ChristmasAroundtheWorldPrintablePacket
Kourabiethes-Melomakarona
Christopsomo
Rodi
Karavaki
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The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of Christ on December 25. Greeks will normally start decorating their homes a few days before Christmas. The housewives will start making the traditional Christmas sweets such as “kourabiedes” and “melomakarona”. Pigs are slaughtered and on almost every table are loaves of christopsomo (“Christ Bread”). This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family’s profession. If people live on an island and they’re fisherman, they will decorate the bread with fish. If they have a lamb farm, you’ll see little lambs.
The Christmas tree is a recent innovation and formerly (and indeed still on some islands today) a Christmas ship was decorated and had the place of the tree. This Christmas ship or “karavaki” (i.e. little ship) is sometimes carried around by carol-singers on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and on the Eve of Epiphany.
The traditional wish is “Kala Christougenna” or “Good Christmas”. On Christmas Day the usual wish is “Chronia polla” or “many years”.
It is really the 1st of January (St. Basil’s Day), which is the most special day for children since this is when they receive their presents. St. Basil’s Day (New Year’s Day) is a time for parties and gift giving. St. Basil is the Santa Claus of Greeks.
Early in the morning on New Year’s Day a child (invariably a boy) does the “podariko” or first-footing by bringing a strange plant called a “skylokremmyda” or “dog onion” to the house. This is a plant with a few thick green leaves and a bulb that is wrapped with aluminium foil. This plant has several names according to the locality e.g. in Cephallonia it is called “koutsouna” or “askinokara”. The boy who brings this plant to the house will be given a “bonamas” or gift of money for the New Year. Also, on New Year’s Day there is the interesting custom of breaking a pomegranate on the door for good luck.
A special cake is eaten on this day called the “Vasilopita” or St. Basil’s Pie in which a “flouri” or lucky coin has been baked. Yet, before this can be found the head of the house must first cross the cake with his knife and then cut the first slice for God, then the next for the baby Christ, followed by the “Panayia” (or “All Holy” – as Mary is called), then the next slice for the house and after for each member of the family starting with the eldest. The one who finds the “flouri” in their piece will have good luck all the forthcoming year. At the meal table there is also a special decorated round loaf called a “Vasilopsomo” or St. Basil’s bread (which is really identical in form to the “Christopsomo” or “Christ bread” eaten on Christmas Day and the “Photitsa” or “Lights bread” that will be eaten on Epiphany).
Throughout the “Dodekaimera” or Twelve days of Christmas it is of interest to note that all houses are vulnerable to a malicious type of elf / pixy called the “kallikantzaroi” who play tricks on housewives, put out the fire and urinate on the Christmas food if it is not covered at night. The Greek Christmas celebrations conclude with the festival of “Ta Phota” or “The Lights” as Epiphany is called. In the Orthodox Church this feast is important as the baptism of Christ. The next day is St. John’s Day (7th January). On this day everyone called Yiannis (John) or Yianna has their name day and relatives and friends who visit will still see the Christmas decorations up in the home. The decorations will be taken down on 8th January. This is also the time when children go back to school – i.e. on the first weekday after St. John’s Day.
Nowadays, Central Syntagma Square is usually the focus of most activities while the National Garden is transformed into a «magical village» with guides dressed as elves showing visitors around. Activities are also planned for several other squares including Omonia, Karaiskaki and at the Panathenaic Stadium.