2. In Greece when we talk about
Christmas, we are referring to the
holiday period of Christmas, New Year
and Epiphany.
In Greece a fasting period starts 40
days before Christmas. During this
period the faithful fast from meat, eggs
and dairy products.
4. Christmas decoration
The decorated
Christmas tree,
artificial or natural is
in most houses many
weeks before
Christmas with
Christmas lights,
stars, angels and
any kind of shining
Christmas ornaments.
5. Christmas ship -
Karavaki
In many places,
especially the islands,
the Greek people
decorate ships
instead of Christmas
trees to celebrate the
holiday season.
6. The main dish of
Christmas dinner is
stuffed turkey or roast
pork.
Kourabiedes,
melomakarona and
diples are the most
favourite
Christmas sweets.
7. Christopsomo
It is a special kind
of bread that is
made on Christmas
Eve.
It 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.
8. New year
Smashing the pomegranate
Pomegranate is an
ancient symbol of
fertility,
regeneration and
prosperity.
As the New Year
arrives someone
considered good or
lucky, will step out
of the door and
smash a
pomegranate for
good luck.
9. At exactly midnight on
December 31 the father or
the older person in the
household, turns off the
lights and turns them on
again a few seconds later,
so "new light" will come
with the New Year.
Then a special kind of
cake called "vassilopita"
containing a coin is cut
among the members of
the family and friends.
Every person and even
the pets of the household
are entitled to one piece.
One piece is dedicated to
Jesus and one to the
house itself. Whoever
finds the coin in his piece
is considered to be lucky
for the whole year
10. Greeks normally exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve.
According to the tradition, Santa Claus
(Agios Vassilis) brings the gifts and leaves them
below the tree for the kids.
Agios Vassilis is not the same person as Santa
Claus though; Agios Vassilis comes from
Caesarea not from Northern Europe.
11. Kalikantzari
The kalikantzaroi are tiny little creatures that look like elves.
They live in the depths of the earth where their mission is to
chop at a huge tree trunk that is the earth's foundation. They
work all year round to accomplish this. Right when they are
about to finish the job, Christmas day arrives and they
surface on earth for twelve days (from December 25 through
January 6). During their visit they create havoc and play
tricks on people. As a matter of fact, if anything
unexplainable happens during those twelve days, the Greeks
blame these creatures. Many leave their fireplace on for the
duration of the twelve days to prevent the creatures from
entering their house (they usually come in through the
chimney).
The "kalikantzaroi" are afraid of fire, light, the cross, and
holy water. For this reason, they disappear on the day of
Epiphany when all the waters are blessed. However, when
they return to the depths of the earth, they find the earth's
tree trunk completely restored, due to the miracle of Christ's
Birth, so they have to start their mission to destroy the earth
all over again.
13. Fota or
Theophania
The festive season
ends on Epiphany
Day (January 6)
when the Church
celebrates the
baptism of Jesus
and the priests
throw a cross in the
sea, rivers, lakes or
even water
reservoirs.
Young people dive to
retrieve the cross
and the person that
catches it,
is considered
blessed.
