Happy New Year from Latvia!

Happy New Year from Greece!!!

GREEK CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

The Festivity Season in Greece starts in early December with the decoration of houses, shops, streets etc. People usually decorate their houses with Christmas trees and a lot of lights. However, some people decorate Christmas boats which is an old Greek custom related to the close connection Greek people have with the sea. The actual Festivity Season is called ΔΩΔΕΚΑΗΜΕΡΟ (12 Days of Christmas) and it includes Christmas ( 25^th  December), New Year ( 1^st January)  and the Epiphany ( 6^th January).

 

 

 Greece is a country where traditions and customs are a part of everyday life. Most holidays in Greece are celebrated traditionally, and Christmas is no exception. Christmas caroling is very popular. There are actually three "official" caroling days. The custom is that children go from house to house singing the carol, with the accompaniment of a triangle, and residents of the house give them a small amount of money. Greek Christmas carols (calanda) are sung on the mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany.

According to tradition, during the Greek 12 days of Christmas (December 25 to January 6), goblins come out to tease people and eat their food. This tradition is based on the legend that the "waters aren't christened" since Christ has not yet been baptized. The goblins are renowned for their ugliness and their impishness. They are not very intelligent and can't really hurt anybody. It is said that they enter houses through chimneys, and this is the reason why people, especially in villages, keep the fireplace lit during the 12 days of Christmas.

 

In many parts of Greece, people hang a pomegranate above the front door of their house. On New Year’s Day, when the fruit has dried, Greeks throw it on the ground so it breaks, and step into their house on their right foot. According to tradition, this brings good luck for the year to come.

 

 

 

In major cities, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Heraklion, etc. the municipal authorities organize music concerts, theatrical performances and a number of other cultural events. Christmas in Athens is a fantastic time of the year. The largest Christmas tree in Europe is lit in Syntagma Square, the location of the Christmas village, where little elf houses sell candy and children can take part in a number of activities.

 

Christmas, like many other holidays in Greece, is a time for feasting. Lately, Christmas turkey has become very popular as the main dish of the holiday. Traditionally, the main course of Christmas dinner in Greece is roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies.

Melomakarona and kourabiedes are the two most popular Christmas and New Year's cookies in Greece.

On Christmas Eve Greeks make Christopsomo; a kind of bread which has a cross carved into the top crust before it is baked. On Christmas Day, the head of the household makes the sign of the cross above the loaf of bread, cuts it and gives a piece to each person at the dining table.

On New Year's Day Greeks have a cake called Vasilopita. Before the cake is baked, a coin covered in foil is placed in it. The New Year is written on top of the cake with almonds. The person who cuts the cake makes the sign of the cross three times above it and then starts serving the pieces, one to each person, the house, Christ and Saint Basil. Whoever has the coin in their piece of cake will have luck for the rest of the year.

Melomakarona-kourabiedes

      Christopsomo

Vasilopita

Due to the nature of the Christian Orthodox religion, Christmas is a very religious holiday in Greece. It is customary for those of faith to go to church on Christmas morning for the religious service. Traditionally there is a fasting period 40 days before Christmas. The faithful would not eat animal or related products.  Priests sometimes go from house to house (January 6) sprinkling holy water around to get rid of the bad spirits which may be hiding in people's houses.

 New Year's Day is also Saint Basil day. January 1st, St. Basil Day, is when gifts are exchanged, since Saint Basil is our Father Christmas. The Christmas season ends with the Epiphany (Theophania) on January 6th. On this day around Greece, waters are blessed and a cross is thrown into the waters. Dozens of brave young people dive into the freezing water to retrieve the cross, which is said to bring good luck to the person that reaches it first.

  Popi Chantzi, Comenius team, Greece 

December 1, National Day of Romania

Latvian grandparents teach...

According to our ancestors, in Latvia, many things can bring bad luck :

“If you left your home but you need to return, because there's something you forgot: You should look into the mirror.

If you whistle inside a room, you're inviting the devil.

If someone wants to present you a sharp object (a knife or similar), you have to give him a symbolic amount of money in return.

If bread falls on the floor, you must pick it up and kiss it.

If you eat fish on New Year's Eve and put the fish scales into your wallet, then money will keep flowing into it during the year.

If you wear your clothes inside out, you'll get drunk fast."

For a Latvian—a spider is associated with good luck, happiness and well-being. Having one at home is a blessing and killing it would be destroying one’s good fortune.

Our grandparents never light a cigarette off a candle as it could bring a bad luck.

Latvians avoid getting married in May because the marriage will not be happy.

An unmarried woman should never sit at the corner of a table as this will ensure she stays unmarried.

According to Latvian tradition you should eat nine meals at Christmas for the coming year to be rich

It is said that in the New Year’s Eve everyone has to eat peas in order not to have tiers the next year. All of the peas boiled at Christmas must be eaten, otherwise there will be a lot tears shed in the new year.

Flowers should be given in odd numbers.

Even numbers of flowers are given when someone is in mourning.

Easter was also associated with cleanliness and effort to be energetic. It was common for people to wake up early on Easter morning and wash with fresh running water. People swatted each other (especially children) with pussy willow branches.

Swinging is a Latvian Easter tradition that encourages the rising of the sun: the idea is to swing as high as possible, which also helps to repel insects.

Jāņi is celebrated on the summer solstice on 23 and 24 June. According to ancient tradition, the shortest night of the year must be spent by staying awake all night by the glow of the bonfire. The belief is that those who go to sleep before sunrise on Jāņi will be sleepy all summer long. Women and girls wear a crown of flowers on their heads on Jāņi, while men wear a crown of oak leaves.

Turkish grandparents teach......

 

 

Our grandparents teach us...

 

1-    Not to jump over a child, otherwise the child remains short.

2-    Not to chew gum at nights. It is said that whoever chews gum at night; he/she eats flesh of dead body.

3-    Not to remove a baby from home who has not completed its 40^th day, otherwise it is believed that the child can be ill.

4-    If a scissor remains open in a home, a fight will start.

5-    If your left palm is scratched, you will receive money. If your right palm is scratched than you will spend money.

 

 

“ Our Greek Grandparents teach us… “

                      “  Our Greek Grandparents teach us… “

Here are some words we often hear from our grandparents…

Ø  If you leave food on your plate, you will lose all your strength.

 

Ø  If you go to a house and the people there are eating, your mother-in-law will love you.

Ø  If you leave your bag on the floor, you will spend all your money.

Ø  If your nose is itchy, someone will hit you.

 

Ø  If you sneeze while talking, you are telling the truth.

Ø  If your left palm is itchy, you will get money.

 

Popi Chantzi

Comenius Team, Greece

Greece

Greece…the warm weather like the warm and hospitable people welcome us. We will never  forget the time full of friendliness, history and tastefull cuisine. We are so lucky that we had a chance to meet our dear colleagues and lovely students.

We were impessed while visiting the Oimpia. We walked though the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and run in the ancient stadium. We could also visit the museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as thesculpted decoration of the temple of Zeus one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the famous Hermis of Praxiteles and the statue of Nike of Paionios. In spite of the rainy weather, some of us had a chance to run the stadium where the first athletes had run before.

We could taste the delicious Greek food . traditional Greek cuisine, mezes, ouzo, fish, feta,salads.. They  captivated us. We will always remember the big tables full of delicious meal with the friendly chat. Moreover  now we can dance as a Greek J

We visited the wine house and we could see the ancient agricultural tools there and we tought the steps of the production of wine. The best thing about that trip was the tasting the delicios wine at the end.

We haven’t known anything about the first Greek inventions before visiting the museum.

Thank you for these wonderful experıences.

Love from Turkey

Hello Greece!

I would like to say that I had a very enjoyable time in Greece. The first day I was a bit shy because I have never been abroad but the host family was great, they made me feel at home. Also I want to say that everyone should try meals  of my host family. Because they were so delicious. The second day, they took me to the main square, café and the school. The people around me were talking a foreign language sometimes I didn’t understand even a word but it was not a matter. Because  we could understand each other with the language of love. They were so friendly. I felt as if I was in my own country.  By the way, the school and the school trips were so enjoyable. We went to different places, tasted different meals. In the evenings, we had a great time at parties.

And time flies, the last day came and we prepared to go our countries. I was so sad because it was a great experience and I didn’t want to leave my friends and this  beautiful country! In fact all my friends in Greece are a kind of brothers or sisters for me, more than friends. In the future I hope we will unite again in Turkey or in Greece or anywhere in the world.

 Sincerely  Furkan from Turkey

Meeting in Greece- Polish team

Meeting in Greece will always stay in our minds as a very special opportunity to touch ancient times.

Before we met our partners in the school in Gastouni, Polish team visited Acropolis of Athens an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. The weather was fantastic so we were walking and watching the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaea and the temple of Athena Nike. We were admiring the amazing view from the hill. We were having a wonderful time while walking on sunshine along the small, picturesque streets and watching a lot of beauty spots.

In the school we experienced hospitality and we were given warm hearts of Greek teachers and students. Our students enjoyed the visit in the factory that produces sweets very much. Seeing Ancient Olympia we embarked on a journey to the past. We tried delicious Greek food, met hospitable Mayor and participated in many interesting activities, such as dance and art workshops and  we watched school exhibitions.
Our students  met close friends that – we hope – will stand the test of time.

The meeting will live in our memory forever.
Thank you, Greek Friends

“Our grand parents teach us……”

...-ancient Romanian tips-

      

Rain means luck in marriage

The bride should cry before the weeding so she would be happy in her marriage

It is a good sign if a relative sneezes before the ceremony

On the wedding day, no woman should stay between the bride and the mirror. If this happens it means that the other woman could steal the groom’s heart

A spider found in the creases of the dress means good luck

To drop the wedding rings means death

No weddings are allowed in feasting time

It is really bad luck to see another bride on your wedding day.

         On New Year's Day it is customary for the Romanian to interrogate his fate, by placing a leaf of evergreen on the freshly swept and heated hearthstone. If the leaf takes a gyratory movement he will be lucky, but if it shrivels up where it lies, then he may expect misfortune during the coming year. To ensure the welfare of the cattle it is advisable to place a gold or silver piece in the watertrough, out of which they drink for the first time on New Year's morning.

        The feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings (Tre crai) is one of the oldest festivals, and was solemnised by the Oriental Church as early as the second century, fully 200 years before it was adopted by the Latins. On this day, which popular belief regards as the coldest in the winter, the blessing of the waters, known as the feast of the Jordan, or bobetasxt (baptism) feast, takes place. The priests, attired in their richest vestments, proceed to the shore of the nearest river or lake, and bless the waters, which have been unclosed by cutting a Greek cross some six or eight feet long in the surface of the ice. Every pious Romanian is careful to fill a bottle with the consecrated water before the surface freezes over, and preserves it, tightly corked and sealed up, as an infallible remedy in case of illness.

         Particularly lucky is considered whoever dies on that day, for he will be sure to go straight to heaven, the door of which is supposed to stand open all day, in memory of the descent of the Holy Ghost at the baptism of Christ.

The feast of St. Theodore, 11th of January (corresponding to our 23rd of January), is a day of rest for the girls, and whichever of them transgresses the rule is liable to be carried off by the saint, who sometimes appears in the shape of a beautiful youth, sometimes as a terrible monster.