christmas in greece traditions
In Greece, Christmas means holidays that last for upto twelve days. Other households (perhaps less devout) were reduced to simple bribery and would put meat out for the Kallikantzaroi—a more substantial snack than the milk and cookies Westerners traditionally put out for Santa. 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. 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’. καλά Χριστούγεννα! Over the years we notice a universal culture developing as the western European customs spread more and more change. On Christmas Eve, doorbells in houses around the country start ringing from as early as 7am in the morning. Traditions is a family business that has been open for 26 years acquiring a reputation for knowledge, selection and service! Greek … 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 … Christmas in Greece is traditionally a solemn, religious holiday. Discover the main traditions of this beautiful country and plan your last-minute trip … 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. In Greece, Christmas is celebrated in all its glory. Think: putting up Christmas tree decorations with unique Christmas tree toppers, baking holiday cookies, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies, for starters.While all of these festive activities are surefire ways to get you and your family into the holiday spirit, there are other Christmas traditions … Carol singing is another tradition on Christmas and New Year's Eve. “Like most traditions, the custom of eating pork during Christmas not only has symbolic meaning but it is also strongly related to the household’s economy,” explains Karamanes, adding that parts of the pig were preserved and eaten throughout the rest of the year. “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. The most popular ones are the decoration of the Christmas boat, the Kalenda (Greek Christmas carols), Vasilopita, and smashing the pomegranate. Saint Basil’s cake (Vasilopita) Saint Basil’s cake (vasilopita) is a traditional Greek cake or … 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. And of course all the Greek Christmas treats, which every household prepares during the festive season. animals, farms and vineyards), housewives aimed to distinguish Christopsomo from the regular bread loaves and signify the special occasion of Christmas day. 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. This tradition derives from the myth that residents of Cappadocia had collected money and jewellery to give to the area’s tyrannical prefect as a tax. This quirky tradition is to be found in different corners of mainland Greece. On Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, often go out singing 'kalanda' (carols) in the streets. Beautiful Christmas carols called kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. Fresh soft myzithra cheese (or ricotta as a substitute) in … On Epiphany, the ceremonial blessing of the waters by the local priest was believed to settle the nasty creatures until the next year. From Wikipedia: "Vasilopita (Greek: Βασιλόπιτα, Vasilópita, lit.'(St.) These women reach the fountain carrying with them butter, cereals, or honey to please the fountain. Kalitsounia Kritis Cheese Pastries. At midnight,… The evil eye is a superstition that a great percentage of Greeks believe in. Beautiful Christmas carols called kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. There are so many ways to celebrate the holiday season that don't involve gift-giving. A … A POMEGRANATE, an ancient symbol of prosperity and good luck, is hung above the door throughout Christmas. Christopsomo (Christ bread) is a round loaf that is a staple of the Greek Christmas table. Saint Basil then put the jewellery and money inside the pies and miraculously each person received their own valuables. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. 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. Melomakarona (honey cookies) and kourabiedes (sugar-coated butter cookies) are the most popular traditional Christmas desserts in Greece. 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. Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. Following the Gregorian calendar, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December. Some families in … Descriptions of them vary, and in one area they are believed to wear wooden or iron boots, the better to kick people, while other areas insist that they are hooved, not booted. Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. 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. 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. 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. Made solely of ingredients sourced locally, these scrumptious delicacies have, according to Karamanes, been part of Greek tradition since antiquity. “Turkey made its appearance in the late 19th century, when the elite started following the trends of French cuisine,” says Karamanes. Illuminated boats, roasted pork and honey cookies are all staples of a Greek Christmas. https://goo.gl/UwxBi8 Download TONS of FREE PDF lessons to learn Greek twice as fast! 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). Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. During the slaughter, families followed a ritual, ending by painting a pig’s blood cross on children’s heads to protect them from headaches. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our. Greece has some unique holiday traditions that set the celebration of Christmas and New Year’s in Greece apart. 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. Turkey is a big part of Greek Christmas food customs, and it is common to find this bird on most Greek Christmas tables. Then you take a basil sprig and wrap it around a wooden cross; suspending this basic cross from the wire. 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. One of the traditions most commonly associated with Greece is their use of spices in much of their dishes, whether an entree or dessert. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. Traditionally, the main dish on the Greek Christmas festive table was pork – a custom that many Greek families preserve. If you want to be part of this long-lasting celebration, check out the most popular Greek Christmas traditions and customs. Folklore expert Evangelos Karamenes spoke to Culture Trip about the most popular Greek Christmas traditions to have survived the centuries. According to the folk Christmas traditions, the hobgoblins are short, ugly creatures with many deformities. However, as soon as December arrives, festivities begin: homes are decorated, and the smell of Christmas treats is in the air. Or Merry Christmas in Greek Explore the Christmas traditions of Greece. 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. CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN CRETE AND GREECE . Greek folk tradition has it that little mischievous kallikantzari, … During the Christmas holidays one would see pomegranates in Christmas decorations and hanging on the doors of houses. But how do Greeks celebrate Christmas? 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. During the twelve days of Christmas, the young women of the village carry empty pitchers to nearby fountains and fill them with water. “The main ingredients of melomakarona and kourabiedes are oil, honey, oranges and nuts, which are Greece’s most famous food products. The Kallikantzaroi, is one such story, which has become a Greek Christmas tradition. The Evil Eye. Priests throw a cross into the sea, river or lake and a group of men jump into the water to recover it. Greek Christmas Guide What you need to know about Christmas Holidays in Greece. In Greece there are two ways in which the festival of Christmas is celebrated one is religious and conventional, the second one is glamorous. Celebrate Christmas Italian Styles at These City Events, Christmas in India: The Best Places to Celebrate It, Things to Do for Christmas in Northern Virginia, 10 Things to Do in New England this Holiday Season, Christmas in Scandinavia: Traditions, Events, and Foods, Celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve in Europe, Best Christmas Festivals in Small-Town America, Plan Your Christmas Vacation to Eastern Europe, 48 Hours in Athens: The Perfect Itinerary, Discover Russian Traditions, Holidays, and Festivals, How to Celebrate Christmas and New Years in Spain, Christmas Traditions and Customs in Greece, Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The carols are one of the most important parts of the Christmas tradition in Greece. 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. At the same time, its symbolic meaning is to bring a productive year to the household,” he adds. The hobgoblins are known as kallikantzari in Greek. 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. Of course, the traditional Christmas Tree is as beloved a decorative symbol of the season as it is elsewhere. Vasilopita, translating to Saint Basil’s pie, is a traditional dessert made for New Year’s Day. Learn everything you need to know about Christmas in Greece! A Brief History of Christmas in Peru. Throughout Christmas holidays there are several Christmas traditions that are celebrated throughout Greece. Christmas in Greece. According to Karamanes, for the next few decades Christmas trees were only seen in upper-class … 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. 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.. Almost invariably male, other regions see in them the forms of wolves or even monkeys. The first Christmas in the Americas was a bit of a letdown. Here are some of the things that make the Greek holiday season special. St Basil’s Cake is prepared for the dinner of New Year’s Eve. Greece has its own musical traditions around the holidays, too. 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. Greek Christmas Elf Lore While other cultures have Christmas elves, the Greek equivalent is not so benign. Every part of the country boasts a plethora of traditions and special customs that have survived over the centuries. Cookies are all staples of a letdown locally, these scrumptious delicacies have according. Also carry model boats decorated with nuts which are painted gold big part of the Greek.... 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