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CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration. From the crack of dawn, children all over Greece get ready for their Carols, equipped with their triangles they go all over the neighbourhoods singing the Kalanda, the Greek Christmas Carol. After they finish their song people will give them some money and both sides will say the wish "Ke tou Hronou" (Next year again).
CHRISTMAS
Greece is a country where traditions and customs are a part of everyday life. Most holidays in Greece are celebrated traditionally, and Christmas is no exception. Christmas caroling is very popular, and although you might hear them being sung at any given moment during the holiday season, there are actually three "official" caroling days. The custom is that children go from house to house singing the carol, with the accompaniment of a triangle, and residents of the houses give them a small amount of money.
CHRISTMAS FOOD
Christmas, like many other holidays in Greece, is a time for feasting. In the past years, Christmas turkey has become very popular as the main dish of the holiday. Traditionally, the main course of Christmas dinner in Greece is roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies. Other main dish is Christmas bread. But no matter what the main dish is, one thing is certain: Christmas food in Greece is delicious!
CHRISTMAS DECORATES
The decorated Christmas tree, artificial or natural, is in many houses many weeks before Christmas with Christmas lights, stars ,angels, and any kind of shining Christmas ornaments. Also, most Greek houses will decorate the exterior of their house with Christmas lights, deers, Carol singing Santas and the latest Christmas decorations. In Athens almost every balcony of the concrete jungle of Athens is decorated with small illuminated Christmas trees and singing Santa Clauses which are give a unique, if somewhat kitsch, atmosphere that Athens can have only during Christmas and New Year's Eve. All this can be more magical if Athens is covered with snow (something very rare and very short) .
RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS
Due to the nature of the Christian Orthodox religion, Christmas is a very religious holiday in Greece. The season starts of with Saint Nicolas day and continues with many other saints' days up till Christmas. It is customary for those of faith to go to church on Christmas morning for the religious service. New Year's Day is also Saint Vasileios day. The Christmas season winds down with the Theophania on January 6 th. On this day around Greece, waters are blessed and a cross is thrown into the waters. Dozens of brave young people dive into the freezing water to retrieve the cross, which is said to bring good luck to the person that reaches it first.