Christmas Traditions in Georgia by Irma Gvenetadze

Christmas traditions in Georgia

These two holiday is closely related to each other . Everyone says Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to each other in early January .These two holiday is often mentioned in a Georgian Christmas Carol “Alilo . For example :“ Christ was born on 25th December ,Christmas and a New Year have come for us “.New Year is celebrated with a festive mood in Georgia . All the family want the next year to bring goodness, prosperity ,happiness and joy.

New Year traditions and customs were created in ancient times . Before the tradition of decorating Christmas tree which came from Europe , people in Western Georgia used to decorate “chichilaki “. It is now still very common in Georgia . People carve chichilaki from a branch of walnut on New Year’s Eve . Chichilaki and a bag full of food –stuff are the symbol of fruitfulness and prosperity . Chichilaki is kept until Christian feast Epiphany and then it is burnt or put into the river to be taken away .

Traditionally most people in Georgia celebrate New year with family. Young people go out and have fun with friends and enjoy concerts and fireworks on the streets .

Christmas in Georgia is celebrated in a peaceful way .Everybody meets this feast with a Christmas Carol - Alilo . They greet people the birth of Christ with the singing of the Alilo song. After finishing the song they are given some sweets . After Christmas Liturgy , parish joins the Festive ‘Alilo” march .

One of the distinct traditions is to light a candle in the window at Christmas Eve .By doing this we welcome Christ to bring light and mercy in our families .This tradition was established with the blessing of Catholic-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II .

Georgian festive table is full of traditional Georgian sweets and food : churchkhela, gozinaki ,Christmas pie, Satsivi, khachapuri ,meat and fruit .

Christmas table the necessary elements