THE ISLAND IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST NAVIGATIONAL POWERS WORLDWIDE! MOST OF ITS POPULATION MAKE A LIVING BY BEING OCCUPIED AS SAILORS OR MARINE OFFICERS.

 APPARENTLY, THIS IS THE REASON WHY THE CUSTOM OF <NEW YEAR’S MINIATURE SHIPBUILDING> HAS SURVIVED AND STILL EXISTS THROUGH YEARS.

THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR PEOPLE PREPARE THEIR SPECIAL MODEL SHIP. THEY WORK WITH VARIOUS MATERIALS (MAINLY WOOD) AND THEIR AIM IS THEIR REPRESANTATION TO DEPICT A REAL SHIP BUT OF COURSE IN SMALLER SIZE.

CARGO SHIPS, TANKERS, MERCHANT SHIPS OR EVEN FISHING BOATS CAN BE FOUND AT THE EXHIBITION! THEY MAY DATE BACK A CENTURY AGO UNTILL RECENT YEARS.

THERE IS A KIND OF EXHIBITION AND COMPETITION! THE WINNER IS USUALLY THE ONE WHO HAS MANAGED TO CREATE THE BEST AND CLOSEST CONTRUCTION AND ITS QUALITY TO THE AUTHENTIC VESSEL. THE CONSTRUCTORS OF EACH TEAM (<THE CREW> ) SING LOCAL CHRISTMAS CAROLS WHEN PRESENTING THEIR WORK TO THE PUBLIC!

THIS TRADITION IS STILL ALIVE AND LIVELY! CREATORS AND VISITORS ALWAYS ENJOY IT! NO MATTER WHO THE WINNER IS!

The melomakarono  is an egg-shaped Greek desert,  like a cookie.  Along with the “kourabies” it is a traditional dessert prepared primarily during the Christmas holiday season.

Typical ingredients of the melomakarono are flour or semolina, sugar, orange zest and fresh juice, cognac (or similar beverage), cinnamon and olive oil. During rolling they are often filled with ground walnuts. After baking they are immersed for a few seconds in hot syrup made of honey and sugar dissolved in water. Finally, they are decorated with ground, as well as bigger, pieces of walnut. Dark chocolate-covered melomakarona are also a more recent variation of the traditional recipe.

Melomakarona are not difficult to make and you can find many recipes on the internet as well as videos showing you how to prepare them.
 It is also a nice activity to do together with kids.