Christmas in Greece

Christmas holidays in Greece can be experienced in a very religious and traditional way.Homes are decorated till the 6th of January Epiphany.Over the years western traditions and culture have changed the way the holidays are experienced.Most villages and small towns might have little or no decoration in the streets, and stick to tradition more than in larger cities.Athens Thessaloniki and other big cities have decorations festivities and events for Christmas and New Years. The area of Syntagma square in Athens is where the Christmas Village is set up every year.Amongst the decorated little huts you will find elves and ponies and even an ice-skating ring.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas trees decorate most houses in Greece, stores and squares but the Greek tradition is to decorate sail boats. You might see some decorated with lights but it is not used as much,but they are so pretty when you do see them.

Carols

It is custom for children to sing carols on Christmas Eve, New Year Eve and on the 5th of January day before Epiphany.There is an official carol for each of these days.Children usually start early in the day accompanied by triangles they sing and go from door to door .It was custom each house would give candy and chocolate.Today they give a small amount of money.

Kalikatzari are the Greek equivalent of Goblins.These creatures were believed to visit homes , steal food and tease people.They can only do so from Christmas till Epiphany ,the 6th of January when the waters have not been blessed since Christ has not yet been baptized.Different areas of Greece have different ways of keeping them out of households.In some villages they are believed to enter homes through the fireplace so they keep the fire burning during those 12 days to prevent their entry.In some areas it is custom to throw sweets and other foods in order to please the Kalikatzaroi and keep them away.

Gifts amongst family and friends and exchanged on the 1st of January -St Basils day and not Christmas.

Traditional food

Christmas season is a season for family gatherings and many feasts.On Christmas day most Greeks prepare a roast turkey while some traditional prepare a roast pork. On New Year it is also common to also have a big feast .The are also traditional sweets during the Christmas season.

Melomakarona are honey biscuits where traditionally prepared before christmas .Kourabiedes are delicious sugar coated biscuits prepared for New Years but today there is no distinction and they are both served throughout the holiday season.

Diples are also very popular during christmas season

Christopsomo Its is tradition to bake bread on Christmas Eve which has a cross carved into the crust.On Christmas Day the head of the household makes the sign of the cross before giving a piece to each person at the table.

Vasilopita (St.Basil’s pie)

Truth is Vasilopita is more like a cake than a pie. It is made before New Year and is cut after New Year to bless the house.While preparing a coin or a coin like charm is placed inside.When the pie is cut the first 4 pieces are cut for groups or saints.The first piece is for Christ, second for the house, third to the poor but this may vary in different areas in Greece. The rest of the pieces are distributed to the family members and guests.It is considered good luck for the New Year if you get the slice with the coin.

This tradition is made in honor of St Basil. In order to help the poor of his flock St. Basil had the women of his church to bake sweetbread with coins inside .This way he could give to coins to the poor without actually handing them out money.

Our Vasilopita recipe

New Year in Greece

It is tradition to hang a pomegranate outside the door to dry out .After the change of the year it is custom to brake the pomegranate at the doorstep for good luck in the home.Cards Games are a custom in Greece on New Years Eve . Casinos are usually very busy on the night of New Years as it is considered lucky for the New Year.Greeks party till morning whenever given the chance. New Year is no exception.They are countless parties at clubs, hotels and restaurants.

Epiphany (Theofania)

Day before Epiphany children sing a specific carol.Like christmas and new years carol singing they start in the morning and knock on doors singing to each house .

On the 6th of January after the church ceremony that takes place in the morning the priest throws a cross in the waters to bless them .In every town and village the most brave people jump into the freezing waters to catch the cross.Finding it bring good luck.