Manyhandmade sausages boiled with water and lemon! Many
people claim that it isn’t tasty but there are people who findpeople claim that it isn’t tasty but there are people who find
it delicious! It is cooked with many different ways!it delicious! It is cooked with many different ways!

4. Also we make desserts called “kourabiedes” andAlso we make desserts called “kourabiedes” and
“melomakarona”. These days each house has a dish full of“melomakarona”. These days each house has a dish full of
these desserts on it’s table!these desserts on it’s table!
““Kourabiedes” “Melomakarona”Kourabiedes” “Melomakarona”

5. As the years come by our customs areAs the years come by our customs are
changing a little. For example many yearschanging a little. For example many years
ago people didn’t use to decorate theago people didn’t use to decorate the
Christmas tree but a small wooden boatChristmas tree but a small wooden boat
outside from their house!!outside from their house!!

6. But in our days we decorate the ChristmasBut in our days we decorate the Christmas
tree exactly as the other people around thetree exactly as the other people around the
world!world!

7. On Christmas Eve the children wake upOn Christmas Eve the children wake up
early and run outside, knocking everyone’searly and run outside, knocking everyone’s
door and singing the carols! This customdoor and singing the carols! This custom
happened many years ago and still exists!happened many years ago and still exists!

8. Santa Claus comes on 1Santa Claus comes on 1stst
January inJanuary in
Greece not on Christmas day!Greece not on Christmas day!
Eleftheria P.Eleftheria P.