COMENIUS MULTILATERAL SCHOOL COMENIUS MULTILATERAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPPARTNERSHIP

2012-20142012-2014“EUROPEAN MULTIGUIDE”“EUROPEAN MULTIGUIDE”

TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS SPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYSSPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYS

77thth Primary School, Tripoli, Greece Primary School, Tripoli, Greece

GREEK TRGREEK TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS ADITIONS AND CUSTOMS SPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYSSPECIFIC TO WINTER HOLIDAYS

GREEKTRADITIONS

ANDCUSTOMS

CHRISTMAS(25th December)

NEW YEAR’S DAY(1st January)

EPIPHANY(6th January)

CHRISTMAS-CHRISTMAS-ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ

Christmas is the Christmas is the happiest time of the happiest time of the year. The Orthodox year. The Orthodox

tradition teaches that tradition teaches that Christ was born as a Christ was born as a

poor child in a humble poor child in a humble cave surrounded by cave surrounded by

animals and shepherds animals and shepherds who kneeled in front of who kneeled in front of Him. He is the Son of Him. He is the Son of God, both human and God, both human and God Himself, who was God Himself, who was sent by His Father to sent by His Father to teach His Word to the teach His Word to the human beings and He human beings and He

gave the hope for gave the hope for salvation to them. Christ salvation to them. Christ is the God’s gift of love is the God’s gift of love

to us. to us.

The Ancient Greeks used to celebrate the The Ancient Greeks used to celebrate the “Cronia” in honor of the god Cronus (father “Cronia” in honor of the god Cronus (father of the gods) and the Romans used to of the gods) and the Romans used to celebrate the equivalent “Saturnalia” celebrate the equivalent “Saturnalia” (Saturn=Cronus). (Saturn=Cronus).

They both were pagan feasts during the They both were pagan feasts during the Winter Solstice.Winter Solstice.

During the 4During the 4thth c. AD the Pope Julius the First, c. AD the Pope Julius the First, decided that Christmas would be celebrated decided that Christmas would be celebrated on the 25on the 25thth of December instead of on the of December instead of on the Epiphany Day as it used to, in order to Epiphany Day as it used to, in order to overcome the pagan religions of the past. overcome the pagan religions of the past.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS-ΚΑΛΑΝΤΑ

The Greek word KALANDA The Greek word KALANDA (Carols) derives from the (Carols) derives from the Latin word “calenda” which Latin word “calenda” which was formed from the Greek was formed from the Greek verb “kalverb “kalόό” (I call).” (I call).

The custom of singing The custom of singing Carols also existed in Carols also existed in ancient Greece. Children ancient Greece. Children held a branch of olive tree held a branch of olive tree or laurel which was or laurel which was decorated with fruit and decorated with fruit and white wool. It was called white wool. It was called “Heresioni”. They sang and “Heresioni”. They sang and people gave them gifts.people gave them gifts.

CALANDARIDESCALANDARIDES(BYZANTIUM)(BYZANTIUM)

The custom also existed in the Roman times. The custom also existed in the Roman times. In Byzantium young men held crooks or In Byzantium young men held crooks or

lamps or effigies of boats which were lamps or effigies of boats which were decorated. They sang accompanying the decorated. They sang accompanying the song with triangles and drums all around the song with triangles and drums all around the town.town.

Nowadays children also sing the New Year’s Nowadays children also sing the New Year’s Carols and the Epiphany Carols.Carols and the Epiphany Carols.

CHRISTOPSOMOCHRISTOPSOMO-ΧΡΙΣΤΟΨΩΜΟ-ΧΡΙΣΤΟΨΩΜΟ

The "Bread of Christ“-The "Bread of Christ“-CHRISTOPSOMO-is made CHRISTOPSOMO-is made

by the housewives on by the housewives on Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve with

special reverence. On special reverence. On the top of the bread they the top of the bread they

create various designs create various designs and ornaments with and ornaments with

dough and nuts, while dough and nuts, while the Cross is the main the Cross is the main

shape on it. In this way shape on it. In this way they express their they express their

beliefs.beliefs. On Christmas day, the On Christmas day, the landlord of the house landlord of the house saying a prayer, forms saying a prayer, forms

the sign of the Cross on the sign of the Cross on the surface of the the surface of the

Christopsomo three times Christopsomo three times with a knife and cuts it with a knife and cuts it

into slices. Then, he into slices. Then, he distributes the slices to distributes the slices to

each family member.each family member.

KOURABIEDES-KOURABIEDES-MELOMAKARONAMELOMAKARONA

The most famous Christmas desserts. They The most famous Christmas desserts. They are made with excellent ingredients are made with excellent ingredients

(butter, sugar, flour, nuts, honey). Their (butter, sugar, flour, nuts, honey). Their origin is found in the Byzantine era.origin is found in the Byzantine era.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONCHRISTMAS DECORATION

CHRISTMAS TREE OR BOAT?CHRISTMAS TREE OR BOAT?

The Christmas tree was a custom that King Otto brought to The Christmas tree was a custom that King Otto brought to Greece from Bavaria in the 19Greece from Bavaria in the 19thth c. and is associated with c. and is associated with “Heresioni”.That’s why the Greeks accepted it so easily. “Heresioni”.That’s why the Greeks accepted it so easily.

In the islands people decorated boats in the past because In the islands people decorated boats in the past because of their merchant fleet. Both customs hold a place in our of their merchant fleet. Both customs hold a place in our

culture.culture.

THE GOBLINSTHE GOBLINSΚΑΛΙΚΑΝΤΖΑΡΟΙΚΑΛΙΚΑΝΤΖΑΡΟΙ

The goblins are the bad spirits of The goblins are the bad spirits of Christmas. According to the legent, Christmas. According to the legent, they live under the earth and they they live under the earth and they

try to cut the tree trunk which try to cut the tree trunk which supports it during the whole year. supports it during the whole year. On Christmas Eve they return back On Christmas Eve they return back on the surface of the earth in order on the surface of the earth in order to cause problems and troubles to to cause problems and troubles to

the people, especially to the the people, especially to the housewives. On the Epiphany Day housewives. On the Epiphany Day the priests sanctify the water andthe priests sanctify the water and the goblins run to hide under the the goblins run to hide under the

bowels of the earth because they are bowels of the earth because they are afraid of the Holy Water. Christ then afraid of the Holy Water. Christ then

reconstructs the tree trunk of the reconstructs the tree trunk of the earth, so the world is saved for earth, so the world is saved for

another year. And the story begins another year. And the story begins again…again…

NEW YEAR’S EVENEW YEAR’S EVE ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑ

In the evening of the New In the evening of the New Year's Eve every family Year's Eve every family

with relatives and friends with relatives and friends gather round the festive gather round the festive

table. When the New Year table. When the New Year comes they make wishes comes they make wishes for “A Happy New Year”. for “A Happy New Year”.

Then the landlord cuts the Then the landlord cuts the VASILOPITA (St. Basil’s VASILOPITA (St. Basil’s

Special Pie) into slices and Special Pie) into slices and gives one to each person. gives one to each person.

Slices are also cut for Slices are also cut for various symbolic people or various symbolic people or groups, depending on local groups, depending on local and family tradition. They and family tradition. They may include the may include the LordLord, St. , St. Basil and other saints, the Basil and other saints, the

poor, the household,poor, the household, etc.etc.  The person who The person who

receives the slice with the receives the slice with the coin inside will be the lucky coin inside will be the lucky

one for the New Year.one for the New Year.

ST BASIL’SST BASIL’S PIEPIEΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ

StSt.. Basil was a great man of letters and of religion. He is one of Basil was a great man of letters and of religion. He is one of the Three Hierarchs.the Three Hierarchs. When he was the Bishop of Caesarea When he was the Bishop of Caesarea

Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (now Kayseri, Turkey), he Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (now Kayseri, Turkey), he asked the faithful people of his town to gather all their golden asked the faithful people of his town to gather all their golden

jewelry and give them to the District Officer of Cappadocia jewelry and give them to the District Officer of Cappadocia who had enforced heavy taxes on them, even on poor people. who had enforced heavy taxes on them, even on poor people. The District Officer was so embarrassed by St. Basil’s action The District Officer was so embarrassed by St. Basil’s action that he neither harmed anyone nor took the gold and he left. that he neither harmed anyone nor took the gold and he left. Then, St. Basil kneaded a pie for each family in which he put a Then, St. Basil kneaded a pie for each family in which he put a jewelry at random. A miracle happened and at the end every jewelry at random. A miracle happened and at the end every

family took back its own! Ever since, the “custom of St-Basil's family took back its own! Ever since, the “custom of St-Basil's Pie” is preserved. According to historians, this custom is also Pie” is preserved. According to historians, this custom is also

associated with “Cronia” and “Saturnalia”.associated with “Cronia” and “Saturnalia”.

SANTA CLAUSSANTA CLAUSΑΙ-ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣΑΙ-ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ

In the modern world, the Christmas In the modern world, the Christmas holidays play a major role in the holidays play a major role in the consumer market. Almost all the consumer market. Almost all the traditions, with that of the traditions, with that of the exchanging gifts on the top, exchanging gifts on the top, generate significant consuming of generate significant consuming of goods. In some stores, such as toy goods. In some stores, such as toy stores, the sales volume during the stores, the sales volume during the Christmas holidays touches half of Christmas holidays touches half of the annual sales. Santa Claus the annual sales. Santa Claus encourages consumption…encourages consumption…

Santa Claus, the happy, smiling, Santa Claus, the happy, smiling, nice old man dressed in red, has nice old man dressed in red, has won our hearts with his kindness won our hearts with his kindness and with the presents he brings. and with the presents he brings. Santa Claus is the figure that all of Santa Claus is the figure that all of us KIDS AND ADULTS look for these us KIDS AND ADULTS look for these days. Because of him, even the days. Because of him, even the oldest people have the opportunity oldest people have the opportunity to live again their childhood.to live again their childhood.

BREAKING POMEGRANATEBREAKING POMEGRANATE

Breaking a pomegranate is a Peloponnesian Breaking a pomegranate is a Peloponnesian custom on New Year’s Day. When the family custom on New Year’s Day. When the family returns home from the Divine Liturgy of St. returns home from the Divine Liturgy of St.

Basil,Basil, they do not go inside the house before they do not go inside the house before the landlord throws down with force and breaks the landlord throws down with force and breaks

a pomegranate at the doorstep. Then the a pomegranate at the doorstep. Then the children count the berries which have been children count the berries which have been

spilled out the broken fruit. The number of the spilled out the broken fruit. The number of the strong berries is an indication of the finances of strong berries is an indication of the finances of

the house for the year.the house for the year.

EPIPHANYEPIPHANYΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ

EPIPHANY is the last festivity of EPIPHANY is the last festivity of the twelve daysthe twelve days.. We celebrate We celebrate the baptism of JESUS CHRIST the baptism of JESUS CHRIST

by John the Baptist in the by John the Baptist in the Jordan river and the Jordan river and the

appearance of the Holy Spirit appearance of the Holy Spirit on earth. Nowadays when the on earth. Nowadays when the priest throws the Crosspriest throws the Cross in the in the

sea to sanctify the water, sea to sanctify the water, young men dive to catch it, in young men dive to catch it, in

a festive atmosphere. The a festive atmosphere. The tradition says that the lucky tradition says that the lucky man who founds the Cross is man who founds the Cross is

God blessed.God blessed.

THE SNOW-COVERED AREOS SQUARE THE SNOW-COVERED AREOS SQUARE IN TRIPOLI IN TRIPOLI

You listened to the following Greek You listened to the following Greek carols:carols:

1.Peloponnesian 2.Christmas 3.New 1.Peloponnesian 2.Christmas 3.New Year’s 4.EpiphanyYear’s 4.Epiphany

We hope you enjoyed it as much as We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! we did!