Christmas traditions | Greece edition

Christmas Boats and Trees ⛵

 
 Although Christmas trees are extremely popular around the world, people in Greece decorate both Christmas trees and boats! Throughout the country’s history, Greek wives and children would decorate wooden boats to welcome their husbands and sons back from the sea, safe from harm. The tradition still stands to this day. 

Kalanda 🥁

The day before Christmas, New Year, and The Epiphany, kids in Greece stroll from home to home in their neighborhoods to sing Greek Christmas carols, “kalanda.” while playing triangles, flutes, or even drums. After wishing their neighbors happy holidays, the children are usually rewarded with sweets, dried fruits, and some money.

Kallikantzaroi 👺

Greek tradition has it that little poor-mannered kallikantzaroi, hobgoblins, would rise from underground to cause damage and annoy people during the 12 days of Christmas. For the rest of the year they live at the centre of the Earth where they work to cut down The Tree Of Life that holds up the World. They come from the middle of the earth and get into people’s houses through the chimney! Having a fire burning through the twelve days of Christmas is also meant to keep the kallikantzaroi away.

To make them disappear, priests would visit people’s homes on the day of the Epiphany, January 6, and bless them with holy water. 

Christmas Sweets 😋

Greek people can’t wait for the holy season and for the Christmas treats’ appearance. It is really hard to find a Greek house at Christmas time which isn’t filled with a variety of traditional, Greek Christmas sweets. Among these delights are the classic “snowy” kourabiethes, Christmas butter cookies, filled with almonds and covered with powdered sugar.

Another all-time favorite is the delicious “melomakarona”, soaked in honey syrup, with a tang of cinnamon, orange and other spices. Also, there are diples, thin rolls of dough,  fried and sprinkled with chopped nuts and honey. Another all-time favorite is the delicious “melomakarona”, soaked in honey syrup, with a tang of cinnamon, orange and other spices. Also, there are diples, thin rolls of dough,  fried and sprinkled with chopped nuts and honey.

Customs on New Year’s 🍰

On New Year’s Day, the adults of the family, in many places in Greece, give money and gifts to the children wishing them a happy new year, a tradition called  “Bounamathes”. After midnight and when the new year has finally arrived every Greek family cuts their Vasilopita, a New Year’s cake with a florin hidden. The first slice is in the name of Jesus Christ, the second for The Virgin Mary, the third for Saint Vassilis, the fourth for the house, and then, for each member of the family, starting with the oldest. Whoever finds the coin in their piece has good fortune for the rest of the year

Pomegranate smashing🤞

The Pomegranate is considered an ancient symbol of prosperity and good luck by the Greeks and people hung one above the door throughout Christmas. At midnight, on New Year’s Eve, the lights are turned out for the countdown before the year changes and afterward, families smash the pomegranate to the floor, or at the door of the house and as it smashes, the seeds symbolize the happiness and prosperity for the coming year, so the more seeds the better!