CHRISTMAS IN GREECE

CHRISTMAS IN
GREECE
2 nd Model Experimental School of Athens

St Nicolas
Contrary to the western customs, St Nicholas
is important in Greece as the patron Saint of
sailors. Based on Greek tradition, his outfit is
drenched in brine, his beard drips with
seawater as he is struggling against the waves
to reach sinking ships and rescue sailors from
the turbulent sea. It is Saint Basil (Aghios
Vassilis) who brings the presents on New
Year’s Eve making children happy rewarding
the nice and cautioning the naughty ones.

Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, little boys to the beating of
drums and the tinkling of triangles usually go
door to door singing carols. They are given
figs, almonds, walnuts, all sorts of treats as
well as coins as reward for their good wishes.

Christmas feast
After forty days of fasting, the Christmas feast
is looked forward to with anticipation by adults
and children alike. Pigs are slaughtered and
on almost every table there are loaves of a
special bread type, called ‘Crystopsomo’ or
‘Christ’s bread’, made in various shapes.
Bread crust is engraved and decorated in such
a way that reflects the family profession. Other
typical dishes are lamb or roasted kid.

Christmas tree and traditions
Christmas trees did not use to be a traditional Greek
decoration. An ornamented ship used to signal
Christmas in every house in the past. However, the
western tradition has become really popular in modern
times. In almost every home, the main symbol of the
season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire
suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of
basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small
amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil
alive and fresh. Once a day a family member, usually
mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water
and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the
house. The ritual is believed the ‘Kalikantzaroi’, a kind
of elfish types, away from the house.

Kalikantzaroi
There is a tradition according to which
Kalikantzaroi, mischievous goblins, appear on
earth on the 12 days of Christmas, leaving on
Epiphany when the waters are blessed
celebrating J esus’ baptism.

More traditions
At Christmas, presents are exchanged in a festive
spirit and small gifts are given to hospitals and
orphanages.
Priests sometimes go from house to house
sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad
spirits who may be hiding in people’s homes.
In most homes, an evergreen tree is decorated
with tinsel and a star placed on top.
Early in the morning of New Years day a child
does the podariko, the first footing, bringing a
strange plant called ‘skylokremmyda’ or ‘dog
onion’ in the house. The child who brings the plant
is given ‘bounamas’, a treat, for the New Year.

A local custom
In Arachova, a town on the Mountain
Parnassos, on Christmas Eve people dress as
Santa Claus. They go up the ski slopes
holding a lamp. The first to arrive wins a gold
medal. All competitors win small presents.
There is music played on the loudspeakers
and everybody is having a good time.

Hronia Polla
People greet each other saying ‘Hronia Polla’,
meaning ‘Have a long life’ and eat sweets
called ‘Kourambiedes’ (a kind of biscuit with
icing sugar), ‘melomakarona’ (a kind of
syruped biscuit with nuts’ and ‘diples’ (fried
and honeyed thin dough).