" Let's share our celebrations- special days , customs and traditions and why not some superstitions".12TH PRIMARY SCHOOL IRAKLIO ATTIKIS GREECE

ST 1 6TH GRADE –ENGLISH TEACHER CHRYSOULA TAMPAKI

Podarico or first foot (New Year’s custom)

The first custom to take place with the advent of the New Year in Greece is called “podariko” (from the root pod-, or foot), which equals to what the Northern British and the Scottish call “first foot”. According to tradition, it is believed that the first person to enter the house on New Year’s Eve brings either good luck or bad luck. Many households to this day keep this tradition and specially select who enters first into their house.

To have a lucky and good year, the person that enters the house first must be a loving and lucky one. The best one for the “podariko” would be a little child, since they are considered to be the best omen, with their innocence, pure hearts and honesty.

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/12/30/podariko-the-new-years-eve-custom-still-alive/#sthash.8Qo4iyFJ.dpuf

Christmas Tree custom

Christmas Boat custom

Christmas tree or boat custom by Sofia

The most common decoration is one of the Christmas tree, but they are few and those who prefer the Christmas boat. But Greece, as the country of the sea, has the custom and the decoration of the boat.The ship symbolizes the new tack of man in life, after the birth of Christ.This custom seems to be losing ground to the tree, no one seems to forget nevertheless. In some areas, mainly in the islands, still adorn boats, while in recent years made a considerable effort of some of the country's municipalities, to restore the custom in its original form, adorning their squares boats instead of trees.However,Christmas Trees are becoming more popular in Greece, but they aren't traditional and the branch chloro always entered the Greek house days of the Twelve, to bring hope for a new flowering, for a better future. Sophia Gika.

GREEK TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS SWEETSChristopsom :ο

Christopsomo, or Christ's Bread, is considered a sacred tradition in many Greek Orthodox homes, and the care with which it is made is said to ensure the well-being of the home in the year to come. Only the purest and most expensive ingredients are used. The bread is often decorated with pieces of dough formed into representations of the family's life (boats, animals, etc.). Ingredients are for simple loaves, and directions for a decorated loaf as shown at left can be found below.

Easter in Corfu island –Pot throwing custom

EASTER IN CORFU ISLAND -Pot Throwing custom by Dorothy

The most famous custom in Greece is “Pot Throwing”. On Holy Saturday at 11am many people from Corfu throw down large clay pots that are fuel of water from their balconies. The balconies are decorated in bright red clothes and the philarmonic orchestras and the choirs of Corfu take part in the event too. This custom reminds us the Earthquake that happened when Jesus was crossed.

 

By Dorothy

Theophania in greek: Θεοφάνεια

Theophania in greek: Θεοφάνεια by Semina

On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days" of Christmas officially come to an end. This day, takes on a special meaning in Greece. Here, there is a special ceremony of blessing the waters and of the vessels that ply them.

The modern observance at Piraeus, the ancient port of Athens, takes the form of a priest hurling a large crucifix into the waters. Young men brave the cold and compete to retrieve it.

 

These days, the cross is generally attached to a nice, safe long chain, just in case that year's crop of divers is something less than desired.

After the diving, local fishermen bring their boats to be blessed by the priest.

What does all this have to do with Christmas? Orthodox belief says that it was the day of the baptism of Jesus, and that this is where the day's association with water arises.

BY SEMINA MAKRIDAKI

Rocket war (Easter custom) by Myrto

Rocket war (Easter custom) by Myrto

Rocket war / Rouketopolemos Rouketopolemos (Greek Рουκετοπόλεμος, literally Rocket-War) is the name of a local traditional event held annually at Easter in the town of Vrontados (Βροντάδος) on the Greek island of Chios. As a variation of the Greek habit of throwing fireworks during the celebration of the service at midnight before Easter Sunday, two rival church congregations in the town perform a "Rocket War" by firing tens of thousands of home-made rockets across town, with the objective of hitting the bell tower of the church of the other side. The rockets are wooden sticks loaded with an explosive mixture containing gunpowder and launched from grooved platforms.

The two rival parishes are St. Mark's and Panaghia Ereithiani, the respective churches built on two hilltops about 400 meters away from each other. Direct hits on each belfry are supposedly counted on the next day to determine the winner, but each parish invariably claims victory over the other. The result of this apparent disagreement is that both parishes agree to settle the score next year, and the rivalry is thus perpetuated. The church buildings themselves and the nearby buildings have to be extensively boarded up and protected with metal sheets and mesh for the occasion. The origin of this event is unclear, but local tradition holds that it goes back to the Ottoman era. According to local lore it was earlier performed with real cannons, until Ottoman authorities prohibited their use in 1889.

Easter custom –lampada –Easter candle by Marina

The exquisitely unique Lambada is a gift given by godparents to their godchildren. It’s a magical time for the children, who peering though their house windows, eagerly look forward to the long anticipated visit.

People gather at the church, with their Lambada candle and listen to the liturgy of the Resurrection. At midnight, the church’s lights are turned off.

As the priest chants the hymn “Come Receive the Light”, the crowd lights their Lambada with the Holy Light. Everyone passes the flame one to another. When the priest chants “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen), the believers say it to one another and receive in reply “Alithos Anesti” (indeed, He has risen) while exchanging wishes and kisses. It is truly beautiful!

The red eggs (Easter custom) by Eliza K

The red eggs On Holy Thursday begin the preparations for the Resurrection. A well known custom of Greece is painting eggs. Usually the eggs paint red….

How we paint eggs

1.First boil egg 2. In a pot with hot water, we add the red paint and pour in eggs 3.Leave for 15 minutes and then put them on a towel in order to dry.

Eliza K.

The Epitaphios - Easter custom

The Epitaphios is an icon, today most often found as a large cloth, embroidered and often richly adorned, which is used during the services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday in the Eastern Orthodox Churches and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite. It also exists in painted or mosaic form, on wall or panel.

By:Chryssa

National Holiday 25th March by Alex

The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution , was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between 1821 and 1832, with later assistance from Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and several other European powers against the Ottoman Empire.

Athens Polytechnic uprising by AlexNational Holiday

 

The Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973 was a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. The uprising began on November 14, 1973, escalated to an open anti-junta revolt and ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a series of events starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic.

October 28th NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Ohi Day (also spelled Ochi Day, is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on October 28 each year, to commemorate the rejection by Greek Prime Minister Iohannis Metaxas (in power from August 4, 1936, until January 29, 1941) of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940.

Patras CarnivalThe Patras Carnival, Patrino karnavali is the largest event of its kind in Greece and one of the biggest in Europe. It has more than 180 years of history. The events begin on 17 January and last up to Clean Monday. The carnival of Patras is not a single event but a variety of events that includes balls, parades, hidden treasure hunt and the children's carnival amongst others. It climaxes in the last weekend of Carnival with the Saturday evening parade of carnival groups, the extravagant Sunday parade of floats and groups, and finally the ritual burning of the carnival king at the St. Nikolaos Street pier in the harbour of Patras. Its characteristics are spontaneity, improvisation, inspiration .

Name Day Celebration in Greece by Nick and Marios

Name day in GREECE is to honour the person with the name a Saint. The TRADITION is this person gives sweets or treats his /her friends and relatives.

Nails: It is bad to cut them at night or on Fridays

Salt: It makes unwelcome visitors to leave. All you need is to thow a little behind their back.

Stars: It’s bad luck to count the stars but if you see afalling star make a wish!

Mirror: If you break a mirror you nwill have 7 years bad luck!!!

Some Greek superstitions by Billy

Some Greek Superstitions by Nick and Marios

If you see black cat means that bad luck is waiting for you for the rest of the day .

If you break a mirror ,you will have 7 years bad luck.

If you eat the corner of a bread ,you will be loved by your mother in law.

WE SHARE WHAT WE LOVE!!!!!!