There are so many ways to celebrate the holiday season that don't involve gift-giving. On Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, often go out singing 'kalanda' (carols) in the streets. New Year Vasilopita 2018 Sponsored by St. Andrew Philoptochos Order deadline: December 11, 2016. In general, don't expect as many Christmas displays, lights, or other Western decorations, except of course in the windows of expatriates and the ever-increasing number of Greeks who have adopted Western customs. The Kallikantzaroi, is one such story, which has become a Greek Christmas tradition. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our. Fresh soft myzithra cheese (or ricotta as a substitute) in … animals, farms and vineyards), housewives aimed to distinguish Christopsomo from the regular bread loaves and signify the special occasion of Christmas day. 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. Some households keep fires burning through the twelve days, to keep the spirits from entering by the chimney, which is an interesting inversion of the visit of Santa Claus in other countries. According to Greek mythology, it was found that Christ's birth was celebrated on the same day as that of the ancient and invincible Sun God, Mithra. Christmas in Greece means it's kourabiedes time again, and the mellow aroma of melomakarona cookies will fill Greek kitchens around the globe. Greek Christmas carols (calanda) are sung on the mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany. While other cultures have Christmas elves, the Greek equivalent is not so benign. They play drums and triangles as they sing. Saint Basil’s cake (Vasilopita) Saint Basil’s cake (vasilopita) is a traditional Greek cake or … A … Greek … Illuminated boats, roasted pork and honey cookies are all staples of a Greek Christmas. Some families in … It is said that the one to find the cross first will be blessed for the whole year and that, following the ceremony, the water is totally cleansed. Beautiful Christmas carols called kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. At the same time, its symbolic meaning is to bring a productive year to the household,” he adds. After the Divine Liturgy, priests carry out the water blessing. Epiphany (January 6), called Theophany and colloquially Ta Phota (meaning ‘lights’) in Greece, is a feast day celebrating the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. Of course, the traditional Christmas Tree is as beloved a decorative symbol of the season as it is elsewhere. In some regions, it is common to make cabbage leaf rolls filled with pork accompanied by celery or spinach. “The main ingredients of melomakarona and kourabiedes are oil, honey, oranges and nuts, which are Greece’s most famous food products. From Christmas until the Epiphany Day (January 6th), they come up to the world and tease people with many pranks. Though the decoration differs based on the region and is adapted to represent the households’s life and work, every Christopsomo has a cross made of dough in the centre, as well as almonds and nuts sprinkled on top to symbolise prosperity. However, as soon as December arrives, festivities begin: homes are decorated, and the smell of Christmas treats is in the air. And of course all the Greek Christmas treats, which every household prepares during the festive season. “Turkey made its appearance in the late 19th century, when the elite started following the trends of French cuisine,” says Karamanes. The most popular ones are the decoration of the Christmas boat, the Kalenda (Greek Christmas carols), Vasilopita, and smashing the pomegranate. In fact, the English word for Christmas carol comes from the Greek dance, the Choraulein, which is performed to flute music.Christmas carols were originally sung during festivals all around the world, including in Greece, so this tradition still lives strong in many of the major cities and small villages of the … Traditions is a family business that has been open for 26 years acquiring a reputation for knowledge, selection and service! During the Christmas holidays one would see pomegranates in Christmas decorations and hanging on the doors of houses. Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. In some areas, the holiday is preceded by a time of fasting. Mischievous and even dangerous sprites called the Kallikantzaroi (or Callicantzari ), prey upon people only during the twelve days of Christmas, between Christmas itself and Epiphany on January 6th. According to Karamanes, for the next few decades Christmas trees were only seen in upper-class households and the custom only became widely popular after World War II. Following the Gregorian calendar, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December. According to the folk Christmas traditions, the hobgoblins are short, ugly creatures with many deformities. Greek Christmas Elf Lore While other cultures have Christmas elves, the Greek equivalent is not so benign. Saint Basil managed to change the prefect’s mind and exempt local people from having to give away their valuables. Not knowing how to return the possessions to their rightful owners, the residents followed Saint Basil’s advice and made small pies. Here are some of the things that make the Greek holiday season special. Until then, it was much more common for Greek households to decorate a small boat. However, as the government crisis unfolded and lingered, celebrations have remained somewhat toned down as Greece attempts to recover from its financial crisis. Christmas in Syntagma square, Athens, Greece, The traditional illuminated Christmas boat symbolises love for the sea, Christopsomo is eaten on the night of Christmas Eve, © Zvonimir Atletic / EyeEm / Getty Images, Kourabiedes are made with white sugar, almonds, flour and butter, The Blessing of Waters sees men jump into the sea (or river or lake) to recover a cross. Christmas in Greece. Christmas is considered the major festivity of the year, the most sacred and important. The first Christmas in the Americas was a bit of a letdown. In addition to a small amount of money, the lady of the house usually offers the children a sweet treat (normally a traditional melomakarono or kourabie). The Evil Eye. On Christmas Eve, doorbells in houses around the country start ringing from as early as 7am in the morning. Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. A POMEGRANATE, an ancient symbol of prosperity and good luck, is hung above the door throughout Christmas. Being a maritime nation, Greece has a long naval heritage and the illuminated boat symbolises a love and respect for the sea, as well as the anticipation of reuniting with seafaring relatives and welcoming loved ones home. A Brief History of Christmas in Peru. In Greece, the Christmas season is in full swing by December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, when presents are exchanged, and lasts through January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. Folklore expert Evangelos Karamenes spoke to Culture Trip about the most popular Greek Christmas traditions to have survived the centuries. Greek Christmas traditions – Breaking a Pomegranate Pomegranate has been a symbol of fortune, fertility, and prosperity in Greece and Greek mythology for thousands of years. Priests throw a cross into the sea, river or lake and a group of men jump into the water to recover it. Greece has been an oasis of non-commercialism when it comes to Christmas, though some lament that this has changed. Every part of the country boasts a plethora of traditions and special customs that have survived over the centuries. Some local festivals still include representations of these entities, which may be a survival from Dionysian festivals. “Christopsomo dates back to the Ottoman era and still remains part of the customary festive food that are a prominent element of Greek Christmas traditions,” Karamanes explains. Even though nowadays these honey cookies are connected with Christmas time, in ancient times Greeks were eating them as an everyday dessert” he says. In Greece, Christmas is celebrated in all its glory. If you want to be part of this long-lasting celebration, check out the most popular Greek Christmas traditions and customs. Evangelos Karamanes, a research director at the Hellenic Folklore Research Centre (HFRC) at the Academy of Athens, gives his insight into the meaning and the origins behind some of the most deep-rooted Greek Christmas traditions. https://goo.gl/UwxBi8 Download TONS of FREE PDF lessons to learn Greek twice as fast! In some cases, it caused the elimination of local customs in certain areas - even entire countries. Greek Christmas carols start with the narration of Christ’s birth, continue with expressions of praise for the household and the people living in it and finish with the kids’ request for a symbolic gift. St Basil’s Cake. Beautiful Christmas carols called kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. The evil eye is a superstition that a great percentage of Greeks believe in. Almost invariably male, other regions see in them the forms of wolves or even monkeys. If you will be traveling to Greece at Christmas, it's good to remember that many offices, businesses, restaurants, and other amenities may be closed or keeping unusual hours during the holiday season. Christmas Tradition in Greece Greeks have various kind of traditions carried on from many years. Originally a German and Scandinavian custom, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees was introduced to Greece in 1833 when the Bavarian Prince Otto, who was at the time ruling the country (1832 – 1862), decorated the first Christmas tree in his palace in Nafplio. Where the religious way provides them with an opportunity to celebrate the festival strictly according to conventional traditional, the latter facilitates them to enjoy the late-night parties and dance throughout the night with loud music. Originally a German and Scandinavian custom, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees was introduced to Greece in 1833 when the Bavarian Prince Otto, who was at the time ruling the country (1832 – 1862), decorated the first Christmas tree in his palace in Nafplio. Carrying a boat is a very old custom in the Greek Islands. One of the traditions most commonly associated with Greece is their use of spices in much of their dishes, whether an entree or dessert. In Greek tradition, Basil's (of Caesarea) name was given to Father Christmas and is supposed to visit children and give presents on January 1 (when Basil's memory is celebrated), unlike other European traditions, where this person is Saint Nicholas and comes every Christmas. Vasilopita, translating to Saint Basil’s pie, is a traditional dessert made for New Year’s Day. The "yule log" in this case initially was a massive log set on end in the chimney, burning or at least smoldering for the entire holiday period. During the twelve days of Christmas, the young women of the village carry empty pitchers to nearby fountains and fill them with water. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. by GCT Team Carols about the birth of Jesus sung by the sweet choral voices of children, special decorations, scary superstitions, and painstakingly-made cakes all make up part of Greece’s many Christmas traditions. According to Karamanes, for the next few decades Christmas trees were only seen in upper-class … Greece is known for her wide array of spices that are cultivated throughout the year, and their Christmas foods are no different. Christmas in Greece, or "the holidays," are not what they were 40 years ago. Christmas celebrations in Greece officially last for 14 days, starting on Christmas Eve and ending on Epiphany (6 January) with the ‘Great Blessing of Water’. A very old and spiritual tradition around Christmas time in Greece is to take a shallow wooden bowl with a thin piece of wire connecting one side of the bowl to the other. On Epiphany, the ceremonial blessing of the waters by the local priest was believed to settle the nasty creatures until the next year. The first woman who gets to the fountain is blessed with lots of good luck for the rest … Learn everything you need to know about Christmas in Greece! In folktales, the twelve days of their power figure in a "wicked stepmother" story where a young girl is forced to walk alone to a mill through the twelve days because her stepmother is hoping that the Kallikantzaroi will snatch her away.​. Melomakarona (honey cookies) and kourabiedes (sugar-coated butter cookies) are the most popular traditional Christmas desserts in Greece. 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