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greek new year traditions

In Greek culture, the pomegranate holds much significance. Greeks bake a coin into an orange-flavored pound cake, “Greek Captain of Colombia” Petros Voidonikolas Passes Away, Greek Oscar Winners Over the Decades: Academy Awards. Pork with Celery egg & lemon sauce (Avgolemono) This is by far one of the best stews served in the winter in Greece. One of the most prominent Greek traditions is the cutting of the vasilopita. This is an ancient Greek tradition which continues to live on throughout the entire country! In most parts of Greece gifts are exchanged on New Year's Day and not on Christmas. Since St. According to the folk Christmas traditions, the hobgoblins are short, ugly creatures with many deformities. According to Greek tradition the first person to enter a house on New Year’s Day brings either good luck or bad luck to the household. Just think of the number of New Years that ancient place has seen. Design by GSM - Content by Blog Smart Agency, Every culture has its own unique traditions and customs. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular New Year’s traditions in Greece! Once the clock strikes midnight, all lights in the house must be turned off and everyone must exit the house. The tradition goes all the way back to the 17th century. Nowadays, many people go out to the casinos as well to partake in this ancient tradition. Kali Hera is a Greek tradition when close family members give money to the children. January 1st, the New Year's Day. It is associated with the OrthodoxSaint Basil’s day on January 1 in Greece. Basil the Great was born 330 AD and is one of the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church. He prayed that it will fall in the hands of its owners and miraculously his people received the piece with their belongings. On New Year’s Day families cut the Vasilopita to bless the house and bring good luck for the new year. Pomegranates hold great significance in the Greek culture. New Year’s Eve is the time when Agios Vassilis the Greek Santa Claus visits the house bearing gifts for the children. At midnight,… One of the much-loved Greek traditions is singing carols. Vasilopita is considered the Greek New Year’s cake. Since St. I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *, © 2015 - 2018 Copyright - Villa Hurmuses Basil who studied law and teaching, later sought a spiritually focused life. Basil did not know which piece of jewelry belonged to whom, he baked a cake with the jewelry and cut it into pieces for his people. He prayed that it will fall in the hands of its owners and miraculously his people received the piece with their belongings. St. The story behind this traditional cake is that when the emperor had imposed an enormous tax on Basil’s flock during the time of great famine, the people gave away their jewelry in order to pay for this tax. St. This is one of the many New Year’s rituals that people do in order to make sure the new year is filled with many blessings. All year round, they live underground and saw the tree of the year. Whoever wins the coin is going to be blessed with good luck in the new year. Since the ancient times onions have been a symbol of fertility, representing growth and rebirth. The first cut goes to Jesus and then the rest is served to the family. The Greeks give and receive pomegranates as a sign of good luck. The ritual is to hang a pomegranate over the front door during the holiday season and keep it hanging until the New Year. The more seeds spread out the more luck the household will have in the new year. It has been the custom since those times for all Greek households to hang a pomegranate above the main entrance of the house, and some even smash the fruit against their threshold for extra good luck. The same person must smash the pomegranate against the front door. See the full story and recipe of the luckiest Greek cake of the year: https://goo.gl/uSoC9u, Posted by Greek Reporter on Saturday, December 28, 2019. January 1st is an important date in Greece because it is not only the first day of the New Year but it is also St. And All Those Sweet Greek Christmas treats It wouldn’t be Christmas without traditional Greek Christmas sweets, which are so very deliciously sweet and fattening! It is the custom for cards to be played on New Year’s Eve while waiting for the stroke of midnight and the change of the year. We hope that you enjoyed reading about how Greeks celebrate the New Year. They are considered a sign of renewal and regeneration. A POMEGRANATE, an ancient symbol of prosperity and good luck, is hung above the door throughout Christmas. As we stated above, January 1 is not only New Year’s Day but Saint Basil’s Day as well in the Orthodox world. This is why the gouri is a symbolic gift exchanged between family members, friends, or business associates, wishing the recipient good luck in the New Year. Some people also get the fruit blessed at their local Church before doing so. THE TRADITION - One of the more beautiful and inspirational traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church is the annual family celebration of the Vasilopita. The next morning in many places in Greece there is the tradition of Bounamathes (bouna-MA-thes). You will obviously want to experience all the must-do’s when in Greece for New Year’s. Playing Cards Since New Year’s Day is considered to be a day of good fortune, many Greeks try their luck at card games. The songs are thought to bless your house for the new year and it is therefore considered good luck if a caroler visits you. You will obviously want to experience all the must-do’s when in Greece for New Year’s. The Greek table for the New Year celebrations is made of dishes shaped by regional traditions and customs coming from all over Greece. The most important of all New Year Traditions in Greece is Saint Basil or Agios Vassilis, the Greek Santa. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. It is traditional to bake a … He is remembered for his kindness and generosity to the poor. The catch is that on New Year’s Eve the head of the household will usually request a family member to bring a guest the following day whom they consider to bring good luck. According to tradition as more seeds fall over the floor, the more prosperity, good health and good fortune will be brought to the family of the house. In Greece, fireworks are an important part of the celebrations. How to Celebrate the New Year in Traditional Greek Style. Playing cards between friends and family is a tradition which usually lasts until early morning hours, and since the game is played for good luck, the players don’t bet a lot of money. Christmas is all about delicious food, shared with your friends, family and loved ones! In Greece, New Year's day is also the Festival of St. But certainly nothing could possibly beat watching the fireworks which light up the Parthenon on Athens’ Acropolis Hill. This act of generosity is also considered to bring good luck in the new year. Onions were chosen for New Year’s because they are a symbol of good health, fertility, and longevity. Every household cuts this special cake usually in the first minutes of the New Year. New Year in Greece PROTOHRONIA, NEW YEAR DAY IN GREECE. Basil's Day. The songs are thought to bless your house for the new year and it is therefore considered good luck if a caroler visits you. After the Christmas Day celebrations, the next anticipated event is the New Year or, On the 1st of January the Greeks celebrate one of their most beloved saints, Saint Basil the Great. St Basil was one the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church. According to Greek Christmas traditions every year after midnight on New Year’s Eve the householder to make the sign of the cross on the cake with a knife and then start cutting the pieces and naming the owner of each piece: the first piece is for Christ, the second is for Virgin Mary, the third is for St. Burning Effigies (Ecuador) In Ecuador, burning effigies signifies burning the año viejo, or “old year.” … Children playing the triangle and singing the. On New Year’s Day and throughout the month of January, Greeks all over the world serve a special bread-like cake called “Vasilopita,” and there are many traditions associated with it. Fireworks light up the skies of many cities all over the world once the clock strikes midnight and we welcome the New Year. One lucky member of the family is chosen as the first person to enter the house putting the right foot forward for good luck, known as the, One of the much-loved Greek traditions is singing carols. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Greeks love their holidays and there is always a reason to celebrate. A trinket is inserted inside the dough prior to baking. After the Christmas Day celebrations, the next anticipated event is the New Year or protohronia in Greek. After the New Year’s Day church service, the family returns home and hangs up an onion inside the house, a ritual which is very important to make sure that the new year is filled with many blessings and good luck. Vassilopita almond Cake for Saint Basil (the Greek version of Saint Nicolas) At the New Year’s Eve celebration family dinner, “Vassilopita” is the special desert of the day. The presents are delivered by Saint Basil, so Agios Vasilis is known as Greece’s Santa Claus. Some people choose to go out and celebrate New Year’s Eve in night clubs or bars, others stay at home with friends and family. In Greece it is the custom to exchange gifts on the New Year instead of Christmas.The presents are delivered by Saint Basil (Agios Vasilis). One of the most important traditions in Greece on the New Year’s is the. Gouria, the plural, are traditionally Greek New Year’s gift. As much as in the rest of the world, New Year’s is a festive time in Greece and the Greeks look forward to a new beginning. Do you ever wonder how people in Greece celebrate the annual New Year’s festivities? This is also the time when Greek families exchange gifts. Smashing a Pomegranate on the Threshold  From ancient times, the pomegranate has been considered to be a sign of fertility, prosperity and regeneration. That's why I have collected some of the very best Christmas recipes, from Greek Christmas Cookie recipes, hearty Greek family dinner recipes and many more as passed on to my family for generations, for you to enjoy! Basil had  denounced this decision and eventually the emperor returned the jewelry. When traveling to Greece for the holiday season you will be fascinated by how Greeks celebrate the New Year. The traditional sweets one simply must have at this time of year include snowy kourabiedes, which are Greek Christmas cookies filled with almonds and drenched in powdered sugar; melomakarona, which are sticky-sweet cookies soaked in honey, with a spicy hint of cloves; and diples, thin strips of dough which are folded and fried before being sprinkled with chopped nuts and honey. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! After Christmas, the children impatiently await the New Year (Protohronia ) because that's when St. Basil ( Ayios Vasilis ) delivers their gifts.. Spitting to bring good fortune. One lucky member of the family is chosen as the first person to enter the house putting the right foot forward for good luck, known as the kalo podariko. Isn’t it the ultimate experience, to celebrate the beginning of another year in the place where modern civilization really began? In 370 AD, he became the bishop of Caesarea where he created his own community called Basiliad. Greeks bake a coin into an orange-flavored pound cake, which is then sliced up and served, to celebrate the feast day of this great saint. Unlike Santa Claus … Fireworks Shows These shows, full of glitter and magic, light up the night skies all across the country in many cities and villages on the first night of the year. Soak in the sounds of the celebrating crowds and the aromas of traditional, Celebrate the New Year in Greece: Traditions and Customs, Greeks love their holidays and there is always a reason to celebrate. Greeks believe that the New Year is the time for good luck and fortune therefore many choose to play cards or even the lottery. According to Greek superstitions, a good luck charm cannot be bought but rather given as a gift from someone. On the 1st of January the Greeks celebrate one of their most beloved saints, Saint Basil the Great. This is one of the oldest traditions and is still popular until this day. Saint Basil arrives a week after Christmas and brings presents for the children on New Year’s Eve. When traveling to Greece for the holiday season you will be fascinated by how Greeks celebrate the New Year. I remember your father and I have such beautiful memories of him as he was at St Paul’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hempstead New York in the early 1960’s: I had immigrated to the United States from Greece in that year and My self and my Family have such fond memories of your Dad and Presbytera and Family. The vasilopita is cut by first making a cross and then separating the first two slices, one for the Christ and one for the household. Basil did not know which piece of jewelry belonged to whom, he baked a cake with the jewelry and cut it into pieces for his people. Basil (Agios Vasilis) delivers their gifts. It is customary to give the children money when they come to your door. Agios Vasilis (or Saint Basil), is one of the most important New Year’s figures in all of … Getty Images. Many people play cards and enjoy their time with family and friends on Greek new year. Vasilopita Cake for Saint Basil, Why Greeks Hide a Coin in a Cake for New Year's, Here's why Greeks, every new year, bake a cake called Vasilopita and hide a coin inside! The country and its people are so passionate about their culture and traditions that it’s no wonder there are so many New Year’s traditions for the holiday that is known in Greece as “Prothronia.” January 1 is not just New Year’s Day in Greece, but also St. Basil’s Day — the name day of all those people throughout the nation who have the name Vasilis or Vasiliki. The cake is served on New Year’s Day, often at the stroke of midnight. The hobgoblins are known as kallikantzari in Greek. Children playing the triangle and singing the kalanda go around their neighborhood. The adults in the family, give money to the kids, wishing them happy new year. In Athens, you can watch the fireworks displays over the Acropolis, a truly magical experience. Try to Be the First Guest at Someone’s House If you are fortunate enough to be the first guest at someone’s home on New Year’s Day, you are considered to be very lucky. Toshikoshi soba is typically enjoyed on New Year's Eve because its name translates to "year crossing buckwheat noodle," or in other words, the crossing from one year to the next. The betting sums are usually kept low, so as to offer a friendly diversion without upsetting the losers. One of the most important traditions in Greece on the New Year’s is the vasilopita, which means Basil’s Bread. He is thought to … This original event which happened in Cappadocia of Caesarea in the last half of the fourth century, is very much alive in our Orthodox homes each year. In every city or village, the locals organize their own special celebrations where people of all ages gather to welcome the New Year. New Year’s is thought to be a time to bring luck, and the Greek people believe that these rituals help. Greece. From Christmas until the Epiphany Day (January 6th), they come up to the world and tease people with many pranks. Carolers Bringing Good Luck to Your Home Carolers play the triangle and sing traditional Greek songs known as “Kalanda” as they visit the homes in their neighborhoods. In fact, there’s no other celebration in the Greek calendar carrying such a deep symbolism, since it’s associated with luck, prosperity, welfare, and happiness, as it is the first day of the year. Board games, dice, and the State lottery are also played as a symbol of luck. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A delicious collection of traditional Greek Christmas recipes! Fireworks light up the skies of many cities all over the world once the clock strikes midnight and we welcome the New… Then it is evenly divided among family members and friends, staring from oldest to the youngest. The first custom to take place with the advent of the New Year in Greece is called ‘podariko’ which is the Greek equivalent to the Northern English and Scottish ‘first foot’ tradition. Greek people believe New Year brings luck and fortune. It is customary to give the children money when they come to your door. Ancient Egyptian culture was closely tied to the Nile River, and it appears their New Year corresponded… Soak in the sounds of the celebrating crowds and the aromas of traditional Greek Christmas culinary delights. As with all Greek traditions, the custom varies from region to region, but one thing is for certain: “podariko” is practiced almost everywhere on New Year’s and it symbolizes “entering with the good foot,” or in most cases, the right foot. 31/12 children singing New Year Carol in the Omilo school +++++ If you would like to learn more about the Christmas and New Year Season in Greece, Then download our FREE eBook “Celebrate Greek Christmas and New Year, Like A Local”, including Greek texts, audio, videos and English translations In 370 AD, he became the bishop, where he created his own community called, . St. Try to be that person. Kalo Podariko – New Year’s Tradition of Smashing Pomegranates. Spitting, or rather the spitting sound (ftou ftou ftou, always three … The special traditions and customs all surround the idea of hoping for prosperity and good luck in the new year. Basil, is the Greek Santa Claus – and he Comes on January 1 After the celebrations of Christmas, Greek children impatiently await the New Year because that’s when St. From Greece’s big metropolitan cities to tiny, snowy hillside villages, you will see people both young and old playing cards as they ring in the new year. St Basil (Αγιος Βασίλης) New Year is the time to celebrate the arrival of St Basil. Every culture has its own unique traditions and customs. Carolers play the triangle and sing traditional Greek songs known as “Kalanda” as they visit the homes in their neighborhoods. The tradition of playing cards lasts for until early morning hours. Basil who studied law and teaching, later sought a spiritually focused life. “Agios Vasilis,” or St. This tradition dates back from antiquity when the farmers would sacrifice a pig to Zeus and to Demeter the goddess of harvest, to protect their crops and bring fertility to the land. We’ve compiled a list of all the Greek can’t miss holiday traditions. Chocolate Eggs and Bunnies Although the chocolate eggs and bunnies are not a Greek tradition, they have become an integral part of the Greek Easter, with shops and grocery stores filled with them during Springtime. It is a custom to give children money when they come to your door and is considered good luck. You can even cut slices for family members who are not present, as well as one for “the house.” The person who gets the slice with the coin is said to be the lucky one for the rest of the year. I am so happy to have read your comment. That day, all Greek families cut the vasilopita, sweet bread with a coin inside which brings good luck for the year to come to its finder. Agios Vasilis. January 1st is the Feast of Agios Vassilis (the Santa Claus in Greece is Saint Basil), celebrated with church services. Basil, one of the founders of the Greek … If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Have you celebrated New Year’s in Greece? Once the clock strikes midnight, all lights in the house must be turned off and everyone must exit the house. https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/12/31/greek-new-year-traditions In Greece it is the custom to exchange gifts at the New Year instead of on Christmas Day. It is a sign of luck, prosperity and … Here’s more information about this … Christmas traditions, the hobgoblins are short, ugly creatures with many deformities fascinated! Report an update or send your story, photos and videos greek new year traditions you will want. Them happy New Year the custom to give the children money when they come your! To give the children money when they come to your door and considered... To bake a … January 1st, the pomegranate holds much significance New Years that place... Been a symbol of good luck for the holiday season you will want. 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