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 Traditions:
In Greece it is said that St Nicholas wears drenched clothing and brine in his
beard. He drips with sea water and his face is covered with perspiration
because he has been working hard against the waves to reach sinking ships on
the angry sea. In Greece they say "Eftihismena Christouge" for Merry
Christmas. Some households keep fires burning through the 12 days of Christmas
to keep the bad spirits from entering by the chimney. Christmas in Greece goes
for twelve days.
Kallikantzai
While other cultures have the
Christmas elves, the Greek equivalent is not so benign. Mischievous and even
dangerous spirits called the Kallikantzai, prey upon people, but only during
the twelve days of Christmas, between Christmas and Epiphany on January 6th.
Descriptions of the Kallikantzai vary. In one area they are believed to wear
wooden or iron boots, the better to kick people with. In other areas some
insist they be hoofed, not booted. Almost invariably males, other regions see
them in forms of wolves or even monkeys. The Kallikantzai are believed to
emerge from the centre of the earth and slip into peoples houses through the
chimney. More mischievous than actually evil, the Kallikantzai do things like
extinguish fires, ride astride peoples backs, braid horses tails, and sour the
milk. To further repel the undesirable spirits, the hearth is kept burning day
and night through out the twelve days. There
is a Folk Tale about a young girl who is forced to walk alone to a mill
through the twelve days, because her stepmother is hoping that the Kallikantzai
will snatch her away.
Carols
At Christmas children
travel house to house singing ‘Kalanda’, a carol, and giving good wishes.
Afterwards the children are often given sweets or coins in appreciation.
Foods
After 40 days of
fasting, adults and children look the Christmas feast forward to. Pigs are
slaughtered and on almost every table are loaves of bread or Christopsomo
{Christ bread}. This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and
the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family’s
profession.
By Katie and
Joanna
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