Link #104

LINK DECEMBER 15 th 2017

N°104

December Editor: Mirella Ka

Designer: Gordana Scepanovic

Cover Photo: Mirella Ka

LINK

#LINKEXPLORE

CONTENT Contact 5 About us 6 Youth Center - program 16 Thypical winter activity 18 Min and max temperature 20 Mirella Ka 22 Yana Volkova 26 Majka Dokudowicz 28 Joana Ganilho Marques 32 Sheila Gómez 34 Gordana Scepanovic 36 Ophélie Cottier 40 Ola Kaczurba 42 Ola Kaczurba 46 Antía Fernández Martínez 48 Mirella Ka

52 Anna Szlendak 55

Mirella Ka

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EVS, K.A.NE. Who are we?

Past events Winter magic? Not for all of us.

Seasonal greeting cards Happiness in simplicity The Spanish winter Winter decoration Saint-Nickolas' Day 12 dishes and one plate Polish recipe The Kallikantzari Christmas is where you are Traces of Slavic pagan culture in Polish Christmas Eve Photo report

K.A.NE. EVS: Anna Szlendak Antía Fernández Martínez Gordana Scepanovic Joana Ganilho Marques Mariam Sassi Majka Dokudowicz Mehdi Jaffar Mina Duma Mirella Karadzhova Ola Kaczurba Ophélie Cottier Paquita Couppey Sheila Gómez Sofiene Lahdheri Yana Volkova ACT Volunteers: Antoine Werquin Bilal Zegoud Janae-Amira Jussa

Staff members of KA.NE.: Filaretos Vourkos Fotini Arapi Jelena Scepanovic Nantiana Koutiva Vyron Giannakopoulos

@kane.kalamata

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WHO ARE WE?

Joana

Ophelie

Gordana

Hello ! My name is Joana, I’m 29 years old and I’m from Lisbon, Portugal. I studied fine arts, art education and museology and I just arrived Kalamata for a 12 months EVS project. I’ve worked for a lot of time in bookshops and I love to read. I like quiet places where I can be in touch with nature. I’m a curious person and I’m always better if I have a cup of tea with me.

Bonjour ! My name is Ophélie, I come from France.

I am in Kalamata for 11 months and volunteer at the Day Care Center for children with autism. Living abroad is a wonderful opportunity to meet fascinating people and to learn about cultures. It allows to become independent, open-minded and to avoid ethnocentrism. I can’t wait to discover the greek way of life and to visit the country. I’m also excited about tasting the food (of course !). I like to exchange and discovering so… see you soon around Kalamata !

Hello! I am Gordana Šcepanovic from Croatia. I am here because I want to try different way of life, improve my English and to learn all I have been offered during this EVS project. I like to dance very much and I will contribute to this project with my dance or language classes and of course with volunteering in the horse riding center. This is a great opportunity and I know that the time spent here will be very important for me.

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Paquita

Jae

Yana

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Hi ! My name is Paquita, I'm 26 years old and I'm from Marseille in France. I will stay here for eleven months. My mission will be to work in the therapeutic horse-riding and in the KEFIAP Center to assist people with disabilities. I just finished my studies in the Art-thérapy and I'm very enthusiast to begin my EVS. This will be a great experience for me :)

I’m not the best at introductions, but here goes nothing. I’m Jae, I’m nineteen years old and have lived in Liverpool, United Kingdom almost my entire life. My journey with K.A.N.E in Kalamata is centred around a project that’s going to help the migrants and promote the migrant crisis in Greece. For me this is an adventure of self discovery, testing my limits and finding out what I’m capable of. Bring it on Kalamata!

I am Yana from Ukraine. For 5 years I was studying architecture in university and I fond of everything about it as well as about natural building. Before coming here I was working as a project coordinator of the workcamps and as freelance graphic designer for different social festivals and non-governmental organizations. The last 4 years I’ve been travelling to different places in Europe such as eco-villages and rural areas helping people and promoting volunteering for peace. All kind of arts, nature, voluntarism, and travel - my biggest passions in life.

Mariam

Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things is the best way to grow, and this is what EVS is all about. My name is Mariam, I am 24 and I come from Tunisia. Passionate by traveling, arts, adventures as well as meeting new people and discovering new traditions, places and cultures. I decided to leave all of my normal steady life in Tunisia to come seek inspiration and explore a new way of living in Greece, in the beautiful city of Kalamàta. I would use all of my knowledge and dig even deeper to give the best of me, but also try to learn everything I can from other volunteers, from locals and daily life experience, either languages, dancing, music instrument, sports etc.

Mina

Majka

I’m Mina and I’m 28 years old free spirit. I don’t like routine and I think that everything that seems interesting is worth trying. I’m fascinating about human interaction and being part of K.A.NE. gives me the opportunity to meet and work with many beautiful people. I am fascinated about sciencefiction and superheroes, and I guess that shaped me into an idealist who believes that there is beauty and courage in everything, no matter how small.

Therefore, our duty as human beings is to highlight it.

Hello! I’m Majka, I’m 27 and I’m coming from Poland.

I grew up in Warsaw, but the last 8 years I was living in Poznan, Wrocław and Thessaloniki. I’m a printmaker and graphic designer, I’ve finish Academy of Fine Arts and I’ve participate in more than 50 exhibitions worldwide. In Kalamata I will work in the office and I will also create my own projects.

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Sheila

Mirella

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Hello, my name is Sheila, I am from Valencia, Spain. I am graduate in Environmental Sciences.

I am passionate about nature and protection of animals. I like to travel and to know other cultures and new people. I will be in Kalamata for 3 months people with disabilities in KEFIAP Center. Before I participated in different Youth Exchanges and Erasmus+ program during my study-project. I think is an excellent opportunity to learn and improve a foreign language and to acquire competences for personal and professional development. I am happy to know you!!

Hello, Earth-citizens!

I’m Mirella Ka. and the Universe is my best friend.

I was born on the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria, but now only my base camp is in Burgas, as my nomadic nature always brings me to different places.

As I love always trying new things and activities, I’ve been through variety of experiences - in art & communication field, in tourism, in aviation... I love to share my experiences as a traveler, as a volunteer, as an adventurer, as a discoverer of diverse interesting events, as an activist, as an Earth-citizen in my blog - Let’s humanize (click here).

I came to Kalamata, because I felt in love with the description of the “ARTivist” project and after several tries to learn Greek, I hope this one will be the most successful one!

Antia

Anna

Ola

Καλημέρα! My name is Antía and I come from Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. I have arrived in this city because some years ago I made the “mistake” – but, who chooses these things? - of falling in love with Greece and with the Greek language. So, after finishing my university studies in Humanities and Literature, I decided to start my Greek periplus, periplus that, after Thessaloniki and Crete, has found its new stage here in Kalamata. Να μας δούμε στο ταξίδι!

Kalimera! I am Ania and I come from Poland. I will be working for KANE and running Photography and Ukulele workshops. I studied photography in the Institute of Journalism of the University of Warsaw and worked for press photo agencies when I lived in my country. I enjoy every form of photography, I use both digital and film camera, I also create my own pinhole cameras.

Besides, I am totally addicted to travel.

Hello there! I’m Ola but you can call me Alex. I’m 18 and I have just finished high school. I come from capitol of Poland – Warsaw. I love chocolate, breathtaking harmonies, good guitar riffs, totally crazy hairstyles and classic rock. I’m a dancer therefore I will be teaching contemporary/jazz dance and polish in the Youth Centre.Also, I will be helping with therapeutic riding in a horse centre.

See you around!

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Sofiene

Bilal

Antoine

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Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left my job and decided to take one-in-a- lifetime opportunity to do my EVS in Greece. My name is Sofiene, I’ am 26 and I am from a tiny country in North Africa called Tunisia. I am a photographer, videographer, graphic designer and I am here to share my experience and knowledge as well as expand it and acquire new skills. I’m social, open minded and always curious about different cultures and meeting beautiful people.

My name is Bilal, I am 25, I am Moroccan but I come from Belgium more precisely from Brussels. I study tourism. I am passioned by boxing and fitness. I will be in Kalamata for 6 months working with Refugees.

Amahoro !

My name is Antoine, I'm 25, I am here for 6 month.

I'm Graphic Designer and engaged humanitarian since 6 years. I joined the ACT (Youth on the Move) project to help migrants and refugees in Europe. I like traveling, meeting new people, music, cinema, my family, my friends, love, parties and pitas."

Mehdi

There are at least as many things to know as there are humans and countries. EVS enables the possibility to know much more about our World. Καλημερα, Hello, my name is Mehdi, I am 24 and I come from France. Passionate about Life and Nature, my biggest motivation is to learn from other cultures, from people, from life. I decided to quit my job there too, so I could catch the opportunity to experience something unique in Greece, in Kalamata, and all the Greek cities I will have the chance to see. I will bring you all I have, and I will learn from everyone all I can.

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K.A.NE.

Filaretos

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Jelena

Nantiana

Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 10 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 6 years ago,I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.

Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic, an EVS coordinator in K.A.NE. and a volunteer of the Youth center.

I came from Montenegro in 2012 as an EVS volunteer. I really liked the idea of the Youth center and the work that KANE does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.

My name is Nantiana! I’m 23 years old. I live in Kalamata! I was living for 5 years in Patras! I was studying there greek philology and now I’m teaching greek to the youth center in Kalamata.

Fotini

Vyron

Hi my name is Fotini Arapi and I am project manager in K.A.NE. organization and responsible, among other things, for all sending motilities (sending EVS volunteers, participants in training courses, interns, etc). Apart from my work in K.A.NE., I also volunteer in the Youth Centre of Kalamata, a volunteer initiative managed by a team of local volunteers. I am very proud of and I love the Youth Centre, its dynamic atmosphere, and most of all, its natural inclusiveness that allows everybody to feel “at home” there. See you around :-D

I would describe Vyron as an imaginative fast learning and inventive generalist with a passion for remarkable food and the great outdoors. That’s enough talking about myself in third person. Hello, I am Vyron Giannakopoulos, I consider myself a curious and open-minded person. I have studied the science of Geography and as the newest member of K.A.NE. I am here to help by managing the creative projects of EVS volunteers, planning events, creating new projects and doing anything that will add value to our organisation. In my free time I like exploring new places and learning new things. But feel free to contact me on any issue if you need help. Namaste

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W I N T ER

Ty p i ca l w i n t e r a c t i v i t y France During winter

Ukraine I like to

take my Snowshoes and to go

Sled! Adults and kids are

for a walk into the snowy, quiet

excited to use “sanki” and

and magic forests. The best part of

have a lot fun in the snow (as

snowshoes is freedom: we can do it everywhere and by ourselves, we

we have a lot of snow).

don’t need a path.

Montenegro Sledding on nylon was the funniest sport in

Portugal Winter is the perfect season to practice

my childhood. Before I got my

my favorite activity: reading. It’s

sledge, I used a big peace of nylon and

cold outside and cozy inside, and

together with my friends, we would climb the hill in the village and sled with a hilarious falls.

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my cat really appreciates that I’m around. Low light and a cup of tea, what else can I ask?

Bulgaria has recently become one of Europe’s most attractive winter sports destinations. Bansko won the name of best-value destination for ski holidays. The big variety of quality ski resorts is because the country boasts the highest mountains between the Alps and the Caucasus, ensuring a reliable snow cover throughout most of the season.

Bulgaria It seems difficult to talk about a winter sport in Galician, usually we don’t practice any particular activity in this season.

Normally, we spend this time of the year around the lareiras (our traditional

Spain

fireplaces), eating and drinking with good company.

Very popular winter sport in the cities is ice skating. In some big towns (like Warsaw) most of the rinks have free entrance and you pay only for borrowing skates. It is a really nice thing to do with your friends and family

Poland

during winter days.

Winersports are relatively new in Romania and this trend was brought from Austria and Germany. Skiing is the first winter sport prefered by the romanian people. The young people also enjoy snowboarding. In the cities, the rinks on lakes or artificial lakes were very popular at first. Nowadays, artificial rinks are

Romania

installed in most cities during winter.

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W I N T ER

M i n a n d m ax t e m p e r at u r e Montenegro Thanks

to

its

Spain

geographical

Due to the big weather differences

location, the sea, the relief -

between one region and another in

mountain massifs, the climate in

Spain, our temperatures are really

Montenegro is very diverse. The

dissimilar, from the gentle winter

highest temperature during the winter can be 10 ° C, and lowest in some places and up to -10 ° C.

Romania The

lowest

temperature

in the South to the snow in the mountains.

Portugal ever

Portugal has around 300 days

recorded in Romania was -38.5

of sun per year, so I kind of enjoy

degrees, in January, 1942. The

the rain during winter. It’s the best

highest recorded temperature ever

time to arrange home cinema with

was 44.5 degrees in August of 1951.

friends or road trips to the mountain, where can make even the worse day brighter.

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Ukraine

max in winter +11*C min in winter -35*C

Poland

max. temp: +12*C min. temp: -34*C

The lowest recorded

Bulgaria

temperature since the collection of

statistics

in

Bulgaria

was

measured in the town of Trun in 1947, which was -38.3 °C.

In December and January

France

the average temperatures in my home town are between 1°C and -5°C. The coldest temperature we’ve ever had was -18°C.

We are used to have snow in winter but since the last past years we don’t always have snow for Christmas (on the 25th of December)...

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W I N T ER

Past ev en t s

Last two months were full of events for the local and the international community of Kalamata!

All together foreign and local volunteers were travelling through times, cultures, nations! All these enriching exchanges were taking place in the Youth Center of Kalamata, where the local residents could enjoy free entrance and good company.

I n t er c u lt u r a l n i g h t The first event that I would like to share with you, has become already a branded tradition in Kentro Neon Kalamatas and this is the INTERCULTURAL NIGHT! It’s an amazing gathering between representatives of all the diverse nationalities which take part of some volunteering project in Kalamata, such as EVS short term, EVS long term and ACT program. This celebration is a combination of gastronomical tour, cultural exhibition and art performance!

Visitors of the event are welcomed to taste different traditional meals of each country that the volunteers prepared themselves. On the walls there were exhibited pages of the volunteer’s on-line magazine LiNK (https://issuu.com/kane.kalamata/ docs ) with topics such as “National free time & leisure activities”, “Favorite place in my country”, “The strangest meal from our traditional cuisine”, etc. in order to show better each one’s country, national mentality and customs. In addition to the culinary pleasures, the attendants of the event could enjoy the special edition of folklore dances, shown by the volunteers from different countries. Furthermore there was a funny game about guessing words written in different languages.

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EVS ca ffe The next event which happened in the Youth Center in Kalamata was orientated towards the local people in order to provide them information about the EVS program.

EVS stands for European Voluntary Service and it helps young people travel abroad to participate in volunteering projects. As an EVS volunteer, one commits themselves to the work for an organization abroad.

Volunteering projects can involve many different kinds of activities in areas such as youth work, cultural activities, social care or environmental protection. The actual EVS volunteers in Kalamata has prepared a very detailed and interactive presentation for the ones who are curious to take part in this program. Local youngsters also were part of the event, sharing their experience from a youth mobility project. The cherry on the cake of that night was an activity called “human library”. The EVS volunteers were spread in all the space in different tables, titled with different topics exactly the same way as books on a shelf. So the audience could choose a topic they are interested in, or even to visit all the tables and to “read the story” (or hear it) from first hand from the volunteer’s personal experience. There were different titles with different topics, such as “Almost done”, “Fresh EVS-ers”, “First and last train to EVS”, etc.

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D i s c u ss i o n o n m o d er n a n d c o n t em po r a ry a rt One of the best gifts that the Youth Center gives to the Kalamata community is the Every-Wednesday event. Each week the topic, the format and the field of interest is different, but one thing is always the same–everyone

is

welcome

to attend it for free! In a cozy space with friendly people and nice ambience. So the last event for November was dedicated to Contemporary and Modern Art, and more specifically to the differences between both. The organizer and leader of the event was an EVS volunteer from Poland, who is freshly graduated from Academy of Fine Art in Wrocław. Majka Dokudowicz is a printmaker and graphic designer, who define herself as an ‘analog’ person - in love with books and art on paper. She speaks with passion about art, as she has wide culture and rich awareness on the topic, so she could spread them easily to the audience of her event. People were lively asking questions and everyone was really curious to understand a lot of things like what is the formula to criticize or perceive a piece of art, for instance! After Majka showed examples of different movements of art, she surprised the public with a very interesting game. People received both printed copies of famous artworks and quotes of the art critics who were giving evaluations to the artists. The attendants of the event had to find out – guessing or remembering which quote corresponds to which artwork. The game was really interesting but in the same time very difficult and requiring a lot of knowledge. And honestly, art critics were so cruel with poor artists. Thanks God this fact didn’t stop them creating new art and even new movements in art!

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Vo lu n t eers' w eek First week of December was really busy one! The reason for this was the International Volunteering Day – 5 th of December! It is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985 and it is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector. Volunteer community in Kalamåta, represented by Local Volunteers from Kentro Neon Kalamatas, European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers and ACT volunteers celebrated the International Volunteering Week (5-8 Dec 2017) with several actions which aimed to bring awareness among the local people about volunteerism. A daily info pint was set up on Othomos square where passers-by could learn more about different volunteering opportunities in local and international scale. Volunteers were sharing impressions from first-hand about advantages of volunteering. A Christmas tree from recycled metal cans has been created in front of walker's eyes by creative and eco-friendly EVS-ers. The closing event took place on the main street in Kalamata - Aristomenous, where a touching performance of Sign Language was the occasion for volunteers and passers-by to exchange good mood.

MIRELLA KA

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W I N T ER

W i n t e r m a g i c ? N ot f o r a l l o f u s.

I was thinking what my next LINK article can be about with the topic “Winter”. Should I write about winter sports in Ukraine? Or food that we eat for the New Year’s Eve? Or maybe how we spend our free time during winter holidays? And then, I realized, that few years ago for almost 700 000 people winter was without fluffy white snow, Christmas decorations and family dinner in warm and save house.

The Euromaidan was an encampment and daily gathering site for thousands of people in downtown Kyiv that swelled to hundreds of thousands of bodies on weekends, through weeks of frozen days and nights, from November into the new year.

This winter was different, this winter changed not only the political situation 26

of our country, but the mindset of Ukrainians. It gave us strength, hope, believe that we are the power, we are citizens of our country and we can be proud of it. We can’t be proud of our systems, but we can be proud of beauty of Ukrainian heart, beauty of Ukrainian lands. It was that winter when we realized, that we are strong, and that we are stronger together.

The reason I was struggling in choosing this topic and why I was not sure if I should write about Ukrainian revolution 2014 is because I didn’t want to put a dark and negative topic inside our beautiful Winter edition.

That’s why, this article is not about sadness of that winter, it’s about power of activism and optimism of Ukrainian people.

I want all of us to have nice winter celebrations, but also keep in mind, that many people have never seen or have seen but never have felt this magic of winter. They would might never enjoy this magic of winter: fluffy white snow, Christmas decorations and family dinner in warm and save house.

And we should be here for them. We can’t change many things, but we can give a small magic as a gift to people in need.

Small acts of kindness during the winter: join local NGO in their actions, make donations, give presents!

Happy winter holidays!

If you are interested in events of Ukrainian winter, you can watch this movie: Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

YANA VOLKOVA

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W I N T ER

S eas o n a l g r eet i n g ca r d s

History The history of greeting cards dates back to the ancient Chinese who exchanged messages of goodwill to celebrate a New Year, and to early Egyptians who used papyrus scrolls to send greetings. Europeans begin selling and exchanging handmade greeting cards since 1415. Before cards were exchanged, woodprints and etchings depicting important religious scenes had been shared at Christmas since the Middle Ages. Created by carving an image onto a wooden or metal plate, they were intricate and time consuming to create what means also that they were extremely expensive and not a lot of people could afford them. Due to that they weren't' very popular at this point. They were given just from hand to hand as a form of small gift.

Everything change for greeting cards when post become more popular and affordable in 1800's. At the beginning only very rich people could afford to send anything by the post. In 1843 Sir Henry Cole had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist.

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They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each. The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner (and yes, you see correctly - among everyone there is a child being given a glass of wine).

About 1000 of this cards were printed and sold. It was also the time, that 'Penny Post' started making post services affordable for ordinary people. It was possible due to development of the new way of transport – the trains.

Although photography emerged in the 1830s, due to the expense of the medium it wasn't used to make cards until much later. Even then coloured images could only be created by hand painting the black and white prints, hence the limited colour palette. As printing methods improved due to the color lithographic process, Christmas cards became much more popular and were produced in large numbers from about 1860. In 1870 the cost of sending a postcard, and also Christmas cards, dropped to half a penny. This meant even more people were able to send cards. By the early 1900s, the custom had spread over Europe and had become especially popular in Germany.

Theme The first cards usually had pictures of the Nativity scene on them. In the winter of 1836 there was extremely heavy snowfall followed by similarly white winters in the 1840s and 50s. As a result Christmas cards depicting snow scenes became fashionable in the late Victorian period.

Father Christmas, or some version of him, has existed since the 3rd century. Until the 1930s, he was depicted in blue and green as well as red.

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Evergreen plants like holly, ivy and mistletoe were the only means of brightening up less affluent homes during

the

dark

winter

months.

Nowadays, cards have all sorts of pictures on them: jokes, winter pictures, Santa Claus or romantic scenes of life in past times.

Sending good by doing good Charities often sell their own Christmas Cards as a way raising money at Christmas. This custom started in Denmark in the early 1900s by a postal worker who thought it would be a good way for charities to raise money, as well as making the cards more decorative.

It was a great success: over four million were sold in the first year! Soon Sweden and Norway adopted the custom and then it spread all over Europe and to America.

The most widely known use of holiday cards for fundraising is the UNICEF annual holiday card sale, which raises money to provide at-risk children around the world with essential services, such as vaccines and clean water. UNICEF’s first card, issued in 1949, featured an image painted by a seven-year-old Czechoslovakian girl whose village had received food and medicine from UNICEF in the wake of World War II.

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Only christmas cards?

The oldest known greeting card in existence is a Valentine made in the 1400's and it is in the British Museum. New Year's cards can be dated back to this period as well, but the New Year greeting didn't gain popularity until the late 1700's.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, when lovers said or sang their Valentines. Written Valentines began to appear after 1400.

Paper

Valentines were exchanged in Europe where they were given in place of Valentine gifts. Handmade paper Valentines were especially popular in England. In the mid to early 1800's, Valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured Valentines were black and white pictures painted by workers in a factory. Esther Howlan known as the Mother of the Valentine made fancy Valentines with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". She introduced the Paper Lace Valentine in the mid 1800's. By the end of the 1800's, Valentines were being made entirely by machine.

MAJKA DOKUDOWICZ

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W I N T ER

Happiness in simplicity

Matsuo Basho has a poem that says that in the winter the world has only one color and the sound of the wind. I like the idea; it brings me the image of a peaceful quiet time. For me winter at home is synonym of quietness, for opposition to the crazy consumption that Christmas brings; and if there is something that I like very much it is for sure quietness.

For maybe 10 years now I’ve been taking holidays during winter. It’s my own unplanned week off from the world. My destination is not a distant sunny island or the snowy mountains; I’ve been just looking for some quality time at home, with nothing particular in mind except the company of a good book, dressed with pajamas and warm socks, with homemade bread and warm soup available, a cup of tea next to me all day long, and the cat on my lap.

This was my small capsule of time to be with myself – and to be myself. All year long, when I was too rushed by life, I would try to transport my mind to that coziness, that peace which could recharge my batteries for the next 12 months.

And then, last year, just before I came to Greece, a friend taught me about Hygge.

Hygge is an invitation to intimacy and connection; although the concept is Danish its sense belongs to all humankind. Pronounced “hoo-gah”, it is a quality of presence and an experience of belonging and togetherness – a feeling of being warm, safe, comforted, and sheltered. It’s about selfhood and the communication with people and places that anchor us, and the belonging to the moment and to each other. Hygge is a sense of abundance and contentment, and that’s why it is about being instead of having.

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Hygge is all about simplicity: eating homemade pastry, curling up by the fire with a blanket, wearing a woolly jumper, lightening some candles, having a meaningful conversation with someone you love, focusing on the small things that really matter. It is an attitude to life that requires consciousness, slowness, and the ability to be present – but mainly to enjoy the present, recognizing the sacred in the secular, expressing love through the smallest gestures.

Sometimes we belong to places that are still unknown to ourselves. This Christmas, if I could make a wish, I would wish that the world could be a little more Hygge.

A place where everybody could feel cozy; a place where we all embrace to build stronger communities by paying attention one to another; a place where each family aims for closer relationships; a place where each one of us could have the chance to choose to be surrounded by what makes us truly happy.

JOANA GANILHO MARQUES 33

W I N T ER

T h e S pa n i s h W i n t er When winter is coming and it starts getting cold outside, people enjoy taking rest at home, watching movies under the blanket and preparing “Chocolate caliente con churros”. This is a traditional pasta, fried in hot oil, then dipped into hot chocolate and it’s so tasty.

In Spain, it gets dark around 18:3019:00 pm and this is the period when people stay at home and it’s not very active season.

Christmas starts coming in NOVEMBER, you can see candles and decoration everywhere - on the streets, in the supermarkets, in the stores. In the schools

children

prepare

traditional

songs, theatrical plays and workshops.

In the city centre it’s typical to put an artificial ice skating rink. Music festivals for Youth and students are good opportunity to have fun.

The 24th December is “Nochebuena”, an important family day for dinner with traditional food, a lot of desserts , sweets and wine.

The 25th December is “Navidad”, the traditional lunch when Santa Claus or “Papá Noèl” gives a lot of presents in the house. On the streets there is a ride with elvish costumes and Christmas songs.

The 31st December, we celebrate the New Year. It’s the last day of the Year, people are dressed in luxury clothes and go out for dinner with friends. At 00:00 o’clock it’s traditional to eat 12 grapes, one for each bell that rings in the belfry and it’s a sign for hope that the new year will be good. It’s the night of a magical party.

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The 6th January is an important Day for Children - “Los Reyes Magos”. Then we prepare a traditional dessert “Roscón de Reyes”, which is a Spanish pastry.

Eaten to celebrate Epiphany which is a Christian holiday that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being - Jesus Christ. “Roscon de Reyes” dessert is in round or oval shape and it’s decorated with candied fruits and sliced almonds. Inside there are one or two little prizes waiting for you: traditionally a coin and a dry bean. Whoever finds the coin is crowned “king” or “queen” of the celebration whereas whoever finds the bean has to pay for the next year’s roscón. It must not be missing from the breakfast table this day which is the beginning of ”Dia de Reyes” (The King’s Day). It commemorates the arrival of the three wise men.

Traditionally children get presents and go to bed early in the evening of 5th January. The leave to the 3 kings (Melchor, Gaspart and Baltasar) and their camels something to eat and drink. In the next morning they get up very excited and can’t wait go to the Christmas tree to check whatthekings have left for them.

SHEILA GOMEZ

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W I N T ER

W i n t er d ec o r at i o n Without red and green Red and green are the go-to Christmas colors, but have you ever thought about leaving them out this year? Get in the Christmas spirit without the red and green!

Let your home be unique and trendy by decorating with any color besides the traditional red or green.

Silver Elements Surely, you can rely on different silver decorative ornaments, which will assist you in creating the perfect winter atmosphere at home. These silver elements can be candles, fruit trays, painted pinecones, photo frames, tablecloths, napkins, etc. Put your imagination to work.

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Typical Winter Materials “Furnish” your home with materials, which are typical for the season-suede, wool, leather or velvet – they are doing a great job for this purpose. Of course, yarn is never out of fashion, so don’t forget to include it in your home decor project.

Wood is often related to winter and it brings warmth in your house. Therefore try to implement some kind of wooden element in the winter decoration.

Paper Snowflakes This idea is well-known and can be used even after Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s very easy and cheap version for winter decoration. It’s not obligatory to make the snowflakes white. You can choose paper in different colours and create your own snowflake patterns. Once you cut them out, you can hang then on curtains, stick them to windows or let them hang from the chandelier.

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Winter in the bathroom When decorating your home for the current season, don’t forget the bathroom.

You can do this by hanging a shower curtain decorated with typical winter ornaments, such as snowflakes or snowmen.

Decorate your entryway Winter decorating

doesn’t have to

stay inside the house. Spread the joy by decorating your entryway. Adding a lantern pathway will give your guests a comfortable feel when walking up to your doorstep. Let your home be unique with a metal wreath made from kitchenware.

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Food decorations Want to have a unique appetizer plate on your Christmas dinner table?! Then this Christmas cute egg snowman will make it beautiful and unique.

And finish your dinner with this beautiful Christmas tree desert.

GORDANA SCEPANOVIC 39

W I N T ER

Sa i n t - N i c ko las ' day

On the 6th December, in the east of France, in Germany, in Belgium, in Austria‌ The Saint Nicholas’ day is being celebrated.

This tradition in Lorraine (east of France) dates back from the battle of Nancy in 1477, when the Duke of Lorraine put his army under the holy protection of Saint-Nicholas.

As the battle was won, Saint-Nicholas is celebrated every year in Lorraine.

Nicholas from Myre, bishop in Turkey (from the beginning of the 3rd century), was seen as protector of children, widowed and weak people. He is believed to have resuscitated children after they were killed by a butcher.

In the east part of France, Saint-Nicholas and its donkey come to kindergartens and in the streets to bring sweets to good children (apple, gingerbread, chocolate). He is accompanied by Black Peter, who gives coal, potatoes or onion to misbehaved children. Personally I will never forget the day Black Peter rebuked me because I didn’t want to take a nap (hopefully I still get sweets from Saint-Nicholas this year)!

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At the 6th of December, in the east of France, bakers prepare Mannele which are brioches (with or without sultana or chocolate) in the shape of Saint-Nicholas.

Parades are also taking places in cities. Children sing « Grand Saint-Nicolas patron des écoliers » and listen the story of Saint-Nicholas, the one in which he rescued children from the butcher.

OPHELIE COTIER

41

W I N T ER

1 2 d i s h e s a n d o n e p lat e

One of things that people might not know is that in Poland during Christmas Eve we eat 12 dishes and it’s a must! It’s one of those traditions that you do not break. But you can cheat… The history is not really clear. One of the theories is that every dish represents each Apostol. Other says it comes from heathen celebrations of 12 gods of 12 months. Going further into this, you must try every dish so that every month of next year will be filled with luck and fortune. Personally, I have never tried all of dishes since some of them are made of numerous things I don’t like. I guess that’s the reason of my poor luck.

Anyway, here is the list of most common food you will find on polish Christmas table:

1. Barszcz (Bortsch) – usually served with small Pierogi called “uszka” (little ears).

This soup is made with beet and is causing a lot of problems with laundry because the stains are really hard to wash.

2. Grzybowa (Mushroom soup) – one of those I can’t stand. As the name says, it’s made of mushrooms. And that’s pretty much it.

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3. Pierogi (dumplings) – there is nothing more polish than Pierogi. During Christmas Eve we usually eat ones with cottage cheese and potatoes or with cabbage and mushrooms.

4. Kompot z Suszu (compote of dried fruits) – something extremely traditional and extremely christmasish. It’s the thing that some love and some hate. There is nothing in between.

5. Karp – It is the fish that is a must must must. Usually before the dinner carp is swimming in the bathtub and is being killed in the morning. It became a symbol of Christmas.

6. Sledz – Another very popular fish on polish Christmas table. Server differently – with vegetables, with butter, with sour cream… however you like

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7. Ryba w galarecie (Fish in jelly) – sounds awful? That’s another one of my dislikes. I guess just the idea of jelly made of vegetables with fish inside is not convincing me. I was never brave enough 8. Kapusta z grochem (cabbage with peas) – Nice thing to add with other dishes. Best in its simplicity

9. Paszteciki grzybowe (mushroom pies) – Alternative to „uszka” for Barsch or simple appetizer. Basically, it’s mushrooms inside salty cake.

10. Makowiec (poppy-seed cake) cake made with poppy seeds and addition of citrus peel. It’s being rolled up with yeast cake and baked.

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11. Piernik (gingerbread) – nothing smells more like Christmas than gingerbread.

Mix of walnut, ginger, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon inside one cake sounds like something worth waiting 364 days for.

12.

Opłatek

(christmas

wafer)

–

originated from tradition of sharing breed, nowadays is a wafer made with flour and water. Fun fact: we share opłatek also with animals so at midnight they would speak with humans.

Those are not the only “dinner things” done in Poland. The extremely polish tradition is an “empty plate for stranger”. We leave one extra plate for “lost traveler” so he could dine with us. I think it is a very nice tradition although my childhood dream of hosting guest never happened. Maybe one day…

OLA KACZURBA 45

W I N T ER Recipe

P i e r z n i cz k i-P o l i s h C h r i s t m as g i n g er b r e a d s Ingredients: * 1/4 glass of honey * 80 g butter * 1/2 glass of brown or powdered sugar * 1 egg * 2 and 1/4 glass of flour * 1 teaspoon of baking soda * 1,5 - 2 spoon of gingerbread spices mix (ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, anise)

Preparation: Honey, butter and sugar heat in a pot and mix until the sugar melt, then leave to cool down. Add the rest of ingredients and mix. If cake is too floury, add more liquid honey. Leave in the fridge for some time (It will be easier to roll).

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Baking: Roll out the cake 2-3 mm thick and cut out the shapes (usually Christmasoriented). Put cut out cookies on the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes in 180ºC. Decorating: Let pierniczki cool down for some time. In the meantime, you can prepare lukier –mix powder sugar with a little bit of water or milk until it has consistency of paste. You can add some food coloring or lemon juice for the taste. Decorate pierniczkias you wish and let them sit a bit. They taste the best after 2 weeks or more but everybody knows that they won’t survive that long when family and friends will gather.

PS: You can also hang them on the Christmas tree or give as a present

OLA KACZURBA

47

W I N T ER

TH E KA LLI KA NTZA R I: CHRISTMAS CRIATURES OF THE NIGHT Λένε πὼς τρέμουν τὰ βουνὰ καὶ πὼς θυμώνουν τὰ ἔλατα Ὅταν ἡ νύχτα ροκανάει τὶς πρόκες τῶν κεραμιδιῶν νὰ μποῦν οἱ καλικάντζαροι μέσα

(They say that the mountains tremble and that the fir trees rage When night gnaws the pins of the roof-tiles for the kallikantzari to enter)

Nikos Gatsos, Amorgos

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Christmas is this period of the year when the days are being filled with good wishes, sweets animals like reindeers or camels, presents, lights and colors.

Nevertheless, all that glitters is not gold, and in Greece Christmas also means the period in which the creatures of the underworld “invade” the Earth. In Greece, in Christmas, the kallikantzari (in Greek, καλικαντζάροι, from the singular καλικαντζάρος) make their appearance in our world.

According to

the Greek belief, the

kallikantzari are the

creatures that inhabit

Hades, where they

saw the tree that

hold the earth, the

pillars of the world.

They spend the year

working in its labor,

but,

Eve, as soon as the

bell rings, they leave

their work and come

up to the Earth, where

we will stay until the

Epiphany, during the

period called in Greek,

τα δοδεκάμερα, that

is, ‘the twelve days’.

These are the only

days in the year in

which the kallikantzari

can come to our

world, due the fact

that, according to

the

it is the only period

in which the water

is

because the newborn

“unbaptized”,

on

Christmas

popular

belief,

Christ who is still

unbaptized.

They

leave the Underworld

with the tree almost

serrated, and believing that, during their absence, the tree will fall upon by itself.

However, during the time that they are out, the pillars of the tree are mysteriously restored so they have to start again. Like that, one year, and another year, and another year… the same process being repeated circled each Christmas.

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Even thought the descriptions of the physical appearance of these creatures differ, all of them agree in highlight their extreme ugliness and thinness. Usually they are reported as having the stature of dwarfs and dressing in a tattered and wretched way.

The kallikantzari are also described like very stupid and easily deceived; and as capable of wrecking extensive damage during the days that they spend in cohabitation with humans. They are specially known for producing “domestic havocs”. For that reason, they are common in some part of Greece by the celebration of “cleaning” rituals with the blessing of the houses after the Christmas period, in order to keep these spaces clean from the night spirits, such as kallikantzari. In these rituals dances and using fire are a usual practice as purifying element. Although various means are employed to deter the actuations of the kallikzantzari, the fire is their biggest fear. Also for this reason, during these days, the fire is kept in the fireplaces of the houses.

During their Christmas incursion in the “up-world” they prefer to stay in wet places like standing waters or rivers – they love swimming. They also like mills situated in deserted places and where three roads cross. They are keen cognoscenti of the dance, a special dance is named after them: ‘the dance of the kallikantzari.’

Some believed that these creatures are humans of a blighted destiny transformed into demons. Susceptible are the babies died without being baptized or for whom the priest incorrectly recites the baptismal blessing, aborted infants, anyone who dies at Christmas, suicides, and those with guardian angels who do not possess sufficient character to protect their charges against evil demonic influence.

And in order to finalize with some curiosity… sometimes, in the translation to Modern Greek, the word kallikantzaros has been used to denominate, in general, any type of goblin or trolls. Like this, for example, the Gringotts goblins form Harry Potter, in Greek translations, are denominated also like “kallikantzari”.

ANTIA FERNANDEZ MARTINEZ 51

W I N T ER

Christmas is where you are In a lot of countries, nations, cultures and customs Christmas is the holiest celebration for which it’s a must that all the family gather together. It’s actually a very comfortable occasion for family to get together in the same place at least once per year and to catch up with the news around the relatives.

This activity can be extremely tiring and sometimes one is happy to not participate in such Christmas script.

Honestly each year the Christmas

I have, has nothing to do with the Christmas from the other years. For instance, once I had to spend Christmas on my working place – surrounded by French tourists for who I was a translator. Thanks God we became friends, so it didn’t feel at all as work. Another time, exactly on Christmas, I was taking part in an art festival, arranging and opening an exhibition. There was a Christmas when I was under “non-alcohol” policy, because that was the rule of the community I was living in, so I was giving a toast with Champaign without alcohol. I’ve had Christmases at home and Christmases far away from home. But one thing is sure! Christmas spirit is a state of mind. No matter how far family and home are, there are always preconditions for happiness. After all the moto of a traveler is: “Home is where you are.”

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So for me it is enough to know that my family are happy and all is fine at home, and even if we don’t share our happiness physically, for sure we do it mentally, emotionally and spiritually! In a higher dimension than the 3D and 4D ones, we are together anyway, because our souls are connected.

This year I’m enjoying Christmas spirit in Greece. An amazing experience that left a strong impression and priceless for-alifetime memory would not happen if I was just staying home. I experienced climbing the Peak of Parnassus Mount – Liakoura (2457 m.) in a furious storm (89–102km/h), which is measured with 10 from the maximum of 12 according to the Beaufort scale and I had the opportunity to spend a night camping in an inactive ski station in Central Greece, being really curious if my tent would be blown away by the storm with me inside… After such dosage of adrenaline, sharing a cup of hot chocolate with your trekking partners is one of the best Christmas gifts!

A new discovery for me from this Christmas was the specific street decoration in Greek style, including tiny Christmas lights around a vine tree.

Another lovely Christmas experience was a nice concert that accompanied the lighting up of the main Christmas tree in Kalamata.

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And now! A completely new and very unforgettable Christmas experience… the dinner that all the volunteers shared together and we were an endless number of people coming from four different continents – Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. A lot of good homemade food, all kind of music and dances, a spontaneous jam session and that amazing game – Secret Santa, when you receive a present from and give one to randomly picked name.

And last, but not least, this weekend we were extremely creative in our atelier (one of the Youth Center’s classrooms) which is rich of materials and inspirational vibes. The occasion for our creativity is the coming Christmas Market which will take place on the main street of Kalamata. So we prepared plenty of nice and cute 100% homemade Christmas presents to support our beloved Kentro!

MIRELLA KA 54

W I N T ER

Traces of slavic pagan culture in polish christmas eve

Have you ever thought about meaning of Christmas traditions?

Most of us are giving them meaning related with Christianity, but the truth is, most of them takes roots in pagan times.

Let’s start with the date of Christmas – 25th December. We are used to say it’s the day when Jesus Christ was born, but you are probably not surprised that it is really doubtful. However, the date of 25th December has always played a significant role in the calendar, even before Jesus was born. In pre-Christian pagan belief, this date marked what was known as the Winter Solstice. Our ancestors, noticing that days were becoming shorter and shorter, were afraid that sun is dying.

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With the "return of the sun" at the end of December, resulting in longer days, they were celebrating.

In Poland, Christmas Eve is even more important than Christmas itself.

We gather with our families around the table to eat dinner together.

Traditionally we put 12 dishes – like the 12 months of the year. It’s necessary to try all of them, then we will not be hungry in the upcoming year. If someone will not try even one dish, he would not have one pleasure in the next year. In old times however, the number of dishes was odd (7, 9 or 11) to bring bumper crop.

When we are talking about dishes – important ingredient of our Christmas Eve cuisine is poppy and mushrooms. As it turns out it’s because of…. their hallucinogenic attributes. In pagan times people believed that in time around Winter Solstice the boundary between 56

the world of alive and dead is very thin and souls of ancestors are around houses. Eating poppy and mushrooms was supposed to help connect with these souls. In some houses, before sitting for dinner, people were knocking on the table in order not to sit on a place which is already taken by a ghosts. Another ingredient, honey, has its place in Christmas Polish cuisine from the same reason. Ancient Slavic believed that bees are able to travel to the beyond.

With ghosts of ancestors visiting their families is related anther tradition. We are used to leave one empty place by table for unexpected guest. In old times people were leaving part of food on the table for ghosts.

Nowadays almost no one remember about that and most of our traditions we relate with Christian history. Still, Christmas Eve traditions are older than Christmas itself.

ANNA SZLENDAK 57

W I N T ER

58

Pho

to r

epo

rt

59

60

MIRELLA KA 61

LINK DECEMBER 15th 2017

The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme, KA1/youth - European Voluntary Service.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.