To the members of the Greek Orthodox Church, Christmas comes in second after Easter. However, this is not to say that Christmas isn’t widely celebrated with unique traditions. It’s difficult to differentiate the traditions between Greece and Cyprus because they are merely the same. It’s also difficult to say that all these traditions are the same throughout the whole of the countries themselves, as each town may have their own customs, but here goes!
Christmas tradition
Christmas is celebrated as a religious holiday. On Christmas Eve, everyone goes to church and children around the villages travel from house to house singing Kalanda (carols). If they sing well they are rewarded with sweets and fruits from the locals.
Both Greece and Cyprus share a different tradition to the UK. As presents are opened on Christmas Day (25th December), the exchange of presents in Greece and Cyprus takes place on the 1stJanuary, St Basil’s Day.
Christmas Trees are becoming more popular in Greece and Cyprus, but they are not traditional. Most houses will have a shallow wooden bowl with a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross hanging from the wire instead. Once a day, someone dips the cross and basil into some holy water to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This is believed to keep the bad spirits (Kalikantzari) away.
Kalikantzari
There is also a celebration of the Epiphany on 6th January. In the Greek Orthodox Church, this is known as ‘The Blessing of the Waters’. This is related to the belief of the Kalikantzari. These are known to be species which are meant to appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to Epiphany (January 6th). They are supposed to come from the middle of the earth and get into houses through the chimney! The Kalikantzari cause mischief more than harm. Having a fire burning through the twelve days of Christmas is also meant to keep the Kalikantzari away.
In Greece and Cyprus, yearly events take place such as the diving of young men into cold rivers and sea to try to be first to get a cross which has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water. Whoever gets the cross first is meant to have good luck during the coming year. Epiphany festivals also include music, dancing and lots of food.
In Aristotelous Square, which is in Thessaloniki (the second biggest city in Greece) a huge Christmas Tree and sailing ships are put up with lights and is now a popular tourist attraction over Christmas.
Christmas food
There is 40 days of fasting and the Christmas feast is much looked forward to after this is over. Pigs are slaughtered and are on most dinner tables, alongside dishes such as roast turkey stuffed with rice, chestnuts and vegetables or other meats such as lamb and pork.
Sweets and treats such as Kourabiedes (almond cookies) and Melomakarona (honey spiced cookies) are also placed on the table as a Greek Christmas tradition.
On almost every dinner table, there are loaves of Christopsomo (Christ Bread) which is a round loaf, decorated on the top with a cross.
Marianna Despina Charalambous
