Christmas Traditions in Greece (2024)

FAQs

How do they celebrate Christmas in Greece? ›

Although no gifts are given, Christmas is a special day for feasting and spending time with friends and family. In Greek homes, tables are filled with Christopsomo and other regional festive treats.

On Christmas Eve, it's common in Greece for children to flock from home to home in their neighborhoods to sing Greek Christmas carols, or “kalanta.” After wishing their neighbors happy holidays, the children are usually rewarded with sweets, dried fruits and small change.

For many people all over the world, this is on the 25th of December (Christmas Day). In Greece though, children receive their Christmas presents on New Year's Day and not on Christmas Day. The Greek Santa Claus is called Saint (Agios) Vasilis. We celebrate his name day on January 1, so he brings presents on that day.

While your regular Santa originates from Saint Nicholas, the Greek Santa is called 'Agios Vasilis', meaning Saint Basil, or Basil of Caesarea.

Unlike Western Countries where they eat Turkeys, in Greece, the main Christmas meal is often pork (and lamb). There are many traditional pork Christmas recipes that vary depending on the region. For the Christmas menu, I like a more modern version so get ready for Pork loin stuffed with prunes lemon, and honey.

Greek Christmas (Christougena) is celebrated on the 25th of December and is the time when families come together to celebrate.

Celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve in Greece is like finding yourself in an expressionist work of art: decorated Christmas trees, shiny bright ornaments, and “karavakia” (small-scale Christmas boats) decked with blue and white lights illuminate our streets; melodious bell ringing and children singing Christmas ...

Religion in Greece is dominated by Christianity, in particular the Greek Orthodox Church, which is within the larger communion of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The carols always culminate in a wish:'Ke tou Chronou, Hronia Polla', which translates into 'May we be well again to celebrate next year and for many years to come. ' We would offer wishes for good health, happiness, and prosperity.

Most Greeks are Eastern Orthodox Christians, and the birth of Christ is central to the Christian faith. For the faithful, Christmas is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, and attending church services.

Why do Greeks celebrate Christmas on January 7th? ›

Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East - which make up more than 12% of all Christians - celebrate the big day weeks after most of the Western world. It's because they use a different calendar, called the Julian calendar, to work out what day Christmas should be.

Traditional Greek Christmas decorations include a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across its rim, sprigs of basil wrapped in colourful paper and tied to the tree or front door, as well as the decoration of Christmas boats. Greek Santa (Kalikantzaros) is also popular among children.

Some say that it was a way to thank Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, for protecting the people who worked at sea. Others believe that it showed the people's longing for their families, fathers and brothers, who worked as sailors and could not be around for Christmas.

According to Greek law every Sunday of the year is a public holiday. In addition, there are nine mandatory, official public holidays: New Year's Day, 6 January, 25 March, Orthodox Easter Monday, 1 May, 15 August, 28 October, 25 December and 26 December.