Κατηγορία: 🇧 Αγγλικά

by Loukia Pakkidi

In Canada, the New Year’s Day celebrations, begin on the 31st of December and continue till the early hours of the 1st of January. This day is either celebrated with a party in which lots of relatives and friends are invited, or with a gathering, where the only people are the parents and the children.
In the evening, the family has already gathered at the home in which they will eat and have begun the preparations. Some will prepare the turkey, some will set the table or make the desserts and the kids will make something easy like the cranberry sauce. After everything is done, and everyone has eaten, they go outside to a square where lots of people will be or an ice skating rink so everyone can have fun while skating or drinking hot chocolate.
When the day is coming to an end, almost everyone, young and old, gather outside and watch the fireworks and count the minutes till midnight. After the countdown is over, everyone embraces each other and the relatives kiss each other and wish each other to have a happy new year.

New Year’s Celebrations in New York

by Ntaka Anthoula, Oikouta Chrysafina

Celebrating the New Year, in New York is unlike any other. The different festivities involve people from all over the state, from all over the country, and from all over the world. The most famous celebration includes the infamous Waterford Crystal Times Square New Years Eve Ball. At 11:59 pm the ball begins to drop, and millions of people who have gathered together from all over the world, chant and count down the last seconds of the year. Other New Year Celebrations include the Brooklyn Bridge Walk, New Year’s Eve Midnight Run, and Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza outdoor party. Each of these events inspires people to come together and celebrate the New Year whether it involves crossing a bridge, running a four mile race through Central Park, or just a grand party with music, dancing and fireworks. Whichever event you decide to join, just remember, New Year Celebrations in New York are fabulous.

Christmas in Greece

by Chrysoula Leventi
Christmas is the most magical time of year. In Christmas everybody enjoys the warm atmosphere from getting together with other members in their family and celebrate because Jesus Christ come to bring people in this Earth hope, peace, and joyfulness.

 

 

 

In Greece the Christmas season begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day, and ends on January 6th, which is the Feast of the Epiphany.

Saint Nicolas is the protector of sailors. For this reason, you will often see boats decorated with many sparkling lights, rather than the Christmas trees.

 

Greece is a country where traditions and customs are a part of everyday life. Most holidays in Greece are celebrated traditionally, and Christmas in no exception. Christmas caroling is very popular, and although you might hear them being sung at any given moment during the holiday season, there are actually three “official” caroling days. The custom is that children go from house to house singing the carol, with the accompaniment of a triangle, and residents of the houses give them a small amount of money. Greek Christmas carols are sung on the mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany.

 

Furthermore according to tradition, during the days of Christmas goblins come out to tease people and eat their food. This tradition is based on the legend that the “waters aren’t christened” since Christ has not yet been baptized. The goblins are renowned for their ugliness and their impishness. They are not very intelligent and can’t really hurt anybody. It is said that they enter houses through chimneys, and this is the reason people, especially in villages, keep the fireplace lit during the 12 days of Christmas.

 

As far as Christmas food and sweets is concerned, in Greece is everything delicious!

Vasilopita is a cake that is eaten on New Year’s Day. Before the cake is baked, a coin covered in foil is placed in it. The New Year is written on top of the cake with almonds. The person who cuts the cake makes the sign of the cross three times above it and then starts serving the pieces, one to each person, the house, Christ, The Virgin Mary and Saint Vasileios. Whoever has the coin in his piece of cake will have luck for the rest of the year.

 

 

 

 

Bizarrest Christmas Traditions

 

BY KATHOLIKI PATSAI

 

 

 I’ve gone away and handpicked the weirdest Christmas tradition from around the world from deep fried to rotting birds. Here are the world’s most unusual festive rituals from 22 different countries:

 

1. South Africa

The locals in the festive of South Africa tuck into the deep-fried caterpillars of the ‘Emperor Moth”. Also, South Africa children are told the story of Danny, a young boy who angered his grandmother by eating the cookies that have been left for Santa. In her rage she killed him, and he is said to haunt homes at Christmas.

 

2. Austria

Austria’s children live with a fear on Christmas days. The fear of Krampus a man who threatened to beat the naughty children.

 

3. Venezuela

Venezuela’s attend Mass in the run-up to Christmas. However, Caracas residents have developed a strange tradition to journeying to Mass on roller skates.

 

4. Greenland

Greenland has some unusual Christmas recipes. Mattak is raw whale skin, served with blubber. Kiviak is 500 dead auk birds, stuffed into a seal skin, and left to ferment for 7 months.

 

5. Germany

Germans hide a pickle in the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. The first child to discover it in the morning receives a small gift. Furthermore German children leave a shoe outside the house on December 5^th, which is the filled with sweets overnight. Naughty children awake to find a tree branch in the shoe instead. 

 

6. Portugal

Consoda is a traditional Christmas morning feast in Portugal. This is a time for remembering the dead, and families lay places for the souls of their late ones.

 

7. Ukraine

Ukrainians forego tinsel and baubles instead decorating their Christmas trees with an artificial spider and web.

 

8. Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, unmarried women stand by a door and throw a shoe over their shoulder if the toe is pointing towards the door when it lands, they will get married within the next year.

9. Estonia

On Christmas Eve, Estonian families traditionally head to the sauna together.

 

10. Wales

Mari Lwyd is performed in some Welsh villages on Christmas Eve. A villager is chosen to parade through the streets, bearing the skull of a mare on the end of a stick.

 

11. Iceland 

The Yule Cat is said to stalk the Icelandic hills. Those who don’t receive new clothes before Christmas Eve are said to be devoured by this mythical beast.

 

12. Italy

Rather than Santa Claus, Italian children await the arrival of Befana, a friendly witch who delivers sweets and toys on the fifth of January.

 

13. Ethiopia 

Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7^th. People wear white clothes and the men play “ganna” -a fast- paced game with sticks and wooden balls.

 

14. Guatemala

Guatemalans sweep out their houses before Christmas. Each neighborhood will then create a large pile of dirt, before placing an effigy of the devil on top, and burning it.  

 

15. Bavaria

In Bavaria, a noisy Christmas tradition has taken hold. Wearing the national costume of lederhosen, Bavarian Highlanders five mortars into the air.

 

16. Greece

The Kallikantzaroi, a race of evil goblins, lurk underground according to Greek legend. During the 12 days of Christmas they supposedly surface, wreaking havoc.

 

17. Slovakia

In Slovakia the most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of “loksa” pudding and throws it at the ceiling-the more that sticks, the better.

 

18. Japan  

White Christmas cards are sent to friend and family. Red card, however, are to be avoided- this is traditionally the colour of funeral announcements.

 

19. Canada

Canada Post recognizes the address Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, HOHOHO. Any letters received bearing this address are both opened and replied to.

 

20. Finland

Finnish people traditionally mark Christmas with a touching tribute to the dead. Families light candles at the graves of their departed loved ones, making Finnish graveyards a beautiful sight.

 

21. England

Santa Claus traditionally leaves presents in a child’ s stocking on Christmas Eve. However naughty children may wake up on Christmas morning to find a lamp of coal in their stockings.

 

22. USA

Americans have created of boozy Christmas tradition called The Running of the Santas. Each event sees scores of people-dressed as Santa- taking part in a large bar crawl.