CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

PHILIPPI PRIMARY SCHOOL

PHILIPPI KAVALA

GREECE

Christmas is one of the greatest religious celebrationsin Greece.

The wish “Happy holidays” is one of the most typicalwishes during the period before and after Christmasuntil Epiphany.

On Epiphany Day, when Christ’s baptism is celebrated,the waters are sanctified with the throwing of thecross in the water and it’s hauling by swimmers andwith the reconsecration of homes by priests.

Saint Basil

Santa Claus in is red uniform and his sleigh isoutlandish!(besides as modern fairytales say,he lives in Finland).

Nevertheless because of the fact that thechristian Church celebrates his grace on 1st

January, our people through its traditionscelebrated in the past Saint Basil the bishopof Caesarea, a humble and deeply educatedman, who helped poor and helpless people.

New Year’s cake (vasilopita)In many parts of Greece, mainly in villages,the ladies of the house clean their homes andprepare the New Year’s cake, called“vasilopita”.

The recipes for “vasilopita” vary regarding theingredients and decoration. A coin is put inthe dough. The person who finds it isconsidered to be lucky for the rest of the year.

The catting of New Year’s cake follows ourChristian tradition until today.

Firstly, the sign of the cross is being made bythe lord of the house, it is cut in four piecesand the first piece is devoted to Christ, thesecond one to Saint Basil and then to thehouse, the members of the family and thepoor.

Whoever finds the coin which is hidden inthe cake will be the lucky one for the NewYear.

Carols

On Christmas Eve, in the morning groups ofchildren go from door to door and singcarols (the word “kalanta” derives fromcalends, the first days of each month of theRoman calendar).

The carols are greeting songs. They are fullof praise for the lady and the lord of thehouse and the other members of thefamily.

In many houses at daybreak on New Year’sDay people break a pomegranate on thefloor so that the new year will bringprosperity.

Great importance was placed on the firstfooting (the first person to enter a house onJanuary 1st ).

Thus in many houses that the family hadn’thad a child, a neighbour or a friend who hadchildren went first footing.

The Goblins appear on Earth during thetwelve days of Christmastide.

Beliefs about them originate from ancientmyths about the Satyrs and Pan and they areassociated with the winter soltice. TheGoblins live below the surface of the Earth.

Throughout the year they hack with their axesto cut down the tree which holds the Earthbut when they are about to succeed, Christarrives and the tree is reborn while theGoblins surge on Earth and tease people.

The Goblins

For the fear of Goblins, people have foundvarious preventire methods, like offers(sweets, ring-shaped bread rolls,“kouloures”), fire (“christoxilo”, the firstpiece of wood which will be burnt in thefireplace on the night of Christmas Eve), theburning of incense, crosses, bad smells,thorns, big bone or spells.

However, Goblins definitively disappear withthe sanctification on Epiphany Day.