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Christmas is a very important festivity in Greece and it is celebrated all around the country on December 25th, the day Jesus Christ was born.  In Greek Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Kala Christougenna'

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Take a look at this video for some more greek phrases and cultural information, then read on more details!

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How do Greek People Celebrate Christmas?

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Decorated ships are an old tradition in Greece where small ships were put up in homes when sailors had returned from sea voyages. The first known Christmas tree in Greece was in 1833 and was set up by King Otto next to a large decorated boat. Over time, especially in the late 20th century, Christmas trees became more popular than decorating a boat.  Nowadays, a Christmas tree is found in almost every house.

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On Christmas Eve and on Christmas day children often go out singing 'kalanda' (carols) in the streets. They play  triangles as they sing. Sometimes they will also carry model boats decorated with nuts which are painted gold. They are given money, as well as things to eat like nuts, sweets and dried figs.

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Παραδοσιακά Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων

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Typical Christmas desserts are the  "melomakarono", egg or oblong shaped biscuit/cakes made of flour, olive oil, and honey and rolled in chopped walnuts and the "kourambies" a butter-based biscuit covered in powder sugar.

Here is the  recipe if you would like to give it a try!

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A traditional table decoration are loaves of 'Christopsomo' (Christ's Bread or Christmas bread). It's a round sweet bread which is flavoured with cinnamon, orange and cloves. The top is decorated with a cross. The bread is made on Christmas Eve ready to be eaten on Christmas Day.

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In Greece, presents are often brought to children by Aghios Vassilis (Saint Basil/Saint Vasilis) on the 1st January as that is St Basil's Day.

On New Year's Eve many families will have a big meal and play games. At midnight there are lots of hugs, kisses and best wishes for the new year. New Year kalanda songs/carols might also be sung. On New Year's Day, in many places in Greece, there is the tradition of Bounamathes (bouna-MA-thes). Adults in the family give money and gifts to the children wishing them a happy new year.

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Another big event in many houses on New Year's Day is the Pothariko (pothari-KO). This is a tradition that says a child that is thought to be 'lucky' or the first-born of a family or sometimes the man of the house must be the first person to enter a house that year - and they must do it with their right foot. The Greeks believe that this will bring luck to the household the whole year. In some areas of Greece the person holds a pomegranate, and they break it at the front door before entering the house. The seeds are scattered which symbolizes the happiness and the good fortune for the house - the more pomegranate seeds the better!

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There is also a special St Basil's Day cake called 'Vasilopita' (vasi-LO-pita). The cake has a coin cooked inside it. In some parts of Greece the cake is sweet, but in others its more like a bread. Whoever finds the coin in their slice is thought to be lucky for the year.

In some families, the father of the house cuts the Vasilopita and gives out the pieces. Traditionally, the first slice is for Jesus, the second it is for Mary, the third is for the poor people and the fourth is for the household. Then the rest of the slices go to the members of the family/household depending on their age, with the oldest person first.