WINTER 2007.qxd

10 NORD NEWS Winter 2007
It’s Chris
T
ime seems to fly unbelievably fast and we can
not escape the fact that Christmas is almost
here. The joy of the season is all around us; from
the decorated houses and shop windows, to the
Christmas carols filling the air. Once again, we thought it
would be a good idea to dedicate a small corner of our
magazine to this glorious season by taking a small trip
around the world (with our imagination of course) so that
we can have a look at what the rest of the countries in the
world are up to.
“Kala Christouyenna”! from Cyprus and
Greece. Many decades ago, the decoration of Christmas
trees was unheard of in Cyprus and Greece. Nowadays,
Christmas trees are an integral part of our decorating
and Athens boasts one of the world's largest outdoor
Christmas trees. On Christmas Eve children gather
and visit our houses, singing "Kalanda" (carols, going
back to Byzantine times) accompanied by metal
triangles and are offered sweets, as a reward.
A fasting period of forty days precedes
Christmas (widely followed even nowadays) where we
have to eat only fruit and vegetable based dishes.
Therefore, on Christmas day a large feast is prepared which nowadays includes even turkey. On New year's
eve, a cake called "Vasilopitta" (Santa's cake) as well as wine, are laid out for "Ayios Vasilis" (Santa Claus)
who brings presents for the children under the Christmas tree and has a piece of the cake and some wine.
When "Vasilopitta" (Santa's cake) is baked a coin is placed in it. Vasilopitta is cut on New Year's Day and
the person who finds the coin in their piece is the luckiest person of the family for the coming year.
During the twelve days (from Christmas Eve to Epiphany day on January 6) goblins called
"Kallikantzari" visit the earth. They are gnome-like creatures who normally live in the center of the earth
and they make their way into our homes via the chimneys, creating all sorts of mischief. To keep them
appease, we make special sweets which we throw on the roofs of the houses, for them to eat. All year they
work hard with their axes, trying to cut the tree that holds the earth in its branches and only stop for a break
during Christmas. Of course these twelve days are enough for the tree to mend. On January 6, Epiphany
day, (which symbolizes the spiritual rebirth of man since Christ was baptized in the river Jordan) a mass takes
place in churches in order to bless the waters and chase away the bad spirits, thus our "Kallikantzari" are
once again banished to the centre of the earth.
On Epiphany day a ceremonial baptism is performed at all seaside towns whereby the holy cross is
thrown into the sea and all young men dive in the cold water, trying to retrieve the cross. The person who
retrieves the cross is the lucky one again for the year.
"Buon Natale" from the neighboring Italy. Christmas in Italy is a mixture of Christianity, blended
with a pagan tradition dating back to the Roman Empire "Saturnalia" (a winter solstice celebration).
"Saturnalia" was a public festival that took place on December 17, in ancient Rome. The roles of slaves and
masters were reversed only for that day and slaves were exempted from punishment. The celebrations also
included the making and giving of small presents, eating, drinking and everyone being merry.
In more recent years, the festivities are ushered in by the "Piferari" or fifers, as they descend from the
mountains of the Abruzzo, playing traditional tunes on their bagpipes, in joyous anticipation of the
celebrations to come. Beautiful Cribs (manger scenes) are the main decorations for the season and there are
often contests between churches for the most beautiful Crib. The figurines are made of clay or plaster,
picturing the infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph, as well as the animals keeping the child warm with their breath.
The familiar scene of the birth of Jesus is intricately decorated with lights, small trees and Angels.