# data[].attributes.body
˝Good evening, we are knocking ....˝ are the opening lyrics of the traditional local holiday carol – the Dubrovnik Kolenda, the scent of prikle (doughnuts) and hrostule (sweet fritters) drifts from the hearths, mixing with the scent of bay leaf laurels that are draped across entryways as a sign of welcoming, and ripe bitter oranges from the Renaissance gardens.
It's very interesting for me to know that the Christmas tradition from my childhood exists in Greece, too. On Christmas Eve kids go from door to door and sing kolenda, and get gifts, usually money in return. From the early morning everyone is dressed up singing kolenda but also other carols too.

# data[].attributes.headline
Guilherme Oliveira, Gonçalo Teixeira e João Pereira

# data[].attributes.subject
Guilherme Oliveira, Gonçalo Teixeira e João Pereira

# data[].attributes.body
The Varge Caretos are part of the Varge
Boys Party, one of the main transmontane
winter traditions.
On December 24th, a single boys' meeting is
organized where they secretly prepare what
will happen. December 25 begins early with
Christmas Mass, and after Mass, the boys
appear dressed in Caretos, spreading chaos
and disorder throughout the village, jumping,
shouting and laughing at the sound of their
rattles and a piper accompanied by bass
drum and box. Hay is thrown to the people,
girls are squashed, water from springs is
scattered, and animals are provoked. The
atmosphere changes and creates the
sensation of a supernatural world where even
the cold seems to fade.

# data[].attributes.headline
Rogerio Fernandes,Henrique Ramos e Diogo Zenão

# data[].attributes.subject
Rogerio Fernandes,Henrique Ramos e Diogo Zenão

# data[].attributes.body
Consoada
Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 24th December and gathers all the family around the table to share a meal.

This meal is mainly codfish (boiled with potatoes and Portuguese cabbage) , followed by desserts, principally made with eggs,or milk and dough, most of them fried( aletria, rabanadas , sonhos and filhós).

A consoada de Natal é celebrada no dia 24 de Dezembro e junta toda a família à mesa para partilhar uma refeição.

Esta refeição consiste principalmente em bacalhau cozido, seguido dos doces, como aletria, rabanadas e filhós.

# data[].attributes.body
Missa do Galo

In Portugal and  Spain  the “Missa do Galo” is a tradition since the 400s. This mass takes place on 24 th and 25 th December.  Many people question themselves why is it called that way. The famous theory is that a rooster started to crow at midnight to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Everyone agrees that the 24 th  December  was for fasting. The people could only eat with an authorization after the Missa do Galo. When they would came home there was a large  table with lots of food.

# data[].attributes.body
Cantar as Janeiras
“As Janeiras” (sing “As Janeiras) is a Portuguese tradition which is singing songs on the streets by groups the people announcing the birth of Jesus wishing a happy new year. These groups go from door to door, asking the resindents for the leftovers of the holidays' parties.

As Janeiras (cantar as Janeiras) é uma tradição em Portugal que consiste em cantar músicas pelas ruas por grupos de pessoas anunciando o nascimento de Jesus desejando um feliz ano novo. Esses grupos vão de porta em porta, pedindo aos residentes as sobras das Festas Natalícias.

# data[].attributes.body
Vasilopita is a New Year's Day bread or cake in Greece and many other areas in eastern Europe and the Balkans which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver, like the Western European king cake. It is associated with Saint Basil's 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. It is made of a variety of dough, depending on regional and family tradition.In other areas of the Balkans, the tradition of cake with a hidden coin during winter holidays exists, but is not associated with Saint Basil at all.

# data[].attributes.headline
Carols.  A custom that is maintained even today with children returning home 2 or more together and singing carols accompanying their song with the triangle or even guitars, accordions, lyres, or harmonica.

# data[].attributes.subject
Carols.  A custom that is maintained even today with children returning home 2 or more together and singing carols accompanying their song with the triangle or even guitars, accordions, lyres, or harmonica.

# data[].attributes.body
Saint Basil’s cake (vasilopita) is a traditional Greek cake or bread served at midnight on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the life of Saint Basil. After baking the cake, a coin is inserted through the base and when cut the person who finds the coin is said to be granted luck for the rest of the year. According to Greek Christmas traditions every year after midnight on New Year’s Eve the householder cuts the cake in pieces. The first piece cut is for Christ, the second for Virgin Mary and the third for the house. Then the rest of the cake is cut in pieces for the members of the family by order of age.

# data[].attributes.body
The Kallikantzaroi, is a Greek Christmas tradition. They are mischievous Greek goblins, elves or gnomes, that appear during the twelve days of Christmas, from the end of December until January sixth. Kallikantzaroi are said to be small, black and male, mostly blind, with long black tails.

They speak with a lisp and eat small creatures, such as, worms, snails and frogs.They only come out at night, and, are afraid of the sun, fire and holy water.

The rest of the year, they live at the center of the Earth, where, they spend their time, chopping down The World Tree, or The Tree Of Life, that holds up the World, using a large saw.

# data[].attributes.body
In Greece, caroling—known as kalanda—is a favorite holiday season activity for children, who walk through neighborhoods in groups, call on houses, and sing traditional festive songs. These are accompanied by music from triangles and talk about the birth of Christ.

# data[].attributes.body
On Chrismas eve the kids in Greece wake up early in the morning and go from house to house with a metal triangle and stick. This happens on the new year's eve too. The kids make money or sweets by singing traditional greek songs and hitting their triangle with their stick (with rhythm of cource). On Christmas and New year's day the family meets together and cuts a cake. Inside the cake there is a coin that if your piece has it inside it then you have good luck for some days!

Jim Savvopoulos

# data[].attributes.body
In Greece we usually decorate boats instead of trees because Greece has a close relationship with the sea

# data[].attributes.body
In Greece, caroling—known as kalanda—is a favorite holiday season activity for children, who walk through neighborhoods in groups, call on houses, and sing traditional festive songs. These are accompanied by music from triangles and talk about the birth of Christ and bringing good tidings to the household. In some places, it is customary for the children to carry with them a decorated model boat. Traditionally, children who sang well would be rewarded with sweets and nuts, but today it is customary to give them small sums of money. Kalanda are sung on three separate occasions: 4 December, 31 January, and 5 January. What makes the activity particularly unusual for visitors is that the singing of kalanda tends to take place quite early in the morning.

# data[].attributes.body
In Greece, caroling—known as kalanda—is a favorite holiday season activity for children, who walk through neighborhoods in groups, call on houses, and sing traditional festive songs. These are accompanied by music from triangles and talk about the birth of Christ and bringing good tidings to the household. In some places, it is customary for the children to carry with them a decorated model boat. Traditionally, children who sang well would be rewarded with sweets and nuts, but today it is customary to give them small sums of money. Kalanda are sung on three separate occasions: 4 December, 31 January, and 5 January. What makes the activity particularly unusual for visitors is that the singing of kalanda tends to take place quite early in the morning.

# data[].attributes.body
People in Greece also celebrate Epiphany on the 6th January. In the Greek Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates Jesus's baptism when he was a man. It's also known as 'The Blessing of the Waters'. There are many events throughout the country where young men dive into really cold lakes, rivers and the sea to try to be first to get a cross which has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water. Whoever gets the cross first is meant to have good luck during the coming year. Epiphany festivals also include blessings of boats & ships, music, dancing and lots of food.

# data[].attributes.headline
One magnificent Christmas Tale embellishing our country is the one regarding the "Christmas Doll". 

# data[].attributes.subject
One magnificent Christmas Tale embellishing our country is the one regarding the "Christmas Doll". 

# data[].attributes.body
It is a narration about a doll which, although it was once beautiful and everyone would want to play with her, th recent day, however, the doll was shattered and had lost its attraction. The relater is young girl whose mother had promied to her that Santa Claus would get her a new doll. As a result, the old one, Annabelle, was thrown away.The doll returned, nevertheless and the "new doll" never reached her hands. The story also ivolves Roze, the girl's best friend and after a number of incidents, their friendship grew stronger and learned to love the old doll.

# data[].attributes.body
The Kallikantzaroi,  is  a Greek Christmas tradition. They are  Greek goblins  and they are said to be small, black and male, mostly blind, with long black tails.

They speak with a lisp and eat small creatures, such as, worms, snails and frogs.They only come out at night, and they are afraid of the sun, fire and holy water.

The rest of the year, they live at the center of the Earth, where, they spend their time, chopping down The World Tree.

# data[].attributes.headline
Kalanda: Early-morning CarolingGreece, caroling—known as kalanda—is a favorite holiday season activity for children, who walk through neighborhoods in groups, call on houses, and sing traditional festive songs. These are accompanied by music from triangles and talk about the birth of Christ and bringing good tidings to the household. In some places, it is customary for the children to carry with them a decorated model boat. Traditionally, children who sang well would be rewarded with sweets and nuts, but today it is customary to give them small sums of money. Kalanda are sung on three separate occasions: 4 December, 31 January, and 5 January. What makes the activity particularly unusual for visitor

# data[].attributes.subject
Kalanda: Early-morning CarolingGreece, caroling—known as kalanda—is a favorite holiday season activity for children, who walk through neighborhoods in groups, call on houses, and sing traditional festive songs. These are accompanied by music from triangles and talk about the birth of Christ and bringing good tidings to the household. In some places, it is customary for the children to carry with them a decorated model boat. Traditionally, children who sang well would be rewarded with sweets and nuts, but today it is customary to give them small sums of money. Kalanda are sung on three separate occasions: 4 December, 31 January, and 5 January. What makes the activity particularly unusual for visitor

# data[].attributes.body
Before Christmas trees made their way into the popular consciousness, Greeks up and down the country used to decorate miniature sailboats and ships. This custom honors the country’s millennia-old maritime tradition and is no-doubt a nod to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of seafarers, whose feast is also celebrated in December. Sailboats and ships are still popular in households across the country, and many can also be seen adorning public spaces throughout the mainland and across the Aegean, on islands like Santorini.