Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 cup olive oil

• 1 cup sunflower oil

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 cup orange juice

• Zest of 1 orange

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

For the syrup:

• 1 cup water

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 cup honey

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1 slice of lemon

For topping:

• 1 cup crushed walnuts

• A little cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dough:
   In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, sunflower oil, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves.
   Slowly add the flour until the dough becomes soft but not sticky.

2. Shape the cookies:
   Take small pieces of dough and shape them into oval cookies.
   Press them lightly with a fork to create a pattern on top.

3. Bake:
   Place them on a baking tray with parchment paper and bake at 180°C for about 20–25 minutes, until golden brown.

4. Make the syrup:
   In a pot, boil the water, sugar, honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon slice for about 5–7 minutes.
   Remove from heat.

5. Dip the cookies:
   While the cookies are warm, dip them into the hot syrup for a few seconds on each side.

6. Finish:
   Place them on a tray and sprinkle generously with crushed walnuts.

Thanasis sk

Geniko Lykeio Iteas

Christmas Day on the 25th is a day of rest with another meal, which traditionally includes a roasted meat like lamb, goat, or turkey.

Desserts: A variety of traditional sweets are served, such as Sonhos (pumpkin or carrot fritters) and Arroz Doce (sweet rice). Bolo Rei (King Cake), a sweet bread with candied fruits, is also very popular during the season. Presents are usually opened after the Consoada dinner and before or after midnight mass. Christmas Day (December 25th) is a Day of Rest: The 25th is a more relaxed day spent with family.

The main celebration happens on December 24th. Families gather for “Consoada”, a late dinner that traditionally includes:

• Bacalhau com todos (salted cod with potatoes, cabbage, and boiled eggs)

• In the north, octopus dishes are also common.

  
  

2. Midnight Mass

Many families attend “Missa do Galo” (“Rooster’s Mass”) at midnight. It celebrates the birth of Jesus and includes the tradition of kissing the image of Baby Jesus after mass.

3. The Christmas Log

In several central regions, towns light a huge “Madeiro” (Christmas log) in the main square on Christmas Eve. It’s a community event meant to welcome people returning home for the holidays.

Joana Carvalho n.10

10°B EBS Celorico de Basto, Portugal

The custom of Vasilopita, associated with New Year's Eve and Saint Basil, involves cutting the pie into pieces for each member of the family, with the lucky piece being the one containing the fluuri. Whoever finds it is considered lucky for the new year. This tradition has its roots in ancient Roman customs and is associated with the tradition of Basil the Great(a great Saint of Christianity).

Video from the decorated Athens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ixCOou0Arg

A traditional dessert that is always present at Portuguese Christmas is Bolo Rei.

Bolo Rei has French origins and was introduced in Portugal in the 19th century by Confeitaria Nacional, adapting the French cake "galette des rois". Its tradition has even more ancient roots in the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia, in which a bean was hidden in a cake to elect a "king of the party". The current crown shape, decorated with candied fruits, symbolizes the royal crown and the gifts of the Magi: the crust symbolizes gold, the fruits symbolize myrrh, and the aroma symbolizes incense.

Maria Ribeiro - Nº15 - 10ºB

EBS Celorico de Basto, Portugal

In Turkiye most of people celebrate new year with their families or friends. We gather around a table in dinner and the evening starts for us. However it's not commen to celebrate Christmas because Turkish people are usually Muslim and Islam doesn't require a Christmas celebration. For me i love the spirit of Christmas and new year. Therefore me and my family care about our celebrations on them.

I'm excited about the new year's celebration. We have a big family dinner in the evenings which are the days before the new years. There are içli köfte, sarma, dolma, ayran and some appetizers in the table. We also play "Tombala" which is the game plays with numbers in the evenings.

How to play Tombala:

For the game, each player is first given pieces with numbers on them. Afterwards, the bag containing the circles is revealed and the next person begins to draw the numbers from the bag. If the drawn number is on the player's sheet, those parts are covered with the drawn numbers or cards. The reason for covering it with paper is that it is applied in cases where the number of players is large. If the number drawn by the player is not on the card, he puts the number back into the bag and the turn passes to another player. If any player closes the numbers so that there are no missing numbers on the card in front of him, he says bingo and wins the game.

New Year’s Resolution
As the new year begins, we will embrace gratitude, nurture meaningful connections, and dedicate time to personal growth. Each day will be an opportunity to learn, share kindness, and move closer to our goals.

Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year!

Wishing you a year full of
health, peace, success, and unforgettable moments.

🎉 Cheers to 2026! 🌙⭐

Happy new year and I wish for everyone a very good christmas!

Add the pepper paste, tomato puree, the spices, tomato pulp and stir well. Season with the remaining salt, pepper, pour in the water, bring up to the boil, then turn down and simmer on a low heat with the lid on for 10-12 minutes, then take off the heat. 

To prepare the “yağlama”, fold one of the “bidda” in half, and half again twice more, then dip the edges into the meat sauce. Open the “bidda” up, lay it on a plate and spoon over 1/9 of the sauce. Keep repeating the process until you have used up 9 “bidda” and the last layer of mince sauce is on the top. Drizzle over yoghurt, fresh parsley and pul biber to serve. Serve with a finely chopped tomato, cucumber and onion salad.