CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAYS, METHANA, GREECE by Κατια Σπυροπούλου https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5 en-us 2018-01-01 10:15:19 UTC 2025-09-29 14:28:13 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/prod/150178080/ebc23ff6f33e6cefae513b7cd84bb5d7/IMG_20180111_152741.jpg Athens... katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218247123 Syntagma square...]]> 2018-01-01 14:12:40 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218247123 Vassilopita!!! katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218247776 •Our Santa Claus is in fact St Vasilios. He is a highly respected figure of our church who served Christianity in numerous ways and was a pioneer in charity work.
•He once asked for small pies to be baked and then placed valuable jewels and coins inside collected by rich people. Then he handed out the pies to all the people in need.
•That is why it is our custom to bake our “vasilopita” on New Year’s Day and hide a coin in it. 
•Whoever gets the coin is said to have good luck for the New Year. It is also the reason why children expect Santa on New Year’s Eve and we open and exchange gifts on New Year’s, when we celebrate St Vasilios’ nameday.

]]> 2018-01-01 14:25:50 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218247776 VASILIKI LESIOTI katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287457 2018-01-02 10:06:47 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287457 VASILIKI LESIOTI katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287529 2018-01-02 10:08:03 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287529 VASILIKI LESIOTI katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287574 2018-01-02 10:08:49 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287574 CHRISTMAS CAROLS katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287923 •It is a custom for the children in Greece to go from door to door in groups of two or more and to sing the Christmas and New Year’s carols playing the jingle bells and/or other musical instruments. They are rewarded with money nowadays, although in the past they were given traditional sweets or other goodies.

In this photo you can see a group of musicians singing traditional greek New Year's carols.
]]> 2018-01-02 10:14:05 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218287923 CHRISTMAS BOAT katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218295325 •Greece is a country which is surrounded by the sea. Therefore, on the islands and in most coastal areas people traditionally decorate the Christmas boat. The boat symbolizes man’s new journey into life after the birth of Christ. But it was also some kind of honour and welcome to our sailors when they returned from their journeys.


]]> 2018-01-02 11:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218295325 Pomegranate katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218295673 •Pomegranate is traditionally considered a fruit that brings good luck and prosperity. That is why it is our custom to break one every New Year’s Day to ensure good luck and prosperity for our homes. It is a tradition which dates back to ancient Greece.


]]> 2018-01-02 11:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218295673 CHRISTMAS CARDS... katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717036 2018-01-04 12:24:43 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717036 CLASS B katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717564 2018-01-04 12:28:31 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717564 CLASS A katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717707 2018-01-04 12:29:40 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717707 MELOMAKARONA katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717780 Our traditional sweets...]]> 2018-01-04 12:30:12 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218717780 VASILIKI LESIOTI katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218718219 2018-01-04 12:33:46 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218718219 PANAYIOTA VELOKA katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218722552 Chrismas at Methana...]]> 2018-01-04 13:04:39 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218722552 PANAYIOTA VELOKA katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218722776 Christmas sweets...]]> 2018-01-04 13:06:01 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218722776 Athens, Psyrri neighbourhood... katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218889194 2018-01-05 07:12:12 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218889194 Stavros Niarchos foundation... katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218889282 2018-01-05 07:13:52 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218889282 PELAGIA VLACHOU katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218916987 2018-01-05 11:21:10 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218916987 katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218917113 2018-01-05 11:22:27 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218917113 katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218925968 2018-01-05 12:36:07 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/218925968 katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219168705 2018-01-07 16:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219168705 katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219170512 2018-01-07 17:06:26 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219170512 GEORGIA BOURLOKA katia_spyropoulou https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219192070 2018-01-07 20:33:17 UTC https://padlet.com/katia_spyropoulou/o7g7y93shok5/wish/219192070