COMENIUS MULTILATERAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP “EUROPEAN MULTIGUIDE” TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS SPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYS 7th Primary School, Tripoli, Greece
GREEK TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS SPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYS GREEK TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS CHRISTMAS (25 th December) NEW YEAR’S DAY (1 st January) EPIPHANY (6 th January)
CHRISTMAS- ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ Christmas is the happiest time of the year. The Orthodox tradition teaches that Christ was born as a poor child in a humble cave surrounded by animals and shepherds who kneeled in front of Him. He is the Son of God, both human and God Himself, who was sent by His Father to teach His Word to the human beings and He gave the hope for salvation to them. Christ is the God’s gift of love to us. Christmas is the happiest time of the year. The Orthodox tradition teaches that Christ was born as a poor child in a humble cave surrounded by animals and shepherds who kneeled in front of Him. He is the Son of God, both human and God Himself, who was sent by His Father to teach His Word to the human beings and He gave the hope for salvation to them. Christ is the God’s gift of love to us.
The Ancient Greeks used to celebrate the “Cronia” in honor of the god Cronus (father of the gods) and the Romans used to celebrate the equivalent “Saturnalia” (Saturn=Cronus). They both were pagan feasts during the Winter Solstice. During the 4 th c. AD the Pope Julius the First, decided that Christmas would be celebrated on the 25 th of December instead of on the Epiphany Day as it used to, in order to overcome the pagan religions of the past.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS- ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ TTTThe Greek word KALANDA (Carols) derives from the Latin word “calenda” which was formed from the Greek verb “kalό” (I call). TTTThe custom of singing Carols also existed in ancient Greece. Children held a branch of olive tree or laurel which was decorated with fruit and white wool. It was called “Heresioni”. They sang and people gave them gifts.
CALANDARIDES (BYZANTIUM) The custom also existed in the Roman times. In Byzantium young men held crooks or lamps or effigies of boats which were decorated. They sang accompanying the song with triangles and drums all around the town. Nowadays children also sing the New Year’s Carols and the Epiphany Carols.
CHRISTOPSOMO -ΧΡΙΣΤΟΨΩΜΟ The "Bread of Christ“- CHRISTOPSOMO-is made by the housewives on Christmas Eve with special reverence. On the top of the bread they create various designs and ornaments with dough and nuts, while the Cross is the main shape on it. In this way they express their beliefs. On Christmas day, the landlord of the house saying a prayer, forms the sign of the Cross on the surface of the Christopsomo three times with a knife and cuts it into slices. Then, he distributes the slices to each family member. On Christmas day, the landlord of the house saying a prayer, forms the sign of the Cross on the surface of the Christopsomo three times with a knife and cuts it into slices. Then, he distributes the slices to each family member.
KOURABIEDES-MELOMAKARONA The most famous Christmas desserts. They are made with excellent ingredients (butter, sugar, flour, nuts, honey). Their origin is found in the Byzantine era. The most famous Christmas desserts. They are made with excellent ingredients (butter, sugar, flour, nuts, honey). Their origin is found in the Byzantine era.
CHRISTMAS DECORATION
CHRISTMAS TREE OR BOAT? The Christmas tree was a custom that King Otto brought to Greece from Bavaria in the 19 th c. and is associated with “Heresioni”.That’s why the Greeks accepted it so easily. In the islands people decorated boats in the past because of their merchant fleet. Both customs hold a place in our culture. The Christmas tree was a custom that King Otto brought to Greece from Bavaria in the 19 th c. and is associated with “Heresioni”.That’s why the Greeks accepted it so easily. In the islands people decorated boats in the past because of their merchant fleet. Both customs hold a place in our culture.
THE GOBLINS ΚΑΛΙΚΑΝΤΖΑΡΟΙ The goblins are the bad spirits of Christmas. According to the legent, they live under the earth and they try to cut the tree trunk which supports it during the whole year. On Christmas Eve they return back on the surface of the earth in order to cause problems and troubles to the people, especially to the housewives. On the Epiphany Day the priests sanctify the water and the goblins run to hide under the bowels of the earth because they are afraid of the Holy Water. Christ then reconstructs the tree trunk of the earth, so the world is saved for another year. And the story begins again… The goblins are the bad spirits of Christmas. According to the legent, they live under the earth and they try to cut the tree trunk which supports it during the whole year. On Christmas Eve they return back on the surface of the earth in order to cause problems and troubles to the people, especially to the housewives. On the Epiphany Day the priests sanctify the water and the goblins run to hide under the bowels of the earth because they are afraid of the Holy Water. Christ then reconstructs the tree trunk of the earth, so the world is saved for another year. And the story begins again…
NEW YEAR’S EVE ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑ In the evening of the New Year's Eve every family with relatives and friends gather round the festive table. When the New Year comes they make wishes for “A Happy New Year”. Then the landlord cuts the VASILOPITA (St. Basil’s Special Pie) into slices and gives one to each person. Slices are also cut for various symbolic people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include the Lord, St. Basil and other saints, the poor, the household, etc. The person who receives the slice with the coin inside will be the lucky one for the New Year. In the evening of the New Year's Eve every family with relatives and friends gather round the festive table. When the New Year comes they make wishes for “A Happy New Year”. Then the landlord cuts the VASILOPITA (St. Basil’s Special Pie) into slices and gives one to each person. Slices are also cut for various symbolic people or groups, depending on local and family tradition. They may include the Lord, St. Basil and other saints, the poor, the household, etc. The person who receives the slice with the coin inside will be the lucky one for the New Year.
ST BASIL’S PIE ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ St. Basil was a great man of letters and of religion. He is one of the Three Hierarchs. When he was the Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (now Kayseri, Turkey), he asked the faithful people of his town to gather all their golden jewelry and give them to the District Officer of Cappadocia who had enforced heavy taxes on them, even on poor people. The District Officer was so embarrassed by St. Basil’s action that he neither harmed anyone nor took the gold and he left. Then, St. Basil kneaded a pie for each family in which he put a jewelry at random. A miracle happened and at the end every family took back its own! Ever since, the “custom of St-Basil's Pie” is preserved. According to historians, this custom is also associated with “Cronia” and “Saturnalia”. St. Basil was a great man of letters and of religion. He is one of the Three Hierarchs. When he was the Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (now Kayseri, Turkey), he asked the faithful people of his town to gather all their golden jewelry and give them to the District Officer of Cappadocia who had enforced heavy taxes on them, even on poor people. The District Officer was so embarrassed by St. Basil’s action that he neither harmed anyone nor took the gold and he left. Then, St. Basil kneaded a pie for each family in which he put a jewelry at random. A miracle happened and at the end every family took back its own! Ever since, the “custom of St-Basil's Pie” is preserved. According to historians, this custom is also associated with “Cronia” and “Saturnalia”.
SANTA CLAUS ΑΙ-ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ In the modern world, the Christmas holidays play a major role in the consumer market. Almost all the traditions, with that of the exchanging gifts on the top, generate significant consuming of goods. In some stores, such as toy stores, the sales volume during the Christmas holidays touches half of the annual sales. Santa Claus encourages consumption… Santa Claus, the happy, smiling, nice old man dressed in red, has won our hearts with his kindness and with the presents he brings. Santa Claus is the figure that all of us KIDS AND ADULTS look for these days. Because of him, even the oldest people have the opportunity to live again their childhood.
BREAKING POMEGRANATE Breaking a pomegranate is a Peloponnesian custom on New Year’s Day. When the family returns home from the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, they do not go inside the house before the landlord throws down with force and breaks a pomegranate at the doorstep. Then the children count the berries which have been spilled out the broken fruit. The number of the strong berries is an indication of the finances of the house for the year. Breaking a pomegranate is a Peloponnesian custom on New Year’s Day. When the family returns home from the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, they do not go inside the house before the landlord throws down with force and breaks a pomegranate at the doorstep. Then the children count the berries which have been spilled out the broken fruit. The number of the strong berries is an indication of the finances of the house for the year.
EPIPHANY ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ EPIPHANY ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ EPIPHANY is the last festivity of the twelve days. We celebrate the baptism of JESUS CHRIST by John the Baptist in the Jordan river and the appearance of the Holy Spirit on earth. Nowadays when the priest throws the Cross in the sea to sanctify the water, young men dive to catch it, in a festive atmosphere. The tradition says that the lucky man who founds the Cross is God blessed.
THE SNOW-COVERED AREOS SQUARE IN TRIPOLI THE SNOW-COVERED AREOS SQUARE IN TRIPOLI You listened to the following Greek carols: 1.Peloponnesian 2.Christmas 3.New Year’s 4.Epiphany We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!