Christmas

History and fables are plentiful as to the most magical feast of all time. Christmas constitutes the biggest feast of Christianity and is celebrated throughout the centuries, based on various customs and depending on the folklore deliveries of various Christian populations. The celebration of Christmas until today evokes and rekindles feelings of love, solidarity and humanity, which is also the message that was brought to us by the birth of Christ.

December 25th - The Day of Celebration of Christmas

Because the first Christians were outlawed in Rome - they were not allowed to meet in churches - they gathered in catacombs where their religious feasts took place. The persecutions that existed were terrible. Thus, they decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25th, the period when the Romans were occupied with the Saturnalia. December 25th was established as a day of celebration of Christmas for the first time in Rome, roughly in the middle of the 4th century A.D. During the period of the Justinians, in the 6th century, the celebration of Christmas on December 25th expanded to almost the entire East.

Saint Vasilis (St. Basil)

"...Ai Vasilis comes from Caesarea..." The Greek popular Christmas carol correctly determines the place of origin of Saint Vasilis (Ai Vasilis), who has become a world symbol of love and offers, and thanks to this the people of the world have the opportunity to show mercy and charity and the children of world "to see" their wishes turn into reality. Thanks to Saint Vasilis, all of humanity for a few days changes style, becoming more human, more cheerful. Therefore Ai Vasilis EXISTS with the significance that, even if he does not live in body, his spirit surrounds our hearts each Christmas and New Year. The fable of Ai Vasilis and Santa Claus on our planet, with the distribution of gifts to children, paradoxically involves two Orthodox Saints, two different persons, but both of whom were also bishops and of Christian origin. For the countries of the West the one that brings the gifts to the poor and the children is Saint Nikolaos (Nichlaus) or Santa Claus, whom we honour and celebrate in Greece on 6 December and consider him the protector of seamen. In the history of Saint Nikolaos as protector of the poor and the children, the populations of the north (Netherlands, Finland, etc.) combined bits and pieces from ancient fables, such as the northern stars, the sleigh, etc. Thus, with the passing of time the fable of Saint Vasilis also reached our country, namely the plump man with round glasses and white beard, with a red uniform and magic abilities that lives in the North Pole and is surrounded by snow fairies. It is a really enchanting story. Ai - Vasilis with the gifts does not only limit himself to the narrow confines of Christianity, for we see him exceed his power and conquer the hearts of all persons worldwide. The custom with the gifts of Saint Vasilis is the most popular of all over the entire New Year celebrations, especially for the children that impatiently wait for the gifts!

Traditional Christmas Customs

The superstitious habits of people from older days still prevail today, with many of them based on health reasons. One of the habits is for Greeks to wear new clothing for good luck when the New Year comes and to return whatever borrowed, again for good luck. From Christmas to Theofania (Epiphany Day) people are not supposed to wash their hair, as they wait for the waters to be blessed on Theofania. They wait for Christmas and New Year's as it is a time when they break their 40-day fasting. In the villages, youth gather with their musical instruments and make Christmas Eve visits to homes to sing and play carols. The Christmas carols are many and each region of Greece has its own.

The Carols

"Shall we sing them?" "Yes, sing them, sing them!" This is the characteristic question by the children who knock on each door offering to sing the carols, whether they are for Christmas, for the New Year or for Theofania. Hundreds of groups of children spill into the streets of villages, towns and cities throughout Greece, some holding musical instruments and others with musical triangles and drums, asking homeowners whether they can sing them the carols. At the end, the carol singers are rewarded with either money or sweets. This is another tradition that has been carried down from generation to generation and is still found today throughout the land. The word "kalanda" (carols) emanates from the Latin "calenda" which means the start of the month. The custom of singing carols pre-existed in Greece even before the Roman era. The carols have their base in old popular songs and the lyrics wish the home owner and his family good health and fortune in the New Year. In various parts of the country, both on the mainland and on the islands, the carols are performed in different ways.

The Turkey

In Europe an old tradition is the cooking of a large bird for the holiday dinner. Pheasants, geese and peacocks were preferred. However, when the turkey was tried it became established as the most prominent and preferred Christmas dinner. At the beginning of the 19th century in Norfolk, England, the poultry farmers resolved the problem of transporting turkeys as follows: they made the birds walk more than 100 kilometres in one week to cover the distance up to the capital. And because their legs are not made for walking long distances, they wore special covers or soaked their legs in tar in order to harden them! In Peru, the beloved food is the charcoal- broiled heart of a bull, with a lot of spices and vinegar.

The Christmas Tree

How "Greek" is the Christmas tree?
When, how and why was the Christmas tree used as a symbol? In the 4th century A.D., December 25th was established as the day of the Birth of Christ and simultaneously as the first day of time. However, there exist testimonies that Christmas was celebrated in Rome on December 25th since 336. The tree, as a Christmas symbol, was used after the 8th century. The person who established the first Christmas tree was, according to tradition, Agios (Saint) Vonifatios, who introduced the fir as a symbol of Christianity and more specifically as the symbol of Christmas. Naturally, through the passage of time, the meaning of the Christmas tree took numerous forms. And initially, in order for it to symbolize the joy that is hidden in each person for the birth of Christ, it began to be filled with various ornaments, mainly foodstuff and clothing, symbolizing the offer of Divine Gifts. In England Charles Dickens, the writer of the holiday season, took the Christmas spirit further. And today the Christmas tree as we know it around the world is owed to Charles Dickens, who in his various Christmas stories brought us closer to that holiday spirit. His well-known "A Christmas Carol" brings us directly to the symbol of Christmas and the Christmas tree. In Greece, the Christmas tree was brought for the first time by the Bavarians, when the Bavarian royal family was introduced to help rule the country upon the establishment of its independence in the 1830's. The first public Christmas tree was decorated in the Royal Palace in 1833 in Athens. Since World War II the tree with its colorful bulbs had entered all Greek homes. As mentioned earlier, the Christmas tree was presented for the first time in Germany at the end the 16th and start of the 17th century. Until the start of the 19th century it was not widely known - as Christmas trees were placed only in the churches. Sometimes the churches imposed the payment of an admission ticket for those who wanted to see the tree. The tree symbolizes the life that "dies" in the winter. In the past in Greece, a ship was often the symbol of Christmas and they embellished the squares in each city and every corner of the Greek territory.

The Christmas Bread - A Custom of Crete

The Christmas bread is made by women, employing considerable care and patience. The kneading of the dough resembles a ritual. They use expensive materials (very fine flour, rosewater, honey, sesame, cinnamon, and carnations). They mould the dough and take half of it to make biscuits (koulouria). With the rest they make crosses with strips from the dough. In the centre the women then put unbroken walnuts. On the rest of the surface they draw figures with a knife or fork, such as flowers, leaves, fruits and birds. The Christmas bread is blessed for the Christmas table. They cut it the day before Christmas, making wishes at the same time. On Christmas Day, the owner of the house cuts slices of the bread for all the family.
 

Ingredients: 4 1/2 cup semolina flour 2 1/4 cup sugar 3 Tbs. freshly ground cinnamon 1 Tbs. freshly ground anise 1 Tbs. freshly ground coriander 2 tsp. freshly ground cloves 3 oranges 6 tangerines 2 1/2 cup dried currants 1 cup golden raisins 1 cup olive oil, mild Starter Dough: 4 pkg active dry yeast 1/2 tsp. sugar hot water, (just above body temp) 4 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for kneading) Instructions: Make the flavoring addition first. Combine the semolina flour, sugar, cinnamon, anise, coriander, and cloves in a bowl and add the finely grated zests of the oranges and tangerines. Squeeze some of the oranges and tangerines. Squeeze some of the oranges and tangerines to obtain 1 1/4 cups juice. Use half this juice to soak the currants and raisins for a minimum of 1 hour, preferably overnight. Put the remaining juice in a pan with the olive oil. Heat until almost boiling. Pour this into a bowl with the semolina and spice mixture and stir. Cover and leave overnight until needed. Next day, combine the dried yeast with the sugar and hot water in a cup. Put the flour in a bowl, making a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture. Squeeze 2/3 cup more orange and tangerine juice, warm it, nad add. Work to a smooth dough, adding more water and warm juice if necessary. Put the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a cloth, and leave to rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size - about an hour. Punch down the dough in a bowl. Combine the drained currants and raisins with the semolina and spice mixture and, working with your hands, combine with the dough. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, adding more flour if the dough is sticky. Divide the dough into three equal pieces. Oil 3 loaf pans, each 1-1/2 quart capacity. Shape each piece to fit the length of the pan and fit them in, so the corners are well filled. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise in a warm place until almost double in size - another hour. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 F for 1 hour and 10 minutes or more; the loaves should be rich brown color and make a hollow sound when the unmolded bread is thumped on the bottom. Leave on a rack to cool. The bread will keep for at least 3 weeks.

The Fir Tree

It was prominent in Germany and Scandinavia and expanded throughout the world until it became essential as a representation of Christmas. Besides the brilliant bulbs and lights, there are also other ideas from around the world for decorating the Christmas tree. In Lithuania, for example, a spider and her web is placed on the tree. This is based on a legend which says that this had once been made by a poor woman as her children slept. When the kids woke up, on Christmas Day, they are said to have found the tree with the golden webs shinning. In Czechoslovakia the tree is embellished with dyed egg shells and in the USA with festoons from pop-corn. Elsewhere, they hang horns of animals and bells in order to frighten away the mean spirits. In the past they put lit candles on the firs. That custom led to a lot of accidents! Thus, until the invention of electric bulbs and for obvious reasons they also had a bucket of water under the tree, to counter the danger of fires...

Vasilópita - Traditional New Year's Cake

Vasilópita is a sweet nut cake with a coin hidden inside, traditionally served on New Year's Eve, when families honor St. Vasilios (Santa Claus), who comes down to earth on that day. Vasilópita can be made as a Madeira sponge or a puff pastry cake with nuts, or in a savory version with meat. A coin is hidden inside the cake after baking, and the cake is cut on New Year's Eve, with all the family present. The pieces are distributed in a predetermined order: the first is for Christ, the second for Mary, the third is for St. Vasilios, the fourth for the house, the fifth for the head of the family, the sixth for the mother, then one for each of the children. A piece is also cut for each absent member of the family. Whoever finds the coin can look forward to special success in the coming year.

The cutting of the New Year cake or vasilópita is one of the few old customs that survive today. In antiquity there existed the custom of the festive bread that in major rural feasts the ancient Greeks offered to the gods. Such feasts were the Thalisia and the Thesmoforia. In Kronia (the feast of the god Chronos), that was worshipped in Greece and in the saturnalia of Rome, they also made pies in which they put currencies and the winner of the currencies was then supposed to have good luck... The Orthodox tradition connected the custom with the New Year cake. The history of vasilópita began roughly 1,500 years ago, in the city Caesarea of Kappadokias, in Asia Minor (western Turkey today). The Great King was despot of Caesarea and lived harmoniously with his fellow men, with love, understanding and mutual help. One day however, a hungry general - tyrant of the region asked him for all the treasures of the city of Caesarea, threatening that otherwise he would besiege the city to conquer and plunder it. Throughout the entire night the Great King prayed for God to save the city. At dawn the general decided to encircle Caesarea. He entered with his army and asked to see the Despot, who was found in the temple praying. With audacity and anger the unscrupulous general demanded the gathering of the gold of the city as well as other precious items that existed. The Great King answered that the people of his city did not have anything other than hunger and that they did not have anything to give to the general. But the general upon hearing the message demanded even more and threatened the king. The Christians of Caesarea loved their Despot and wanted to help him. They therefore gathered from their houses whatever gold they had and offered it to him. The general was furious and ordered his soldiers to attack the city. The Great King gathered all the gold that was offered by the citizens and presented them to the general in order to save his city from a massacre. However, the moment the general opened the treasures a miracle occurred. All assembled saw a bright burst of light followed by a brilliant rider dashing above the general and his army. Within a short time, the general and his army disappeared. The rider was Aghios Merkourios and the soldiers were his angels. Thus, the city of Caesarea was saved. Then, however, the despot found himself in a difficult position! How was he to share the gold with the residents of the city and distribute it fairly? It was a very difficult task indeed. After praying, the Great King was given divine guidance and he called on his aides to bake small loaves of bread and place some gold coins inside each one of them. The surprise for the residents came when they were distributed the bread and they found gold coins inside for them to keep. This later turned into a New Year celebration which we still find today, with each Greek family cutting the vasilópita cake which contains a coin and which will bring luck to the person who finds it. 

Click here for the recipe (featured in our January 2007 newsletter)...

The Wise Men, and Just How Many They Were

Tradition at time calls for two or more Wise Men. The established number nowadays is the three that were first mentioned by Pope Leon in the fifth century. He determined this number from the three gifts given to baby Jesus: the gold, the incense and the smyrna. The Wise Men are: Balthazar, Jasper, and Mahler. In their depictions Jasper is the old man with the beard and is almost always first to present his gift; Mahler is always young and without a beard and comes second, while Balthazar is portrayed as always very dark-skinned or black and comes third in line.

"Santa Claus" and the Exchange of Gifts

The exchange of gifts began during the Roman feasts. The Romans gave gifts to each other as well as to the poor. The modern symbol of commercialisation of Christmas is Santa Claus, who is erroneously compared in modern Greece with Agios (Saint) Vasilis. The "genealogical" origin of Western-made Santa Claus is Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nichlaus), the Bishop of Myronos-Avkias of the 4th century A.D., who was known for his virtue and his charity and as the guardian angel of children and seamen.

New Year's Customs and Superstitions

In the beautiful Eptanisa islands, between the Ionian and Adriatic seas, the 12 days leading to Christmas are celebrated with church-going, eating, dancing, singing but also with the sharing of jokes.

The Kolonies (perfumes): On New Year's Eve, the residents fill the streets spraying one another with perfumes, wishing them well for the New Year. Another celebration of the New Year in old Athens found homeowners laying out a table with food and pastries outdoors so that the tired and hungry Agios Vasilis (father Christmas) can enjoy himself after all his travels. At midnight the lamps were turned off (to drive away evil from the past year), and turned on again (to bring in the New Year with good luck). In addition, an old shoe is thrown into the street, again signifying the end of the "bad" past. Then the family sits down for food and drinks which took them well into the early morning hours. The custom of the pomegranate is maintained in many villages, as with the turn of the New Year the pomegranate (the symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck), which is hung outside the door, is broken open and the inhabitants then enter the house placing their right foot first for good luck. The children hang up their shoes and socks in the windows or above the fireplace, waiting for Agios Vasilis to fill them with gifts. In the Cycladic islands, it is considered a good omen if the wind blows from the north on New Year's Day. It is also considered a good omen if a pigeon comes into their courtyard. It is a bad omen, however, if the pigeon flies above their home, as it purportedly means that disaster awaits them. The New Year brings in a lot of superstition as people will avoid paying debts, lending money, and working, or even lighting someone's cigarette. All this comes from the belief that whatever is done on that day will have the same consequences throughout the year.