Christmas in Greece

Christmas (Christougenna), is one of the most joyful celebrations of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Christmas season in Greece begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day and ends on January 6th, which is the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophania). During this period most greek towns are decorated with bright lights, bells, angels and the municipal authorities organize music concerts, theatrical performances and other cultural events.

There are many customs associated with the Christmas holidays, some of which are imported from other countries (like eating turkey on Christmas day and decorating the christmas tree). In the past, Greeks were decorating small Christmas boats in honor of St Nicolas, who is the protector of sailors. For this reason, you will often see boats decorated with sparkling lights in many Greek cities and especially in villages.

Today almost every home has a Christmas tree, a real one or an artificial one. Usually they  decorate them   few days before Christmas and they keep them in the homes until Epiphany.

Although the Christmas tree is assumed to be foreign custom, in reality it has  Greek roots, as in antiquity they used  to decorate green branches to welcome the  New Year.

A very old custom is the Greek Christmas carols, which is called “Kalanda” in Greek. Children are going  from house to house in groups of two or more singing the carols,  accompanied by the sounds of the triangle or guitars, accordions or harmonicas. Years ago the homeowners offered the children  sweets but today they usually give them some money. There are actually three  caroling days. The carols are sung in the mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany and they are different for each holiday

 There is a fasting period which starts  40 days before Christmas. The faithful would not eat any meat or any animal products, as dairy or eggs. Few days before Christmas housewives prepare the traditional Christmas cookies  “melomakarona” (honey cookies) and “ kourabiedes” (sugar cookies with almonds). For the Christmas Eve they bake the “Christopsomo” a special slightly sweet bread. Traditionally, the main course of Christmas dinner is roasted pork or lamb, spinach or cheese pies and various salads and vegetables but in the last years, Christmas turkey has become very popular as the main dish.

Melomakarona, Greek Christmas cookies

Kourambiedes, Greek Christmas cookies

Christopsomo, Greek Christmas bread

During Christmas vacation many Greeks choose to travel to picturesque villages, especially those located on the beautiful mountainsides.  They are the ideal places to spend a white Christmas! They visit also the most popular snow centers as Parnassos near the town of Arachova, Pertouli and Pilio in the region of Thessaly, Tymfristos at Karpenissi, Helmos in the town of Kalavrita, Mainalon at Vytina, Peloponnese, Vasilitsa at Grevena and Kaimaktsalan at Edessa.