Christmas in Athens

I like staying home for Christmas. Maybe easter is more appropriate for little escapes around your country or even abroad -but Christmas is a family holiday, so I had always imagined it spent at home. Given that last year I was away from home, this year, more than ever, I needed to stay in Athens. After all, I was studying. Christmas in Athens doesn't have many special traits, compared to Christmas in other countries -and, no, it is not like it's portrayed in the movie “My big fat greek wedding”.

• However, it actually is true that us greeks have large families and in occasions like Christmas we tend to meet with uncles, cousins etc. Not necessarily the whole family, but at least brothers and sisters, along with their kids.

• As far as food is concerned, some families do cook turkey in Christmas, but it is not a greek tradition. Others, prefer some pork with roast potatoes, which is a “more greek” recipee. I think that what is more important for the greeks, is that there is a wide variety of food, many salads alongisde the meat etc.

• What we do have as a specialty, are some pastry: kourabiedes and melomakarona. Kourabiedes are like butterscotch biscuits covered in powdered sugar. Melomakarona -my personal favourite- are like biscuites soaked in honey, with sprinkled nuts on them. There is also a third traditional Christmas dessert, although not as famous as the “basic” two, which is called “diples”. Diples are crunchy delights, again soaked in honey.

• Both in Christmas eve, as well as New Year's Eve, the children go out to sing Christmas Carols in the neighbourhood. In order to find the right tune, they use the help of a special musical instrument, which is only used in this particular occasion -it is called “triangle”, because of its shape. And, basically, that's what it is: a metal triangle which you hold and you hit it with a metal stick, trying to create a tempo. The recipients of the Carols, should give something to the children. In old times, it was usually candy (the kourabiedes and melomakarona we were talking about) but the last decades it's more likely that they're giving away money -a couple of euros to each kid.

• In Greece, Santa-Claus is not supposed to come to the houses at Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Santa-Claus arrives in New-Year's Eve, so that the children find their presents on January 1st, right under the Christmas tree.

• Now that I mentioned the Christmas tree, I have to say that this is not a greek tradition. The tradition is that the greeks bring out a little decorative boat, which they decorate with Christmas lights and have it in their living-room, instead of a tree. The boat symbolises the greek seas, alongside the fact that many greeks used to be sailors. Keep in mind that great part of the greek culture is its sea and the fact that it has so many islands. During the past few years, though, less and less families are keeping the boat tradition alive. Most families decorate a Christmas tree, just like in most countries, while others have both a boat and a tree. Of course, there are also some super traditional families that up until now only decorate a Christmas boat, just like old times.

• One New Year's Eve, we also cut “Santa Claus' Pie”. This is another greek dessert -normally a cake, with the words “Happy New Year” or just “2014” etc. on it. We cut a piece for Jesus, one for the Saints, one for Santa Claus, one for the house (all those are symbolic and of course we eat them afterwards as well!) and the rest of them for each member of the family or for each guest who is at our home, while we cut the cake. In the cake, there is a hidden coin. The person who gets the piece with the coin in it, is supposed to be lucky for the rest of the year -and he should keep the coin, as a lucky charm. Sometimes, if there is a large gathering or party going on, the house hosts have also gotten a little gift for the lucky one. This year, after many years of just eating plain cake, I did manage to get the coin. And I am so very proud of this!

• A very common gift between greeks in New Years Eve are the “lucky charms”. Those are pieces of jewelery or decorative pieces, with the number of the New Year on them. This year for instance, it would be “2014” or “14”. It could be on a bracelet, on a necklace or simply on a piece of decoration for a coffee table, or on another which you could hang on a wall or a door!

• Another New Year's Tradition is that we take a pomegranate and throw it outside the house, so that it breaks. Its little pieces are supposed to symbolise the years of happiness that are to come in the house. Also, this tradition has made the pomegranate a lucky charm itself, so they make metal ones or others with strass, which become gifts and people decorate their houses with them.

• Note that there is also a third occasion where the children sing the Carols: it is on the 6thof January, a holiday which is called “Fota”, which means “Lights”, or “Theofania”, which means “God's appearance”. It is supposed to be the apocalypse of the Holly Spirit. There are less kids out than on the other two occasions, but this holiday still has its own carols -the children sing them on the 5th, which is the Fota's Eve.

• Another fact about Theofania is what happens in every port of Greece on that day: there is a priest that reads the hymnes for that day, about the Holly Spirit's Revelation. Many people gather at the nearest port in order to hear this. In the end, the priest takes the cross he was wolding and throws it in the water. Anyone who wants to get enlightment from it, goes into the water and swims until they catch the cross. Those who want to participate in this, have to begin from the same spot, so that they have the exact same distance from the cross. The first one who manages to catch the cross is the one who “wins”.

• Christmas lights, Christmas decorations and, of course, the Christmas tree should come down on January 7th. This date we celebrate Saint John (and it is really important, since many greek men are named John!) and it marks the end of Christmas holidays. After this day, the schools and universities open as well!

Christmas holidays are not the best, when you're studying. However, being at home, with people you love, can make even the few hours you take off studying, wonderful! This Christmas, I was mostly at home, I watched Christmas movies, enjoying even the ones I did for third or tenth time -my favourites are the Holiday and, more than any other Christmas movie, Love Actually! I spent time with my family, I ate well and got some sleep. The New Year found me eager to become a better version of myself, with or without a handwritten list of resolutions!