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European Christmas Carols Exchange

Alkis                    Antonis              Nearchos

Panagiotis         George                Billy

Paul

Alexandra          Tatiana                Areti

Antonella

Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year, for everyone.

In this book, we present you some Greek Christmas traditions.

On Christmas Eve, children get up early and go from house to house , to sing the Greek Christmas Carols or "Kalanta." They have the traditional triangle and they knock on the doors. The person who opens,lets the children sing the Carols and gives them a little money. In Greece, children sing carols on 24th December, 31st December and 5th January.

The decoration of the ship, is an old Greek custom, although it is disappearing.

Greeks, have a long history as sailors. The boat symbolizes the new trip in a man's life, after the birth of Christ. This tradition is also related to Saint Nicholas, who protects sailors and ships.

In some Greek islands, the people still decorate the Christmas ship.

At  Christmas, it is very common to decorate the tree. A lot of families start decorating their houses, from the first week of December. They put a lot of ornaments, lights and a star at the top. 

A traditional Christmas table, has the "Christopsomo" or "Christmas bread".

On Christmas Eve, housewives make this special bread. It is  round, sweet bread and  at the top there is a cross. The householder cuts the bread in pieces by hand, as it is said, that no knife should be used.

Santa Claus brings presents to children.

One version, is that Santa gives presents only to those who have been "good during the year.

In Greece, "Aghios Vassilis" brings the presents on 1st January, on his name day. So that day, the whole family sits around the tree, opening the presents and exchanging wishes.

He is the same "Santa Claus-St. Nicholas for the English, "Per Noel" for the French, and "Babbo Natale" for the Italians.

Vasilopita, according to Greek custom, is the name of the pie made on New Year's Eve. It contains a gold coin which, according to tradition, will bring good luck to whoever finds it and is cut and shared in a family gathering immediately upon the arrival of the New Year. The number of the New Year is usually written on the Vasilopita with sugar almonds. So just before midnight, when the change of the year is about to happen, the lights go out and everyone is counting down from ten to one and when the lights are back on, they wish each other happy new year.

Vasilopita comes onto the table where the host, after crossing it with the knife three times, begins to cut it with the first piece for Christ, his mother Mary, the House, the Poor, and then to all the family members by age.

An easy recipe for the Vasilopita is:

Components:

500 gr. Flour 

250 gr. butter at room temperature

3 large eggs

2 cups of sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp liquid vanilla flavoring

250 ml of milk

Zest of one orange

½ cup Orange juice

A little butter and a little flour for the pan