December 25 is probably the most important holiday for Christians, who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Certain traditions are shared by many countries. However, each tradition has different versions in different countries.
When we think of Christmas, we think of gifts. There is always a gift giver who brings joy to young children. This white bearded old man who is always dressed in red is Santa Claus in the USA, Father Christmas in England and Saint Basil in Greece. This is why people in England exchange gifts on Christmas day and children want to stay up until late on Christmas Eve to see Father Christmas get into their house through the chimney and put their gifts in their stockings. Children in Greece usually receive their gifts on January 1, Saint Basil’s day and that is because Saint Basil from Caesarea is the one who brings the gifts.
Delicious food is another thing that comes to mind when thinking of Christmas. Roast turkey or goose, which is traditional, is usually the main dish on the English Christmas menu. Turkey has taken the place of pork on some Greek Christmas menus as well. However, pork remains our traditional dish.
The English leave some room for their Christmas desserts, puddings and Christmas cake. In Greece, there is a greater variety of Christmas desserts; melomakarona, kourabiedes, kataifi, baklava, diples. Few can resist this temptation.
Finally, there is no Christmas without Christmas decorations. In England people decorate trees. Decorating a tree is actually a German tradition adopted by the English and later on by people in other countries. In Greece people usually start decorating their trees on December 6, Saint Nicholas day. Saint Nicholas is the protector of sailors and for this reason people used to decorate small wooden boats in the past. However, trees have taken the place of boats nowadays.
Gifts, delicious food, desserts, decorations all add to the glamour of the best holiday of the year. The most important thing of all though, is that people have the chance to sit around the Christmas table, spend time with their beloved ones and at the same time think of those who are in need.
May the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts!
