Christmas Traditions Greece-Italy by Kalliopi Komatianou

Christopsomo (Christ bread)

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

Christopsomo (Christ bread) is a round loaf that is a staple of the Greek Christmas table. Though the decoration differs based on the region and is adapted to represent the households’s life and work, every Christopsomo has a cross made of dough in the centre, as well as almonds and nuts sprinkled on top to symbolise prosperity. Its symbolic meaning is to bring a productive year to the household. Christopsomo is eaten on the night of Christmas Eve.

Melomakarona, Theodore, 15th Primary school of Nikea

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

Christmas is the best period of the year. Christmas have many traditional customs, one of them is making melomakarona. We make them for good, sweet and happy New year.
It is a happy family moment and all houses are full of smiley faces. There are many recepies of making melomakarona. Me and my brother enjoy a lot helping our mother to make them.

“Christmas boat” Violet G.

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

In Greece the tradition on Christmas is to decorate a ship! Greeks have always had ties with the sea, since ancient times. Many Greek people working on the ships to bring money in their families the boat symbolised the reunion of their family and the Greek love for the sea.

15th Primary School of Nikaia "Vasilopita" Sophia

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

In Greece, we make a special cake, that is called vasilopita. It is a cake with cinnamon and nuts. We put a coin in it. We bake it on New Year's Eve and we cut it on New Year's Day. Everybody takes one piece. The person who finds the coin will be lucky for the whole year.

''Pigjoy'' Androniki D.

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

This is one of the most important customs that takes place in Thessaly.
The preparation for the slaughter of the pig was followed until dawn. All the work aimed to the party and the joy, that is why this day was established as pigjoy.
In most areas of Thessaly, pigs are slaughtered on the day of Agios Stefanos on December 27, which is why the holiday is called Grounostefanos.

15 th Primary School of Nikaia- Greece '' Melomakarona Constantinos C.

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

In Greece we make melomakarona. We have been used to it for many years. We usually give them to Santa Claus together with a glass of milk. We also put them on dessert tables.

15th Primary School of Nikaia ''Santa Claus'' Nick P.

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

Santa Claus for the Orthodox Church is a saint called Vasileios the Great.He lived in Kapadokia in Minor Asia and he gave all his lige to help a lot of people who were in need.He secretly put gold coins in shoes outside the house and he gave people food too.He died on 31st December 378 and his funeral was on 1st January 379.They day of his funeral brings good luck for the New Year.

Baccalà

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

The Italians don’t eat meat on Christmas Eve. They eat a variety of fish dishes. In the photo you can see a tipical dish we eat on december 24th: "baccalà" (Cod wit olives and crumbled bread)

STRUFFOLI... so crunchy and so tasty

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

Struffoli are small balls of sweet dough that are fried, dipped in honey, and decorated with colored candies and candied fruit. They are shaped like a wreath or piled into a pyramid. They're topped with a honey glaze and colorful candy sprinkles or candied fruit. For their origins, we must go back to the age of the ancient Greeks who apparently exported them to the Gulf of Naples in the era of Parthenope.They are shaped like a wreath or piled into a pyramid. They're topped with a honey glaze and colorful candy sprinkles or candied fruit.

kalliopikom — 2022-01-11 18:52:42 UTC

The first day of the New Year, in many Greek homes, the new year is welcomed by opening a pomegranate for good luck. It is also common to receive a pomegranate (‘ρόδι’, made of metal, glass or other materials) as a gift in Greece, to bring good luck ( ‘γούρι”) for the new year.

Primary school of Kampos Chios Greece "Agiovasiliatika-karavakia"

2022-02-01 13:34:17 UTC

On new year's Eve groups of children representing neighbourhoods of Chios build models of cargo and warrior ships as big as 5 metres long. Children holding their ship go around Chios city singing wishes and happy songs to the citizens. The best ship with the best song wins the contest. Many of Chios citizens are sailors, so the custom is related with Chios' tradition.
Argyro, Iro, Marianthi

Primary School of Kampos Chios Greece “carol” by Simos M.

virginia_gerazouni — 2022-02-01 18:02:53 UTC

The carols are folk songs of greeting and praise that are sung customarily every year, mainly on the eve of major religious holidays such as Christmas, New Year (St. Basil), Epiphany. The main traditional musical instruments that accompany the carols are the triangle, the lute, the daouli, the tsambouna, the flute, etc.

Primary school of Kampos Chios Greece “Vasilopita” by Simos M.

virginia_gerazouni — 2022-02-02 12:19:07 UTC

Vasilopita is the pie that is made in some countries for the Christian New Year's Eve and is cut (shared) shortly after the time changes. According to the Orthodox religious tradition it has its roots in Caesarea of Cappadocia (Asia Minor).
The people of Asia Minor established the sweet royal pie, the so-called "political" or "Smyrna" Vasilopita which is made mainly from flour, eggs, sugar and milk, is prepared in various sizes and types but is usually puffy, fluffy and sweet

Primary Shool of Kampos Chios Greece "Chios Mastic Gastronomy"

2022-02-08 09:14:49 UTC

Chios mastic is very famous. It is a natural product produced of mastic tree. We use mastic in Christmas to add flavour to cookies and sweet bread (known as tsoureki).
Ioli, Michael, Konstantinos A., George Ch.

Primary school of Kampos Chios Greece "Holy Communion"

2022-02-08 09:30:44 UTC

On Christmas Eve people from Chios wearing their best clothes go to church to have the Holy Communion. Before that they ask other people to forgive them if they did something wrong and children kiss old people's hand to show their respect.
Apostolos, Aristea, Konstantinos K.

Primary School Of Kampos Chios Greece " Chian Roses" by Apostolos M.

2022-02-08 20:31:56 UTC

 Chios is not only famous for its mastic and mandarin but also for other products and gastronomic creations. Chian bobbins are one of the most beautiful festive and Christmas recipes!
 
You immediately flood with flavor, textures and aromas of crispy pastry sheets, almond, Chian mandarin and mastic.
 
The bobbins need fresh whitened almond kernels, whipped mastic and ideally Chian mandarin.
 
Also light syrup and the best crust sheet for sweets!!!

Buon appetito!!

Primary School Of Kampos Chios Greece " Mamouli" by Apostolos M.

2022-02-08 20:43:00 UTC

Mamouli is a traditional Chian Christmas sweet. It is a kind of Turkish delight with a fluffier and sweeter dough.

It probably gets its name because of its affinity with the traditional Lebanese sweet "mamul" (maamoul or mamul).

The word "mamul" in Arabic means the product, the creation.

The island of Chios is natural to have been influenced by the Arabs and vice versa, since the latter occupied and looted the island many times.

Primary school of Kampos Chios Greece "Epiphany"

2022-02-10 09:33:33 UTC

In Greece on Epiphany day the priest throws the Holly Cross into the sea. Young men fall into the sea to catch the Holly Cross. The one who catches the Cross is considered to be blessed.
Simos, John, George, Helen.