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.