... At World Market, you can make both Greek treats a holiday tradition in your home! Greek Christmas Traditions to Look Forward To This Holiday Season 17 Nov 2017 Lit-up sailboats, malevolent goblins, delicious treats, and early-morning caroling are just a few of the things that make Christmas in Greece different. People may eat beef, pork or, in an American influence, turkey. The purposes and rituals of the festivals varied a great deal, but all had in common the desire to maintain a good relationship with the gods. Christmas Customs in Greece are many as this holiday is vividly celebrated. New Year traditions in Greece In Greece when we talk about the "holidays" we are referring to the holiday period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. Denmark. Another December is upon us. Guest Author. The original holiday was called Samhain (sah-win), marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Epiphany (holiday A sprig is traditionally wrapped around a cross and sprinkled with holy water each day during the season. Nobody would blame you for not knowing the origin behind Santa Claus (other than the North Pole). Greek Winter Solstice Celebrations in Honor of Poseidon Holiday Traditions Abound in America’s Greekest ... Christmas Traditions Apokreas is a very old Greek holiday, as well as Easter and Christmas. Another popular celebration is Greek Independence Day, this year taking place on 25 March. Greek calendars varied from polis to polis, but in some Greek calendars, a month around the time of the winter solstice is named for Poseidon. Christmas in Greece - WhyChristmas.com My Greek Christmas Holiday Celebration. Clean Monday is a Bank Holiday in Greece, thus the perfect excuse for a long weekend getaway! Greek Greece is a land of surprises. Greece The event is particularly spectacular in Pireaus. In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most sacred observance. When traveling to Greece for the holiday season you will be fascinated by how Greeks celebrate the New Year. Traditions and Holidays. Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. In Russia, Christmas Eve is called Sachyelnik (Сочельник). Posted on December 21, 2016. There’s a lot going on in Greece at any time of year, least of all seasonal holidays. Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. Public holidays in Greece. Thus, sailors were often gone for extended periods while trying to earn a living. Public holidays in Greece. According to Greek Law every Sunday of the year is a public holiday. In addition, there are four obligatory, official public holidays: March 25, Easter Monday, August 15 and December 25. For Christmas, all over Greece, the meat of the plat de résistance is not turkey but rather … One such charming custom comes from the Greek region of Epirus. As if Astoria weren’t Greek enough — a team of talented singers and musicians added a bit to the Greekness by spreading traditional Greek holiday cheer on Sunday, December 22. THESMOPHORIA No, Christmas is not a pagan holiday. Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. Epiphany (/ ə ˈ p ɪ f ə n i / ə-PIF-ə-nee), also known as Theophany in the east, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation (theophany) of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.. The Eptanisa as they are called in Greek (a seven-island group in the Ionian Sea) bring their own traditions to every season, Christmas included, and this Karythopita walnut spice cake is one. Regional Customs Different regions throughout Greece have their own variations on the holiday traditions. Greek housewives will send cookies to family and relatives homes along with other sweets. Here are the most important Greek traditions and celebrations in March 2021 which you can become part of if you are visiting Greece this time of year. In fact, the egg has been an ancient symbol of life and death in many different cultures and religions. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. You will obviously want to experience all the must-do’s when in Greece for New Year’s. It's no secret that Greeks are a lively bunch so it makes sense that they love singing and dancing. Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. Specifically, Homer — during his stay on the island of Samos, along with a group of children — composed a series of carol-like hymns. Christmas in Greece During Advent, the Greeks will hang little wooden crosses with sprigs of basil from wires over shallow bowls of water in their homes. 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. A variety of events are planned, too. One of the less unique Greek Christmas traditions is singing Christmas carols. It dates back to Greece’s ancient seafaring days. Apokries – the Greek Carnival. On Easter the Greeks also search for eggs, but they only dye the eggs red. One such charming custom comes from the Greek region of Epirus. The process of dyeing the eggs is part of many families’ Easter holiday tradition. Dec 10, 2019 | Dynamis. The eggs are baked into a traditional Easter bread called tsoureki, used as decoration, and are part of a customary game known as tsougrisma. Festival of Saint Basil (Greece) The Greek celebration of the New Year is also known as the Festival of Saint Basil, honoring the founder of the Greek Orthodox Church. The origins of Vasilopita tradition is associated with Saint Basil of Kaesaria, whose name day is celebrated on January 1st and he is also the Saint who brings presents to the children, the Greek Santa Klaus. Holidays of the Hellenes . As the holidays continue, traditional foods are a staple of the season. Many religions and cultures include the candle-lighting holiday traditions. Families get together and people enjoy a holiday air, and there are many wonderful food … Here are some of the things that make the Greek holiday season special. Festive blue and white lights have been strung along South Halsted Street to celebrate the start of the holidays in the neighborhood. From major holidays to local celebrations, here are 20 holiday traditions worth experiencing. Ancient Greek festivals were major religious events that recurred annually, every two years, or every four years. •The festival is held upon a bare mountainside. The Greek Holiday or Festival. Celebrations throughout Christendom have a tradition of starting on the evening of December 24 due in large part to the liturgical day starting at sunset the previous day, a practice inherited from the Jewish tradition of marking the sabbath. The holidays in Greece are celebrated with lots of food, symbols and tradition. Greek Festive Calender 20XX. There are two major traditions in Greece – holidays and religion, by the way, it would be reasonable to include one more to this list is ... national dishes. Christmas Customs in Greece are many as this holiday is vividly celebrated. Learn more about the history and traditions of Greek Independence Day in this article. Very true, most Greek and Roman holidays celebrated the gods, often with connections to the harvest, fertility, and the city, but there were also holidays to commemorate the dead and important days. The name originated from the word sochivo (сочиво), a special and symbolic meal made from grains, seeds, honey, and nuts. Much of its culture involved fishing and trading throughout this region. A sprig is traditionally wrapped around a cross and sprinkled with holy water each day during the season.Different regions throughout Greece have their own variations on the holiday traditions. In some areas, the holiday is preceded by a time of fasting. Philip Adikimenakis, freshman at Baruch College and first generation Greek immigrant, described the many traditions his family participates in … One such charming custom comes from the Greek region of Epirus. According to Greek law every Sunday of the year is a public holiday. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. The name day of Agios Vassilis The most important of all New Year Traditions in Greece is Saint Basil or Agios Vassilis, the Greek Santa. St. Nicholas Day, Czech Republic. Skiing Holidays in Pelion. To make them disappear, priests would (and still do) travel to homes on the day of the Epiphany, January 6, and bless them with holy water. On Easter the Greeks also search for eggs, but they only dye the eggs red. Christmas Eve/Day. Whether it be the one-day seizure of power by the women, the military parades, with tanks rumbling through the city streets, the sinister masked figures dressed in animal skins and hung about with bells which disturb the winter peace, the ecstatic dances of the fire-walkers, or the sombre and … Greek Easter Traditions Greeks have a very religious way of celebrating Easter that closely mimics their homeland traditions. Epiphany (/ ə ˈ p ɪ f ə n i / ə-PIF-ə-nee), also known as Theophany in the east, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation (theophany) of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.. Red is the traditional color, a symbol of the Blood of Christ. Greek folk tradition has it that little mischievous kallikantzari, hobgoblins in English, would rise from underground to wreak havoc during the 12 days of Christmas. The Greek tradition of Karavakia is the decorating of small boats during the Christmas season. St. Nicholas Day, Czech Republic. A sprig is traditionally wrapped around a cross and sprinkled with holy water each day during the season. “Turkey made its appearance in the late 19th century, when the elite started following the trends of French cuisine,” says Karamanes. Adults in the family give money and gifts to the children wishing them a happy new year. Global Christmas Food Traditions. Personal Essay | There’s a Coin in My Cake: On Greek-American Holiday Traditions. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles. In some areas, the holiday is preceded by a time of fasting. The origins of Vasilopita tradition is associated with Saint Basil of Kaesaria, whose name day is celebrated on January 1st and he is also the Saint who brings presents to the children, the Greek Santa Klaus. Regional Customs Different regions throughout Greece have their own variations on the holiday traditions. With approximately 90% of the population Greek Orthodox, Easter follows the Orthodox calendar which means it is often a different date than Catholic Easter. Traditions in Crete and Greece > Greek Religious Holidays Epiphany blessing of the waters - more photos The first sanctification of the Epiphany (The Enlightenment) takes … The BSO and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society perform an exciting holiday program. Every culture has its own unique traditions and customs. A walk in the towns and villages of Greece during Christmas will bring you to decorated squares, streets, shops and houses. Turkey is a big part of Greek Christmas food customs, and it is common to find this bird on most Greek Christmas tables. After the Easter midnight service, the priest gives out red eggs to the congregation. The little vessel often symbolizes the family members who work in maritime shipping and are absent during the holidays. Nobody would blame you for not knowing the origin behind Santa Claus (other than the North Pole). Basil, too, is a Greek Christmas symbol. 1. 20 Holiday Traditions Around the World. Celebrating Greece’s long relationship with the sea, fishing villages and ports throughout the country host historical re-enactments and parties in late June. The last month of the year in the Greek calendar ends the winter and the first one is in Spring (Starting with the sun in the Aries constellation at the spring equinox). In Greece, Santa Claus is not Saint Nicholas, but Saint Basil, (Agios Vasilis) and he does not visit Greek homes on Christmas Day but a week later.He actually shows up on New Year’s night, along with the new year. If you’re lucky, your holidays in Greece will include witnessing or even taking part in the following: Traditional weddings that start with dressing the bride and bouncing a baby boy on the nuptial bed; the bride escorted to the church by musicians; the especially complex wedding rituals of Lefkas; the heart-wrenching Maniot dirges, the musical accompaniment on the journey to the other world. Nevertheless, I will devote to this subject separate report. In Greek, the eggs are called Kokkina-pasxalina avga. In Greece, every region has its own wealth of traditions for these important dates on the calendar, with special holiday foods, songs or seasonal carols like the Christmas kalanda. Greek Independence Day, national holiday celebrated annually in Greece on March 25, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821. Greek salad - endive, lettuce, olive, feta, tomato, and olive oil. The tradition has since taken on a more lighthearted, optimistic nature and fills the streets of Ecuador in a celebratory manner today. Here are a few highlights of Greek holidays and traditions. Greece is settled along the Mediterranean Sea. There are many different Greek customs that Greeks perform in the Christmas holiday period, combining Christian traditions with ancient Greek customs. In the spirit of sharing, we will be bringing you stories about how different families celebrate the holiday season. Most of these customs and traditions date from the early Christian times or they are even continuations of ancient Greek customs. One Greek Christmas tradition is the singing of kalandas or kalantas, Christmas carols. The big holidays are Easter, Apokreas, Christmas and The name day of the Virgin Mary on August 15th. The most important holidays in Greece are Easter, Apokreas (Carnival Season), August 15th (Saint's day of the Virgin Mary), March 25th (Independence Day), October 28th (Ochi Day) and Agios Pnevmatos which is a moveable feast 40 days after Easter and is a 3 day weekend when many people leave Athens for the islands and villages. Although many Greeks now decorate a pine tree for Christmas, the local tradition is to decorate a small wooden boat with Christmas lights. Main dishes at Christmas are less tradition-bound, Mustakis said. One such charming custom comes from the Greek region of Epirus. Another big event in many houses on New Year's Day is the Pothariko (pothari-KO). Christmas boat As this is a maritime … This holiday tradition still thrives today. Halloween. After reading about the traditions, get also informed about the Greek language. With the rise of Christianity, pagan holidays gradually disappeared or were absorbed into Christian traditions. Continue to 9 of 9 below. Basil, too, is a Greek Christmas symbol. For Greeks, Christmas is one of the most important religious holidays, in combination with the celebration of the New Year. Christians believe that, in Christ, God entered the human race and so deserves the title Immanuel or “God With Us” (Matthew 1:23). Christmas in Greece is a holiday with many customs and traditions. Taking place in ancient Greece and suggested to be based off of Mycenaean traditions stretching back to 1,500 BCE, the Eleusinian Mysteries were a … Keeping the water and basil fresh, they will sprinkle the “holy water” through the house at least once a day to protect their homes from Killantzaroi (the evil spirits). The holidays officially begin on December 22nd, although the festal atmosphere is evident almost from the beginning of December, when Greeks decorate their houses and plan their holiday activities. The Greek Holiday or Festival. The holidays are quickly approaching and I thought I would touch on some of the Greek holiday traditions, including a few that we celebrate in my house. In addition to public holidays, local groups often held celebrations, and it wasn't uncommon for families to make offerings to household deities. Even more important than Christmas or New Year’s Day, Easter is a unique moment throughout Greece, full … Greek housewives compete to see who will bake the best Kourabiedes and Melomakarona Christmas cookies for the holiday season. 20 Holiday Traditions Around the World. The ski center on Mount Pilio (1500 meters) in Agriolefkes is one of the first best in Greece. Christmas is the perfect time to sample traditional treats from around the world. Greek Easter Traditions that Mark this Important Holiday Within the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most important holiday of the entire year. Apokreas is a very old Greek holiday, as well as Easter and Christmas. In some regions, it is common to make cabbage leaf rolls filled with pork accompanied by celery or spinach. NEAR WEST SIDE — A blend of Greek traditions and holiday festivities are coming to Greektown. Learn about some of World Market's most popular global holiday foods! There are three aspects of this day that are celebrated throughout Greece. Epiphany. For Greeks, the 12 days of Christmas actually ends on January 6th, the day of the Epiphany. Greek medical expert urges strict observance of Covid-19 measures over holidays 19/12 08:01 Greece records 4,345 new Covid-19 infections and 63 fatalities on Saturday Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. Here are some suggestions on where to go if you are visiting or staying in Athens during that time: The Filopappos Hill: Over the years this, hill, which is very close to the Acropolis and offers a wide green area, has become the perfect place to spend Clean Monday enjoying a … Traditionally, the main dish on the Greek Christmas festive table was pork – a custom that many Greek families preserve. Navy Week in Crete honours the island’s maritime tradition with music, dancing, swimming and sailing; celebrations are especially big in Soudha, near Hania. It offers magnificent sea views from the mountain […] Greek Easter. Easter is the country's most important religious festival and is the most holy of all of the Greek holidays. In addition, there are six obligatory, official public holidays: New Year's Day, 25 March, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, 15 August and 25 December. Traditions start from the very beginning of Christmas. 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