Christmas in greece

CHRISTMAS IN GREECE 2nd Model Experimental School of Athens

St Nicolas 

Contrary to the western customs, St Nicholas is important in Greece as the patron Saint of sailors. Based on Greek tradition, his outfit is drenched in brine, his beard drips with seawater as he is struggling against the waves to reach sinking ships and rescue sailors from the turbulent sea. It is Saint Basil (Aghios Vassilis) who brings the presents on New Year’s Eve making children happy rewarding the nice and cautioning the naughty ones.

Christmas Eve 

On Christmas Eve, little boys to the beating of drums and the tinkling of triangles usually go door to door singing carols. They are given figs, almonds, walnuts, all sorts of treats as well as coins as reward for their good wishes.

Christmas feast 

After forty days of fasting, the Christmas feast is looked forward to with anticipation by adults and children alike. Pigs are slaughtered and on almost every table there are loaves of a special bread type, called ‘Crystopsomo’ or ‘Christ’s bread’, made in various shapes.

Bread crust is engraved and decorated in such a way that reflects the family profession. Other typical dishes are lamb or roasted kid.

Christmas tree and traditions 

Christmas trees did not use to be a traditional Greek decoration. An ornamented ship used to signal Christmas in every house in the past. However, the western tradition has become really popular in modern times. In almost every home, the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day a family member, usually mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. The ritual is believed the ‘Kalikantzaroi’, a kind of elfish types, away from the house.

Kalikantzaroi 

There is a tradition according to which Kalikantzaroi, mischievous goblins, appear on earth on the 12 days of Christmas, leaving on Epiphany when the waters are blessed celebrating J esus’ baptism.

More traditions 

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At Christmas, presents are exchanged in a festive spirit and small gifts are given to hospitals and orphanages.

Priests sometimes go from house to house sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad spirits who may be hiding in people’s homes.

In most homes, an evergreen tree is decorated with tinsel and a star placed on top.

Early in the morning of New Years day a child does the podariko, the first footing, bringing a strange plant called ‘skylokremmyda’ or ‘dog onion’ in the house. The child who brings the plant is given ‘bounamas’, a treat, for the New Year.

A local custom 

In Arachova, a town on the Mountain Parnassos, on Christmas Eve people dress as Santa Claus. They go up the ski slopes holding a lamp. The first to arrive wins a gold medal. All competitors win small presents.

There is music played on the loudspeakers and everybody is having a good time.

Hronia Polla 

People greet each other saying ‘Hronia Polla’, meaning ‘Have a long life’ and eat sweets called ‘Kourambiedes’ (a kind of biscuit with icing sugar), ‘melomakarona’ (a kind of syruped biscuit with nuts’ and ‘diples’ (fried and honeyed thin dough).