2. Greece is a country where
traditions and customs are
a part of everyday life.
Most holidays in Greece
are celebrated
traditionally, and
Christmas in no exception.
In Greece schools will be
closed for 15 days !
3. PREPARATIONS AND MENUES!
As Christmas drew near, preparations began so
all would be ready for the big holiday. Houses
would be cleaned with extra care, and a few
days before Christmas housewives would
prepare the Christmas cookies, which would be
eaten on Christmas Day when the fasting
ended.
In the past the honey cookies (melomakarona
-the left picture) were made exclusively for
Christmas, while sugar cookies, or kourabiedes
(kourabiethes, the right picture), were prepared
for the New Year. Today, though, that
distinction is not observed and both
melomakarona and kourabiedes are prepared
and consumed during the Christmas and New
Year holidays period.
4. Recipe for “Melomakarona”
Ingreients:
For the cookies:1 cup olive oil, 1 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup sugar, Zest of one
orange, 3/4 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup brandy, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking
soda, Pinch of salt, 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup walnuts, ground coarsely,
Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
For the syrup: 1 cup honey, 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cinnamon stick, 3-4
whole cloves, 1-2-inch piece lemon rind, 1 tsp. lemon juice
Prepara tion:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, using your fingers, combine the
orange zest with the sugar – rubbing the grains as if you were playing with sand to
release the orange oils into the sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the oil with the
orange sugar until well mixed. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking
powder, baking soda and salt. Add the orange juice and brandy to mixer and mix
well. Slowly incorporate the flour cup by cup until the mixture forms a dough that
is not too loose but not quite firm either. It will be dense and wet but not sticky.
Once the flour is incorporated fully stop mixing. To roll cookies, pinch a portion of
dough off about the size of a walnut. Shape in your palms into a smooth oblong
shape, almost like a small egg. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Shape and roll
cookies until the sheet is filled. Press the tines of a large fork in a crosshatch pattern
in the center of each cookie. This will flatten them slightly in the center. The cookies
should resemble lightly flattened ovals when they go in the oven. Bake in a
preheated 350-degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes until lightly browned. (The cookies
will darken when submerged in syrup.) While the cookies are baking, prepare the
syrup. In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, and
lemon rind. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer uncovered
for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon, cloves, and lemon rind and stir in
lemon juice. Place the ground walnuts in a shallow plate or bowl next to the stove
top. When the cookies come out of the oven and while they are still very warm,
carefully float the cookies in the syrup and allow the cookies to absorb syrup on
both sides. Using a fork or small spatula, remove the cookie from the syrup and
place on a platter or plate. Press ground walnuts lightly into the tops of the cookies
(syrup will help it adhere) and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon.
5. CHRISTMAS IN GREECE
During the Christmas time we celebrate
Juices Christ’s birthday (25th of
December). According to our religion
Mary gave birth to the son God Juices
Christ that night. Very early in the
morning we are going to churches and
pray listening beautiful vizantine
hymns.
6. NEW YEAR IN GREECE
Later we celebrate the change of the
year –New Years Eve (31th of
December).
Agios Vassilis (Santa Claus) is coming
and gives presents to every child during
that night. The families are gathering
together, having a dinner with several
food, drinking wine and champagne.
7. “CHRIST BREAD”
After 40 days of fasting, the Christmas feast
is looked forward to with great anticipation
by adults and children alike.
On almost every table are loaves of
christopsomo ("Christ Bread"). This bread is
made in large sweet loaves of various shapes
and the crusts are engraved and decorated
in some way that reflects the family's
profession.
8. “VASILOPITA”
Vasilopita is a New Year's Day bread
or which contains a hidden coin or
trinket which gives good luck to the
receiver. It is made of a variety of
doughs, including tsoureki. It is
associated with Agios Vassilis day,
January 1, in most of Greece, but in
some regions, the traditions
surrounding a cake with a hidden coin
are attached to Epiphany or to
Christmas.
9. SAINT NICOLAS-SAILORS’
PROTECTOR
St. Nicholas is important in Greece as the
patron saint of sailors. According to
Greek tradition, his clothes are drenched
with brine, his beard drips with seawater,
and his face is covered with perspiration
because he has been working hard against
the waves to reach sinking ships and
rescue them from the angry sea.
That’s why In older times people in Greece
use to decorate little boats instead of the
Christmas tree.
10. THE LITTLE SHIPS TRADITON-
“KARAVAKIA”
At the past, young boys from the neighbourhoods
began to work together constructing model ships,
The outcome was so impressive and the
competition –for the bigger and better boat-
became tougher, so much so that on New Year’s
Eve they would all go down to the town square
with the accompaniment of music and penemata
(verses that they would write themselves) and
display their ship to passers-by.
In recent years on the last day of the year
children that have constructed model
commercial ships or battleships, up to 5m, are
singing penemata and compete for the best boat
and best presentation. The penemata and the
melody are influenced by the Minor Asia carols.
Here you can see a video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hogXJkgUGM8
11. CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Christmas caroling is very popular
during those days. The custom is that
children go from house to house singing
the carol, with the accompaniment of a
triangle, and residents of the houses give
them a small amount of money , sweets
and dried fruits. . Greek Christmas
carols (calanda) are sung on the
mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year's
Eve and January 5, the Eve of the
Epiphany
12. The pomegranate tradition
In many parts of Greece, people hang
a pomegranate above the front door
of their house. By the New Year, when
the fruit will have 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.
15. 7 TH PRIM ARY SCHOOL OF
CHIOS
GREECE
http://7dimchios.webnode.gr
www.mikres-xares.gr
16. And here are some Greek Christmas Songs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLS4B1cjw9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=x5LBmOspy64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE-pFMiAZfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Ilcd6QaCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8pJqDdPPgJ0
ENJOY!
