Ergo, for centuries, many men have made their living as sailors. Traditionally, any type of meat was considered a significant delicacy and privilege. However, after the Bolsheviks rose to supremacy, all the religious holidays were exterminated, and, of course, Christmas became the most persecuted of them all. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ. Christmas is one of the major holidays of the year. Still others believe this tradition is more rooted in Greek culture. (Read more about Ukrainian holidays here. After the VI Th century Christmas started to be celebrated on the 25th of December. When Is Orthodox Christmas. The bread is made on Christmas Eve ready to be eaten on Christmas Day. They can be sung at home after dinner, or carolers can walk on the streets, through Christmas markets, or even stop by your apartment. Because Greek society is so religious -- approximately 98 percent of Greece's population belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church -- many of the culture's traditional celebrations center around sacramental services in the church [source: U.S. State Department].. At birth, eldest children are named after a grandparent, an ancient tradition that ensures the continuation of a … This is in stark contrast to the US and Western Europe, where it is one of the main holidays of the year for most people regardless of religious affiliation. A delicious collection of traditional Greek Christmas recipes! Here’s a list of 15 most popular Greek New Year customs and traditions: 1. It was almost impossible to buy a fir tree, as everything that could be related to holidays was strictly controlled by the government. Some believe this tradition is traced back to the important Greek Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Sailors. The tradition from Kavala roots to the period of the Ottoman Occupation of Greece. Orthodox Christmas Date. Tradition states these small, foul creatures emerge from the underworld during the holiday season, lurk at night and possess the potential to cause serious damage if they enter one’s home. Chichilaki is considered to be a symbol of life, hope, and fertility. In the Eucharist, all Orthodox Christians meet together and in absolute agreement, in doctrine and practice witness the presence of the Holy Trinity on the altar of the Church. In certain Greek regions, especially Crete, the Christmas Hog is still a major custom. ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ. The main things that characterize a nation are its history, tradition, and culture. There are also some special hymns that are sung during these services. The difference in these dates lies in the history of how these dates came about in the first place. (Read more about Bulgarian holidays here.). © 2010–2020 Dauntless Jaunter & Pardeaplex, Orthodox Christmas: When It’s Celebrated, History, and Holiday Traditions, Explore • Educate • Experience • Enlighten, Stories: Legends, Mythology, Tales & More, “W” Hour: A Once-Yearly Moment When Warsaw Stops in Remembrance, 5 Things to Do in Kyiv: Top Attractions, Activities, Museums & More (Kiev), Kupala Night: A Magical Slavic Summer Evening (Ivanа-Kupala), 4 Fascinating Tea Traditions from Around the World, 7+ Things to Do in Bulgaria: Best Bulgarian Places to Go & Sites to See, Ramadan 101: Everything to Know About Islam’s Sacred 9th Month. Here is a roundup of some of the Greek Christmas traditions you can enjoy, no matter where in the world you are: Most Greek people are Orthodox Christians. Orthodox Christmas Day. We believe that traveling to lands, distant or otherwise, can only better a person, particularly when there is a level of immersion into the local people and their cultures, traditions, cuisine, history, and language. We’ve got travel destination guides, facts and trivia articles, an impressive tourism glossary, cultural insight, language learning, posts about history and education, a tourism and hospitality industry glossary, and even more! These hobgoblins (kallikantzari in Greek) are little monsters with bandy legs and arms, hunched backs, large ears, strange eyes and all kinds of deformities. The karakavi were created as a way of honoring their service and praying for their safe return. HE WAS AND IS AND EVER SHALL BE. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Christmas Traditions However, as soon as December arrives, festivities begin: homes are decorated, and the smell of In this tradition, Christmas Eve services are formally known as the Eve of Nativity celebration. After the performance is completed, the homeowners often demonstrate their appreciation by rewarding the young people with sweet treats. In 1929, Christmas in the Soviet Union was officially crossed out from the calendar and canceled. This was the original date for Christmas until the 4th century, rather than some Julian/Gregorian adjusted date. Young men ready to set off for their military service in the coming year, gather wood and pile it up in their village or town square. Presents are opened on New Year’s Day Though the primary religion in Cyprus is Greek Orthodox, most people celebrate Christmas on 25 December rather than the traditional Orthodox date in January. First, t he Greek Orthodox Church is celebrating Christmas on December 25th, on the same date as the Catholic and Protestant Churches. The day is a The only Orthodox churches that still observe the January 7th date are the Russian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian churches, the Serbs and the Mount Athos monks in Greece. You all know that Greece is famous for its history and sunny days, so we have the first out of the three points. Still others believe this tradition is more rooted in Greek culture. Even though many countries in Eastern Europe profess the same religion, Christmas traditions differ in all the countries. Talking about unusual Christmas trees, it is definitely worth mentioning chichilaki, a traditional Christmas tree in Georgia. A particularly unique Greek Christmas tradition is the Kalikantzaroi, or Christmas goblins. Typically, gifts are opened on New Year’s Day rather than at Christmas, to honour Saint Vasilis, the Greek saint associated with Santa Claus. In accordance wit the hog tradition, some type of pork recipe is typically the main course, which is supplemented with side dishes such as stuffed cabbage and Christopsomo bread. Unlike that, by many other religions around the world, Christmas is celebrated using the Gregorian calendar established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. They vary from place to place, and in many areas have been updated or watered down to suit modern living. That said, such individuals spent many months away from their families and homes often battling treacherous conditions. For example, the Greek tradition involves decorating a model ship, but now many homes feature a Christmas … Don’t be surprised if in Greece you see a boat decorated with Christmas lights. Some of the elements include the Hours, which summarize the themes of Christmas, the Vespers, which include Bible verses that announces Christ’s arrival into the world, and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil. Orthodox Christmas Traditions December 13 CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! An especially Greek Christmas tradition is the decorating of a karakavi, of a small sea vessel. ), When you have a Christmas Eve dinner in Bulgaria, it is important to have an odd number of dishes, one of them being a Christmas bread with a baked coin in it. (Check out our article on the history of the Christmas tree.). Moreover, in all of the Orthodox countries, there are at least some Catholics and Greek Catholics, so some part of the population might have Christmas at the end of December in their families or communities. The Greek Orthodox Church until 1923 was with the old calendar and Christmas was celebrated on January 6th. … Ta Kalanda (Carol singing) Greek Kalanda singers 1950s . Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on January 7. In Greece … Comments Off on Interesting Greek Christmas Traditions to Know. The Nativity scenes are a popular Christmas tradition. Epiphany is one of the most sacred Greek Orthodox celebrations, rich in many Christian traditions which also date back to ancient times. The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches. There are also some traditional pastries that are served during this time of year, such as the Melamakarona cookies, which are usually only made at this time of year. During this special gathering, numerous Biblical verses are cited and hymns are sung. In this post, we will explore some Greek traditions in order for … Other traditional favorites include a variety of cookies, walnut spice cake, and cheese pastries. The explanation is rather simple: it is celebrated using a different calendar. Children … Serbian Christmas traditions are customs and practices of the Serbs associated with Christmas and a period encompassing it, between the third Sunday before Christmas Day and Epiphany.There are many, complex traditions connected with this period. When the homeowners invite them in, the youths sing. Orthodox Christmas 2020. The majority of Greek Orthodox followers see Christmas as a secondary holiday, and this is reflected in the way that Greek traditions have been somewhat watered down by international festive ideas. In the Christian tradition of both east and west, the twelve days of Christmas refer to the period from Christmas Day to Theophany. Easter is celebrated all over the mainland and on the islands, it is a family celebration as well as being the most significant time in the Greek Orthodox Church. There are also some special food traditions that are associated with Christmas. Each of the elements of the service are designed to announce Christ’s brith. As in Serbia, pork is the traditional roast meat of Greek tables at Christmas - turkey is a relative newcomer. The decoration of the boat at Christmas, is part of the huge Greek maritime tradition as Greece, both as a geographical area and as an idea, is inextricably related to the sea. For instance, the tradition of the Christmas tree was revived, however, on top of it, instead of the Star of Bethlehem, there was placed a red communist star symbol. GREEK CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS How do we celebrate Christmas in Greece? Greek Christmas Eve Tradition of Singing Carols (Kalanda) Like many parts of the world, there is a tradition in Greece of going door to door to sing Christmas carols. Carol singing is another tradition on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Hailing from Kyiv, Ukraine, she now lives in Warsaw, Poland, where she is working on her master's degree in strategic management. A traditional table decoration are loaves of 'Christopsomo' (Christ's Bread or Christmas bread). Popular appetizers include a soup made up of lemon, chicken, eggs, and rice. Eastern Orthodox Christmas. Orthodox Christmas Traditions in Different Countries. This shift happened after the October Revolution when the Bolsheviks came to power. All the faithf… The Christmas tree is taken down after the 7th of January, which is the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. In many countries of the former Soviet Union, Christmas is considered to be a religious holiday and is celebrated mostly by believers. Well, the customs are many and they vary depending on the region so I'm just going to tell you the ones that are mostly common all over the country. Serbian Orthodox Christmas. In the Greek Orthodox tradition presents are given to everyone on 1st January the Feast-Day of Saint Basil the Great. Orthodox Christmas 2019. The days leading up to Christmas were for preparation; a practice affirmed in the Orthodox tradition by the Christmas fast … Instead of celebrating the birth of Christ, they celebrated New Year’s Day, with many attributes of the forbidden Christmas but no church implications. Even though many countries in Eastern Europe profess the same religion, Christmas traditions differ in all the countries. For Greeks, Easter is a more important tradition than Christmas. Dauntless Jaunter started as a world travel blog, but we strive to offer much more than just travel stories. Orthodox Christmas is one of the most important holidays for many people in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Christmas is one of the major holidays that are celebrated in Greece and amongst people of Greek origin throughout the world. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath; Christmas music and caroling; viewing a Nativity play; an exchange of Christmas cards; church services; a special meal; and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. When Is Greek Orthodox Christmas Orthodox Christmas Traditions. For Orthodox Christians who have adopted the Gregorian calendar, Christmas falls on Dec. 25 as it does for others, and Jan. 6 marks the Epiphany, a Christian holiday that celebrates the revelation of God the son as a human being in Jesus. Here’s a guide on the history and traditions. She loves to write about travel and education stories in the hopes of learning more for herself at the same time. Like other countries and cultures, Greek people embrace the Christmas season by singing jovial and religious-based carols, also known as “kalanda”. Ergo, for centuries, many men have made their living as sailors. In Greek Orthodox tradition, sesame baklava is baked on Christmas Eve while Christopsomo is the bread baked on Christmas Day (it means. The wood is set alight on New Year’s Eve to make a big fire and they sing carols until the clock strikes 12. A similar dish under a different name, koliva, is served in Greece, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and the Balkans. Tradition says that the creatures believe the number three is holy and must kill themselves before saying three out loud. Christmas in Greece means it's kourabiedes time again, and the mellow aroma of melomakarona cookies will fill Greek kitchens around the globe. The top is decorated with a cross. Christmas Eve dinner can be served after the appearance of the first star on the sky, … Following the Gregorian calendar, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December. Most Orthodox Christians for example, celebrate Christmas on January 7th as opposed to December 25th – today namely being the Coptic Orthodox Church (in Egypt) and the Russian Orthodox Church. After some years, it became a new tradition, so even now, long after the Soviet Union collapsed, people are torn between those two holidays and each person chooses themselves which one to celebrate, and, if both, which should be of most importance. On 7 January, many Orthodox Copts and other Orthodox Christians (including those in Russia and Ethiopia) celebrate their Christmas Day. These implements have countless holes. Christmas celebrations in Greece officially last for 14 days, starting on Christmas Eve and ending on Epiphany (6 January) with the ‘Great Blessing of Water’. In fact, not one part of the animal would be wasted. Great care is taken when making this Christopsomo bread , and loaves can be simple or elaborate. For church holidays in Orthodox Christianity, the old Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE is used, which is also simply called “old style.” In the Julian calendar, the 25th of December falls on the 7th of January, which is why it is being celebrated on that date. However, during the Christmas season, which in Greece, lasts 12 days, people would splurge and eat pig meat. It is common to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on the 7th of January, with festivities starting on the 6th of January. Categorized in: Greek Christmas Traditions, on Interesting Greek Christmas Traditions to Know, Best Greek Dessert Recipes to Eat During Christmas, Recipe for Christopsomo – Greek Christmas Bread, Recipe for Melomacarona (Melamakarona) – Greek Christmas Cookies. An especially Greek Christmas tradition is the decorating of a karakavi, of a small sea vessel. Christmas Eve dinner can be served after the appearance of the first star on the sky, as it heralds the birth of Christ. Mariia Kislitsyna is a polyglot and literature fanatic, and she has a bachelor's degree in business administration and management. Some believe this tradition is traced back to the important Greek Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Sailors. In Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, it is common to have as one of those dishes kutia, boiled grains mixed with poppy seeds, nuts, raisins, and honey. It's a round sweet bread which is flavored with cinnamon, orange and cloves. literally 'Christ's bread'). The nation is home to countless islands. Spending Christmas in Greece If you will be traveling to Greece at Christmas, it's good to remember that many offices, businesses, restaurants, and other amenities may be closed or keeping unusual hours during the holiday … In Greece, certain traditional foods are eaten in celebration of Christmas. In some households, there are even small paper or wooden boats with lights or ornaments as their own analog of the Christmas tree. Because of this, there are many Greek Christmas traditions associated with it. Dauntless Jaunter is a travel website committed to promoting socially-conscious, culturally-aware, educational, and enlightening sort of travel, as well as the importance and lifelong value of such travel. On Christmas Eve, participating young people go from home to home asking for permission to sing. This is a time that is filled with moments to spend with loved ones, church services, and plenty of unique traditions. In Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. Families get together and people enjoy a holiday air, and there are many wonderful food traditions that Greeks … Traditionally on the table should be present twelve lean dishes, for the number of apostles, and only on the 7th of January the fasting ends. Traditionally, Christmas Eve would be the climax of the Nativity Fast, and thus … The situation became better in 1935 when the government of the Soviet Union decided to bring back the tradition of winter’s holiday celebration, however, with a twist. Christmas is all about delicious food, shared with your friends, family and loved ones! According to the Greek folk tradition, from Christmas Day until the Epiphany Day, hobgoblins that live underground come up to the Earth to tease and play pranks with people. In many instances, these songs are sung by children. Whoever gets the coin in their piece is believed will have a lucky and prosperous year. Legend continues that homeowners who place colanders on their doorsteps can keep these evil spirits from entering. For those remaining on the Julian calendar, the Epiphany is celebrated on Jan. 19. The Armenian Orthodox Church observes Christmas Day on January 6th. Greek Orthodox Christmas. Until the VIth century Christmas and Epiphany was celebrated together on January 7th, as to our days the Armenian and the Coptic Churches celebrate. As soon as the New Year comes in, a celebration … The Greek children, in the way that they made their own toys, in the same way they constructed the wooden ships to honor and welcome the seamen who returned from their voyages during the Christmas period. The bishop and the priest pray to God the Father to send the Holy Spirit and transform the bread and wine into the very body and blood of Christ. In popular Greek tradition, St. Nicholas is identified due to his brine-covered clothes, the filthy seawater that drips off of his lengthy beard and, most important of all, his face that is covered with the sweat built up from his hard work to save the ships from the unruly and turbulent seas. Even the pig’s bladder would be cleansed, inflated, and used as a ball by children. Given the nation’s proximity to water and its possessing a tropical climate, citizens have typically consumed the famed Mediterranean Diet, comprised primarily of seafood and produce products. Greek Orthodox Christmas 2020. … It is common to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on the 7th of January, with festivities starting on the 6th of January. The nation is home to countless islands. Christmas in the Oriental Orthodox Churches Carols are sung in Ukraine on Christmas Eve and Christmas, called koliadky. Orthodox Christian Christmas. It is interesting to emphasize another form of the Synodical system, which accentuates the importance of Tradition: the Eucharist itself. It is made from dry walnut or hazelnut branches that are shaved in a shape that reminds one of a beard. However, it gets even more complicated: not even all of the various orthodoxes celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January! Before the revolution, as in the rest of Europe, Christmas was one of the most important holidays, with most people traditionally celebrating it. Christopsomo (χριστόψωμο, say: hree-STOHP-soh-moh) literally means "Christ's Bread," and is a fixture in Greek Orthodox homes at Christmas. For example, in Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, Christmas celebrations are held on the 25th of December. One of the main differences between Orthodox Christmas and Christmas in Western countries that stands out for anyone is the date it is celebrated on. 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