Greek New Year traditions. How is Christmas and New Year celebrated in Greece?
Festive bread or cake. The main symbol of the Christmas table is Christ's bread - "christopsomo". The best flour is chosen for it, spices are carefully selected, and the dough must be prepared with special love and warmth. It is baked with the addition of wine, dried fruits and nuts. Decorate the bread with a “cross” with a walnut in the middle and cut out figures from the dough. "Christopsomo" is considered sacred bread, so it is served only after the church service.
The New Year's table must be decorated with the Vasilopita festive cake. The pie is decorated with nuts, berries, dough patterns or poured abundantly with icing.
Variety of meat dishes. The Greeks do not bypass this tradition. Most often, their table is decorated with roast pork, cooked in various ways, along with a roasted carcass of a young pig on a bed of potatoes, but some families prefer the traditional Christmas turkey, flavored with wine sauce. On the New Year's table, the housewives in addition prepare cabbage dishes, such as cabbage rolls (“lahanosarmades”) or pickled cabbage.
Traditional cookies. As a dessert on the festive table, the Greeks bake Christmas cookies "melomakarona" with nuts and "kourabiedes". For the preparation of the dessert, the female component of the family specially gathers to bake a huge amount of cookies, which anyone can enjoy.
Additionally, sweets are served on the festive table, such as "tiganites" (cookies sprinkled with honey).
Pomegranate, like dried fruits and nuts, is also an integral part of the festive table, since since ancient times it has been considered a symbol of well-being and prosperity of the family.
What do Greeks give each other for New Year and Christmas?
As mentioned above, shops and fairs in Greece are always crowded with various gift items during the Christmas and New Year period. In most cases, these are all kinds of souvenirs with a traditional theme, such as a pomegranate decorated with various stones, or colorful small boats.
Still, Greeks tend to seldom break away from old customs and give inexpensive gifts, such as a new deck of cards (perhaps from some New Year's gift collection) and a large basket filled with excellent wines.
Traditional cookies, decorated in beautiful packaging, can be a wonderful gift. "Vasilopita" can also be used as a present, it is enough to write a wish of happiness for the New Year with icing.
New Year and Christmas is the most long-awaited and wonderful time of the holidays. All the people around are in pre-holiday and joyful turmoil, and during the holidays, friendly folk festivals take place in every corner of the streets. Ships of fantastic beauty and brightness float on the reservoirs, people hold various New Year competitions with water, and on land they play funny theatrical performances and make fun of passers-by. Each institution has its own festive program, which anyone can enjoy and celebrate the most unforgettable Christmas or New Year in their lives.
Try it out if you haven't already.
1 (d). Peas
It is impossible to imagine the New Year's table of Latvians without peas in the same way as the festive table of Russians without tangerines. Meeting the New Year, the inhabitants of a European country always eat at least one pea, hoping for well-being. The abundance of dishes on the Latvian table will please anyone - the people are used to celebrating the holiday on a grand scale, to the clink of glasses and the explosion of fireworks.
On the morning after the New Year, it is customary for Latvians to scatter peas in their homes. It is believed that this ritual will bring a plentiful and fruitful year.
1 (c). Pomegranate
In Greece, the New Year's talisman is the pomegranate. Its inhabitants believe that the red fruit brings good luck, happiness and prosperity. A few minutes before the chiming clock, the Greeks go out into the courtyard. Immediately after the onset of the New Year, everyone exchanges congratulations, after which the owner of the house breaks the fruit on the threshold. If its grains scatter into different sides The family is going to be successful in the new year. After a solemn custom, all family members cross the threshold, and always with their right foot.
In some homes, the tradition of breaking the pomegranate takes place on the morning of January 1 or immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Interestingly, this is how the well-known Greek expression "Έσπασε το ρόδι" - "Smashed the pomegranate", which means a good start to something, appeared.
2. New York
Residents of the American metropolis and tourists gather on New Year's Eve in Times Square for a grandiose spectacle. Right before the New Year, before the eyes of thousands of people, a giant luminous crystal ball, the so-called Big Apple, descends down the spire of a skyscraper. This tradition is already 100 years old, and it was interrupted only twice: during the Second World War.
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3. Krampus
The beginning of December in Germany not only brings pleasant surprises for obedient children, but also punishments for hooligans. Along with St. Nicholas, who distributes gifts, the cruel Krampus walks. It is believed that when Krampus finds a naughty child, he puts coal under his pillow or takes it in a bag to a cave to eat for Christmas dinner.
Dressing up as Krampus is quite popular in Munich. Every winter, generous Santa Clauses appear on the streets of the city, and with them the Krampus, who take revenge on naughty children.
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4 Israel
The traditional New Year is not considered an official holiday in Israel. It is celebrated only by immigrants from the Russian Federation: they ask for a day off on this day and spend it at home with their families. All others work on January 1st. For them, there is a separate holiday - Rosh Hashan - the beginning of the new year according to the Israeli calendar.
The Jewish New Year is unique because it does not have a specific date. The holiday begins in the spring at the new moon, so the dates are different every year. In 2019, it will begin on September 30 and will last until October 1. At this time, the Israelites will celebrate the advent of the year 5578.
Interestingly, unlike the Russian New Year, when people dance with pleasure under the Christmas tree, it is customary in Jewish to repent and remember their sins. There are no dishes on the table: only fish, carrots, apples and sheep's heads.
5. Colombia
For the inhabitants of this southern country, the New Year is similar to the Russian Maslenitsa. A few days before the holiday, Colombians make dolls symbolizing the old year, put them on sticks and read funny testaments. On New Year's Eve, they are thrown away.
Symbols of the old year with a surprise: gunpowder or charges are hidden inside each of them, which begin to explode at exactly midnight. Colombians believe that this is the best way to say goodbye to the past. The old year flies away and gives way to the new.
6. Kiss
Immediately after the chiming clock in all houses in Bulgaria, the lights go out for three minutes. This is the time for New Year's kisses, which replace the usual toasts in the country. Sometimes Bulgarians even compete with each other: who kisses the most.
7. Log
In many European countries, they believe not only in the good Santa Claus, but also in his antipode. For example, in France there is a legend about the terrible log Bush de Noel. The French believe that this is a terrible force from which you need to clear your house. They solemnly bring in the "villain", pour wine and oil over it, burn it, and leave the ashes for themselves as a guarantor of safety. This custom has deep roots, but is not observed by everyone. Most families prepare cookies in the form of a log, hoping to eradicate the "evil spirits".
8. Iceland
There is no single Santa Claus in Iceland. Instead, children believe in the existence of 13 wizards who look like trolls or gnomes. All of them are the sons of a terrible mountain troll named Grila. If they misbehave, they will cause a lot of trouble: steal food, scare, steal sheep and hide unnoticed. Therefore, on the eve of Christmas night, Icelandic children obey their parents. They want to earn the indulgence of the gnomes, because a good troll can generously repay: sorcerers put small gifts in the shoes of good children for all 13 nights before Christmas.
9. Goat
In Norway, the role of the New Year's magician is played by a goat. This animal in the northern country has been given a privileged position. According to local legend, the Norwegian king Olaf II once saved a wounded goat by lifting it off a cliff. The poor animal was taken to the palace, cured and released back home. As a token of gratitude, the goat brought rare medicinal plants to the savior every night.
Earlier, Channel Five told how they met at the Russian border.
Greek Orthodox Christians. But the New Year holidays for them, unlike the Russians, begin on Christmas, December 25th. The fact is that they celebrate it according to the Gregorian calendar, which is almost 2 weeks earlier than according to the Julian calendar.
More than 90% of the country's population is Orthodox. Therefore, in the tradition of the Greeks, the concept of "Christmas holidays" is embedded. The New Year is called Saint Basil's Day. It is celebrated widely and massively. Behind him is no less important holiday - Epiphany (January 7).
Everyone who travels to Greece to celebrate Christmas and New Year should be prepared to spend their holidays in an unusual and fun way. Tourists in this country are welcome and gladly demonstrate all the Christmas and New Year customs. The Greeks have similar traditions with Russian ones. For example, gifts are expected from St. Basil in the same way as from our kind Grandfather Frost. But he puts them not under the Christmas tree, but in shoes put out the door, filling them with sweets.
Preparing for Christmas begins long before it arrives. Shop windows and street cafes are decorated with festive garlands in November. They also decorate houses by hanging bright lights on the windows. Beautiful lighting is present in every yard.
Dress up for Christmas not only Christmas trees, but also ships. Greece is a country where the sea and sea fishing are revered. The ship is a symbol of a happy life filled with joys and bliss. On the streets, squares and in the houses of the Greeks, next to the Christmas trees, there are the most beautiful ships, the sails of which are filled with the wind. The tradition of decorating boats originated much earlier than the custom of putting up Christmas trees, which were recognized in the country in the middle of the 19th century. The Christmas tree stood at the court of King Otto, and the capital of Greece at that time was Nafplio. Its squares were also decorated with green beauties.
Christmas caroling is customary. Children go from house to house, sing Christmas carols to the accompaniment of metal triangles and receive candy and money for this. They come to all the neighbors, go to every shop. Give them gifts and godparents. The tradition of going to church with godparents around Christmas has been preserved to this day.
is a great time for those tourists who want to make unforgettable gifts for their relatives. It is at this time that every store lowers prices to such an extent that literally everything can be afforded. But do not take presents to the hotel by taxi if you do not want to waste your capital. During this period, drivers greatly increase the cost of travel. Waiters of cafes and bars also want to receive Christmas gifts in the form of increased amounts of cash fees.
At the same time, in each of the cities, especially in Athens, there are a lot of people. Everyone wants to visit Greece. During the Christmas holidays, the weather pleases locals and tourists with warmth. The climate in this country is quite mild. January is considered by Greeks to be the coldest month of the year. The average temperature during this period drops to +10. At night - up to +3. Precipitation is possible. Some daredevils swim in the sea, but you should not do this if you are not engaged in winter swimming. The water temperature only reaches +16.
Everyone who came to this country during the Christmas holidays will get acquainted with another unique tradition - the exchange of cameras. Pieces of fruit are strung on small skewers. Most often, these are bananas, apples, oranges, figs, and candles are attached on top.
In the family of every self-respecting Greek, on the first day of the new year, the following ritual is performed: the head takes the juiciest and largest pomegranate fruit and throws it against a strong wall. After that, all members watch how the grains scattered and whether they survived. The more scattered they are in different directions, the happier and richer the coming year will be.
Gifts in Greece do it in a unique way. Just before the celebration, neighbors and relatives present huge wicker baskets to each other. They are filled with bottles of expensive, elite wines, and decks of cards are placed between them. There is another New Year's tradition. A cobblestone is placed in front of the neighbor's door. Its size and severity depend on what wish is made. If the stone is large, the neighbor will be rich, small - to the absence of troubles and hardships.
Secular holiday. Christmas traditions during this period fade into the background. A lot of people come out to the squares of Greek cities, performances are arranged, the main characters of which are costumed actors, and wine flows like a river in restaurants, musicians play national instruments, sirtaki dance everywhere.
On the tables are fried piglets with baked potatoes. This is a traditional Greek New Year dish. The inhabitants of the islands often bake a turkey, generously seasoning it with wine sauce. During the celebrations, children and adults eat spicy cookies. It is soaked in honey or various syrups. Favorite Greek sweet is vasilopita. It's a pie with a coin inside. It is decorated with a variety of nuts with braided dough, berries. If the head of the family gets the coin, the year will be fertile and successful, but the first piece is reserved for St. Basil, and the second is left within the walls of the house for good luck and prosperity. The head of the family gets the third piece. Next, the pie is distributed by seniority. The youngest child gets a treat at the end.
On the eve of the festive night, the Greeks guess a lot. This is usually done by unmarried women. Wanting to see their betrothed in a dream, they put a piece of pie that they received at the table at the head of the bed.
The Greeks also adhere to certain rules of prohibitions during the celebrations. It is unacceptable to raise your voice, drink coffee (even grind it is prohibited). There is a custom not to let four-legged friends into the dwelling, whose coat has a black color. This color of dogs is considered devilish. And yet, when the hostess accidentally breaks a glass or a plate, it is customary to coax St. Basil with the most tasty morsel from the New Year's table. Breaking dishes among the Greeks is an unlucky omen.
Christmas and New Year are family holidays. Holidays are spent at home with family. This sweet time is full of pleasant impressions and gifts.
Greeks celebrate Christmas on December 25, according to the New Julian calendar. On the eve of the celebration, Ksenia Klimova, a researcher of Greek traditions and folklore, a candidate of philological sciences, told TD about Greek carols and Christmas and New Year traditions.
- Ksenia Anatolyevna, you celebrated Christmas in Athens. How do Greeks celebrate this holiday?
Christmas in Greece is a national holiday. Everything is festively decorated, there are Christmas trees everywhere. The apogee of winter celebrations is December 25th. The New Year is celebrated much less solemnly. Those who usually go to church go to the temple for worship. But this is not all Greeks. Here at Easter, especially at the procession, everyone goes, and Christmas is mostly celebrated at home.
My friends gathered at their aunt's house. The mistress of the house traditionally bakes "Christ's bread" (Christopsomo, Χριστόψωμο) with a cross on top and decorates it with nuts: one nut in the middle and four on the edges. The bread is not sweet, unlike St. Basil's pie, which everyone bakes and eats on January 1 for the New Year.
In general, it is believed that there should be a lot of dishes on the Christmas table, because this abundance will be equal to the wealth and abundance of the whole subsequent year. The Greeks do not have any particular Christmas dish. Lately they've taken on the turkey cooking trend, but that's already a western influence. Previously, they roasted a ram or a pig, who is poorer - a bird.
Be sure to have nuts and dried fruits on the table, because these are very important elements of the subject code of any transitional rite. Walnut in general is a symbol of life, fertility and so on. It is also necessary to put sweets in which there is honey - an important ritual product for many cultures.
Of the fresh fruits, the pomegranate plays the most important role at Christmas, because the pomegranate is a symbol of the onset of a new time. It is used in every transitional rite, and especially actively - on the New Year.
We have evidence that in Byzantium, when the New Year was celebrated on September 1, the pomegranate was also perceived as a symbol of the onset of the new time: there are a lot of bones in it, and to give a pomegranate meant to wish a person a lot of money, livestock and other benefits. In traditional culture, pomegranates were smashed on the threshold of a house at Christmas or on New Year's Day on St. Basil's Day, so that as pomegranate seeds poured into the house, wealth filled the whole house. In traditional culture, they also scattered wheat, coins, some grains around the house. They made such a symbolic sowing of wealth. Now they don’t “sow”, they don’t scatter coins and grains. But grenades are periodically broken, including in the city.
The pomegranate was decorated: they stuck coins, and expensive ones. Now they are made especially for the holiday. Any Greek store is now full of garnets in all possible forms: plastic, wooden, beaded, gold, silver, bronze, gilded. They are already just given as a Christmas souvenir to each other at Christmas.
Garnets are also decorated with blue eyes from the evil eye, as in Turkey. This is a well-known Greek tradition: earlier, blue stones were taken from the sea and carried with them as a talisman from the evil eye.
- Let's go back to Christmas: how do modern Greeks prepare for the holiday?
For Christmas, they decorate the city, decorate the Christmas trees. In general, in Greece, decorating a Christmas tree is a late custom. At Christmas, they could decorate a Christmas tree: an ordinary stick, on which ribbons and bells were tied. The result was the image of the world tree, known in any traditional culture.
Initially, in the coastal areas, wooden ships specially carved for the holiday were decorated - they hung them with ribbons, flowers, bells. There were several such ships in the village, but they were not in every house: only a wealthy person could allocate time and money to make a ship. Then the children went around the village with these ships and sang carols.
In some villages, children still carol. In Athens, by the way, they also start caroling a few days before Christmas. True, ships specially decorated for the holiday are now bought in the store.
Caroling children carried with them all sorts of pieces of iron - pots, pans - always iron, which they knocked on. Knocking on iron was considered a talisman that drove away all sorts of bad characters. And in general, iron is a symbol of happiness, health and well-being: horseshoes that are hung and so on. Now children walk with musical triangles.
- Children go at will or someone specially organizes them?
Most often they are collected by schools. Specially learn carols - and walk around the city, reproducing the folk ritual. Of course, children think they are caroling to collect treats. But in general cultural terms, carols are by no means a way to get sweets or pies, but a traditional general folklore bypass ritual that takes place on the eve of a big holiday. At Christmas they sing carols and go around all the houses in the village, on Maslenitsa they also go into every house and wish there was a good harvest.
This ancient tradition was preserved in Byzantium, when, for example, on September 1 (when the beginning of the new year was celebrated), during a roundabout ceremony, they announced the onset of the new year and wished all kinds of blessings.
Historically, it turned out that Christmas coincided with the transitional time (the end of the autumn - the beginning of the winter cycle). The rites of the transitional period existed even before the adoption of Christianity. The tradition of the bypass rite remained, new texts of carols appeared, which inform about which holiday is being celebrated.
- Where did the texts of carols come from? Are there pagan elements left in them?
It is difficult to say who exactly wrote these texts. An interesting story happened to the most famous carol:
Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες, αν είναι ορισμός σας,
Χριστού την ιείαν γέννησιν να πω στ"αρχοντικό σας.
Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλει,
Οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται, χαίρει η κτίσις όλη...
Good evening to you, sir, I beg your pardon
Jesus son of God to announce to you the birth
Christ was born on this day in the city of Bethlehem,
The heavens rejoice, all Creation rejoices...
(poetic translation by A. Grishin)
It is not written in a colloquial language, which is very difficult to understand for an ordinary bearer of traditional Greek culture. It was recorded in the 19th century, although it is probably based on an earlier text. In Greece, almost everyone knows it, they sing it with pleasure at Christmas, but no one knows the name of the author.
This carol is common Greek, more of an urban type, but for me, as a researcher, local variants of carols are of particular interest. For example, in Zakynthos the most revered saint is Dionysius. One of the carols mentions "Agios" ("Ό Άγιος"), which means "Saint" in translation. But with the definite article. Usually the central place in the carol is occupied by Christ himself, and, as a rule, it is He who is meant by "Ό Άγιος". In Zakynthos, St. Dionysius, therefore, here "Ό Άγιος", despite the Christmas context, denotes not Christ, but St. Dionysius.
Depending on the area, the nature of the wishes may vary. For example, in the Ionian Islands close to Western Europe, a girl will want to marry a Spanish prince. These are the "remnants" of medieval ideas about the world, fairy tales that still live in the texts of carols.
In Mani, for example, Slavs lived in the 6th century. And if in the carols of other regions a certain large river is mentioned - a symbol of living water - in the Maniat carols they will sing about the Slavic Danube. And when you ask informants what the Danube is and where it is, they say that the Danube is a river, and no one knows where it is, no one can say.
- What are the most ancient carols? When did they arise?
- It is hard to say. There is evidence of the traditions of bypass rites, but no texts. It can be said that fixed carols have been formed since about the 12th century - this can be established thanks to some of the realities or linguistic forms mentioned in them. However, there are still older relics. However, the exact time of occurrence of carols is unknown.
- Five days from Christmas to New Year's holiday continues?
Oh yeah! All this time there is a richly laid table, the holidays continue. And on January 1, another holiday is celebrated - St. Basil's Day. They still do Podariko (Ποδαρικό). It is a custom that when the first guest enters the house on January 1, he must be a good person, enter from the right foot.
- Do they agree with him that he should come, or how lucky?
Sometimes they specifically agree, sometimes a person can come himself, knowing that his friends will be pleased if he makes Podariko, because no one in his family has died lately and he himself is successful.
On New Year's Eve, vasilopita (Βασιλόπιτα) is always prepared - a sweet cake in which a coin is baked. There is no Christian symbolism on the St. Basil's pie. Now vasilopita is sold in any supermarket. Just like Easter - colored eggs. One piece of the basilopita is symbolically given to Christ, the other to St. Basil.
And where do these pieces go?
- Someone says that they put them behind the icon until next year, and then they throw it away. Most say that these pieces are then divided and eaten by family members anyway.
They still put a coin in and they always check who will be lucky next year.
- Is Saint Basil somehow especially revered in connection with the New Year?
Of course! It is St. Basil who brings gifts to children. In the Greek tradition, he looks like St. Nicholas in Western Europe: a red fur coat, a red hat, a white beard and a bag of gifts. Only the fur coat is not long, but short.
- Is this also Western influence?
Well no. Just red - festive. Very interesting New Year's carols - St. Basil's carols. All of them are dedicated to this saint. According to the story, he comes from Caesarea, an incomprehensible, distant, almost fabulous country, and turns out to be a scientist who studied for a very long time to read and write. And now he goes around all the cities and villages, and wherever he comes, he is asked to tell the alphabet: “Saint Basil, hello! Where are you going from now? - I'm coming from Kritsaritsy, and I'm coming to you. - And sing us some songs, tell us something: stories, fairy tales. - I did not learn songs, I did not learn fairy tales. I learned to read, I learned to read. "Okay, tell us the alphabet then." And when he begins to tell the alphabet, all the most interesting and important things happen: the world tree blossoms, four Gospels appear on its branches, and Christ Himself is in the center.
- Do they arrange holidays at which this dialogue with St. Basil is staged?
How are we with Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden? There is no such. A doll of St. Basil is placed in the house as a New Year's decoration. For example, under the tree.
- And the last of the winter holidays - Epiphany ...
The Greeks have very interesting traditions of celebrating the Epiphany. A large procession of parishioners, led by a priest, goes to some large source of water or the sea. They always throw a cross into the water to sanctify it, and young people jump into the water. Whoever gets the cross is considered "the first guy in the village" for the whole next year.
New Year in Greece is a holiday that incorporates the past and the present, uniting the secular and religious customs of the country. At first glance, the picture is well known to us - Christmas trees, garlands, festive fireworks. But it is worth taking a closer look, and you can easily find unique, primordially Greek New Year traditions!
Who brings gifts to children?
New Year, aka Προτοχρονια (Protohronia ) is the favorite holiday of Greek children, because it is on this day (and not on Christmas, as in most Western European countries) that they receive their gifts from St. yatogo Valisius (Greek analogue of Santa Claus).
Saint Basil (Agios Vasilis) was one of the fathers of the Church. And since the celebration of the New Year in Greece coincides with the day of remembrance of St. Basil (he died on January 1, 379), then his role in the celebration is special.
The legend says that during his short life this man constantly helped the poor and needy, and distributed all his fortune to the needs of ordinary people. Therefore, Basil, who has since received the nickname the Great, has become for the Greeks a symbol of generosity and kindness.
And by the way, his homeland is ancient the city of Caesarea, and not at all the North Pole).
It is interesting that a few decades ago the image of c. Vasily looked a little like Santa Claus. According to church tradition, this is a tall, thin, dark-haired man, in simple clothes with a long dark beard.
Festive image of St. Basil, in which children were congratulated at New Year's parties a few decades ago, resembled the clothes of a priest. On the head of the Greek Santa Claus was a hat like a miter, in his hand was a staff. The costume itself could be any color. Now St. Basil most often appears before children in the form of Santa.
Weather in Greece for the New Year sure to please those who do not like extreme cold and snowdrifts, but at the same time would not mind feeling the romantic charm of European winter. Shopping in the Christmas markets, fun attractions in the city center and a cup of fragrant warming coffee in the nearest eatery - a great "lightweight" option for a winter vacation in Europe!
How is New Year celebrated in Greece?
Almost the same as with us - friends gather in cafes, bars and restaurants or go to someone's house. City streets are packed with people - the main Christmas tree flaunts in the central square of each city; trees, houses and shops around sparkle with festive illumination, here and there there are models of ships and boats decorated with bright lights (read about this tradition).
On the central square, you will definitely find a stage where festive concerts organized by the city authorities take place. For those who celebrate the New Year away from home, the chimes are accompanied by a cannonade of salutes and fireworks.
Greeks and tourists stroll leisurely through all this hustle and bustle, while teenagers have fun in their own way. They gather in groups and arrange comic wars among themselves, using harmless plastic "weapons".
At the time of the New Year, when the clock struck 12, the lights are turned off in the house, and then turned on, and I begin to congratulate each other with the words Χρόνια πολλά! (long years), or Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος (happy new year).
gamblingGreeks consider New Year's Eve a happy day, so they are happy to play cards and dice, not only at home, but also in cafes, eateries, clubs throughout the country. What can we say, even the main prize of the national Greek lottery - several million euros - is played on the first day of the new year!
In the evening, in anticipation of the chiming clock, the Greeks spend their leisure time playing cards - this is considered a good omen. Moreover, they play for money, although the bet amounts are usually symbolic - so that the losers do not get upset.
Festive table
In every house on this day, there is always a vasilopita - a Greek New Year's pie (Saint Basil's pie). The preparation of such a pie is one of the oldest pre-Christian traditions that has survived to this day. On January 1, Greeks gather with their families to cut a cake together, which is baked with a gold coin inside. The head of the family cuts the cake and the first piece is traditionally dedicated to Christ, the second to the whole house as a whole, and the rest are distributed among the whole family. The one in whose piece of cake there is a coin will be happy all next year.
As a rule, housewives try to leave one place at the festive table empty. This place is dedicated to St. Basil, since such a symbolic presence of him is a good sign for the family.
Kalo Podariko or First Enterer
New Year's Eve in Greecedoes not do without another tradition. After midnight, the first guest in the house should be a good person who will bring good luck and prosperity to the owners. Therefore, the Greeks specially invite lucky relatives or acquaintances for this purpose, but most often–children, as they symbolize purity of intention and innocence. Following the first person who entered the threshold of the house, all household members take turns crossing the threshold, and the step must be taken from the right foot.
Pomegranate
In one of the previous posts about this custom was already mentioned. Pomegranate, since ancient times considered a symbol of fertility, rebirth and prosperity, plays an important role in New Year's rituals. In ancient times, pomegranates were hung over the front door to lure happiness into the house.
Now the Greeks even take this fruit to church to bless it for a special ritual. Before the clock strikes 12, marking the start of the New Year, everyone in the household leaves the house and turns off the lights.
The person who steps into the house after the First Enterer (see previous paragraph) holds a grenade in his right hand and smashes it with force on the threshold. It is believed that the number of fallen seeds symbolizes the amount of happiness for the family in the coming year.
KAli Hera
As you have already noticed, the traditions of the New Year in Greece pay special attention to children. For example, in addition to gifts from St. Basil, they also receive gifts from their closest relatives. Grandparents, aunts and uncles give money to kids (Hera) or sweets as a wish for the best for the coming year. By the way, on New Year's Eve, as well as on Christmas, children go around relatives, friends and neighbors, singing carols.
local customs
Each region has its own.K pFor example, in Crete, it was customary to bring a plant called “sea onion” (Drimia seaside) into the house for the New Year. It is a wild, onion-like poisonous plant that even animals do not eat - it causes a rash on contact with the skin. However, it has an interesting property - even if the squill is removed from the soil with a root, it does not dry out. It is believed that its ability to withstand the most adverse conditions can be transferred to humans and inanimate objects. This tradition has been known since the time of Pythagoras, from the 6th century BC, and is one of the oldest in Greece.
As you can see, the Greeks approach the celebration of the New Year with all responsibility, trying to attract happiness, money and good luck to the house. After all, faith in the good, as you know, can work wonders!