This tradition goes back to the days when toy shops were scarce – and where money wasn’t available, children had to settle with pastries, cakes and cookies. Christmas celebrations in Greece officially last for 14 days, starting on Christmas Eve and ending on Epiphany (6 January) with the ‘Great Blessing of Water’. Carrying a boat is a very old custom in the Greek Islands. Ancient Greeks lived over 3000 years ago. In the past years, Christmas turkey has become very popular as the main dish of the holiday. That was the way to honour Saint Nicholas, the protector of fishermen and sailors - the most popular professions back in time. Who they expect? Accuracy : A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. And here’s a list of 25 Interesting facts about Greece. Required fields are marked *. To help ring in the New Year, Greeks celebrate by eating a traditional cake called ‘vasilopita', which is named after Saint Basil. The cake has a coin hidden inside and the ‘head of the house’ cuts and offers a piece to each family member, to guests and here comes the surreal part: there’s a piece for Christ, Virgin Mary, a handful of other saints, one for the house (or each house! Yes, that’s right. Christmas Food in Greece Christmas, like many other holidays in Greece, is a time for feasting. Fun Facts About Christmas Day If you add up all the gifts given in the song the Twelve Days of Christmas there are 364 total gifts. Celebrate Christmas anytime of the year with our list of amazing Christmas facts, including history, mythology, symbolism, and much more! In fact, the traditional Melomakarona cookies, meaning Christmas cookies, tend to be created using a number of popular Greek spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and orange. In Greek tradition, St. Nicholas is also said to protect sailors. Read how kids celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world and get some interesting Ships blow their whistles in thanks, and on land church bells are rung. That was the way to honour Saint Nicholas, the protector of fishermen and sailors - the most popular professions back in time. Mistletoe (Viscum album) is from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means “little dung twig” because the plant spreads though bird droppings. Yes, that’s right. After all, you hardly find just one main course option on a Greek table, irrespective of season or crisis. Here are some facts about Canadian Christmas celebrations, customs and traditions. This is the question. ), Unlike the West,  it’s only due to tradition and not due to the reputation of Greeks doing things the last minute, that children receive their presents on New Year’s Day instead of Christmas. So we thought it might be fun to learn some fun facts about Thanksgiving history and the various ways of celebrating Thanksgiving traditions around the world. Christmas Markets Christmas markets originated in Germany, with the first one thought to have been held in Munich in 1310. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. These cookies do not store any personal information. In fact, some would say that kids base their entire year around Christmas. Their civilisations followed a Dark Age in Greece, which is thought to have ended in 800 B.C. Christmas in Switzerland: Facts About Swiss Christmas Traditons, Christmas in Canada: Facts About Canadian Christmas Traditions, 13 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations – Ideas and Inspiration, 10 Creative DIY Star Wars Christmas Holiday Crafts, Christmas in Germany: Facts About German Christmas Traditions, TT Rockstars Tips: How to Get Better at Times Tables Rock Stars. Learn how your comment data is processed. Fishing boats are decorated with blue and white lights, and the Greek navy performs a concert dedicated to Father Christmas. Facts about Ancient Greece 1. Tradition has it that Greeks decorate a boat instead of a Christmas tree. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. By the way, Greek Christian Orthodox religion requires fasting (no meat nor dairy) up to Christmas... Are you up for the challenge? Christmas in Italy: How do Italians celebrate Christmas? In this way,  parents and relatives often find a way out of Christmas shopping with “kali chera” (or “good hand”, as it’s called). As a return, the children receive sweets or money by the house owner. Must Visit Churches : St. Antoine Church, … Christmas trivia, information and fun facts about the holiday season. Foie gras is pretty much synonymous with Christmas in France so you can bet your dernier centime that it will make an appearance somewhere during the meal. Greek Christmas Guide What you need to know about Christmas Holidays in Greece Whether you live in Greece or you are planning to spend your Christmas holidays in Greece for the first time, there are a few essential pieces of information you should know about Greek Christmas … The Witch With the Gifts Italians also don’t get gifts from Santa. Getty Images 16. For the most part, Ancient Greece was divided into several It celebrates Jesus' birth. Christmas Day, on December 25, is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. Celebrations really pick-up as Christmas day gets closer, usually from the 20th of December. www.christmas-celebrations.com There's no other holiday like Christmas and that’s what makes it so special. Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. 3. It just so happens that Saint Basil's Name Day is celebrated on January 1st. Pieces are cut for the Virgin Mary, Christ and Saint Vasileios and finding the hidden coin in the cake brings good luck. In some areas a pomegranate is hung in the doorway of the home. How to Make the Most of Your 48 Hours in Athens, 15 Sensational Things to Do in Chania Crete This Summer. On the mornings of the 24th and 31st December, there’s no need to set your alarm clock - most likely somebody is going to buzz your doorbell early in the morning. Plus additional information such as total population, biggest mountain, biggest lake, biggest cities etc. As if the savoury menu is not rich enough, the ladies of the house prepare butter cookies called “kourabiedes” covered with caster sugar and honey cookies called “melomakarona” dipped in honey syrup and covered with walnut crumbles, all for Christmas Day - in theory. During the festive season and Christmas in Italy, a nativity scene, a ‘presepe’, is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in houses and is for many the most important parts of Christmas decorations. During New Year, smashing the dried fruit, stamping on it and then entering the house brings good luck. Almost 1,800 people take part in the … St Basil (Agios Vassilis) instead of Santa Claus. Toys and standard Christmas-y gifts most likely, although some parts of Greece -like Crete- have a more ‘practical’ approach; they gift money. It’s a little unclear how a tiny baby would be able to deliver so many gifts, but you are reading facts about weird Christmas traditions. Feeling festive? Kids have even been known to start thinking about what they want for Christmas as early as January! Christmas Facts Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Greek Christmas Elf Lore While other cultures have Christmas elves, the Greek equivalent is not so benign. (So, no motive to be ‘good’ all year…!). Christmas in Greece. Greece Trivia Questions & Answers : Europe This category is for questions and answers related to Greece , as asked by users of FunTrivia.com. Have a wonderful Christmas dear readers & bon appetit! Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. On January 1st, a popular baked snack is a cake called Vasilopita. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. What happens in reality? Your email address will not be published. If you are living in Greece or plan to travel to Greece for Christmas … Your email address will not be published. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. Christmas in Canada has many different customs and traditions because of the country’s diverse population. Still, decoration of trees and long tree branches is a ritual that goes back to the Greek antiquity and remains the norm to date. Let's start. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The ceremony of the lighting of the tree is accompanied by music and dancing. Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas … One of Europe’s tallest Christmas trees is planted each year in Syntagma Square in Athens. Keep reading if you want to learn fun interesting Christmas facts for kids! The Santa Claus parade has been held every Christmas in Toronto since 1905. Still Many homes keep a fire going for 12 days to keep the goblins out. Greeks believe that ugly goblins enter their house to eat food and tease people during the Christmas period. Christmas Around the World How Children celebrate Christmas On this page you can read some fun facts about Christmas around the world. Usually, the celebration of Christmas in Greece spread over 12 days starting from Christmas day and continues to 6th January. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Christmas is one of the most celebrated, if not the most celebrated holiday of the year. READ MORE: 75 Christmas Traditions Around the World (with Fun Christmas Facts) All Greek ships have an icon of St. Nicholas. For the winners, this is considered good luck! Further down in the article you can also read some fun facts about Sign up to receive news & special offers. Find out more about Greece, visit our Christmas Around the World page, or discover some facts about the Ancient Greeks. Christmas Celebration in the Kenya – Things which are included in festivity celebration The Christmas celebration is a kind of routine every year for the republican of Kenya. Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago All three; to keep every kid and every relative happy. Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. Greece is known for her wide array of spices that are cultivated throughout the year, and their Christmas foods are no different. Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942 A nurse feeds a patient with a spoonful of Christmas pudding at a naval hospital at Kingseat in Scotland, December 1941 A youngster, clutching his soldier father, gazes upward while the latter lifts his wife from the ground to wish her a Merry Christmas On Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, often go out singing 'kalanda' (carols) in the streets. How do Italians celebrate Christmas? Another of the interesting facts about Greece, has to do with New Year. Greece: 10 Things You Want to Ask but Don't Want to Sound Like a Tourist, LIMITED TIME ONLY Athens Christmas Food Tour, Evening Walking Tour of Athens and Light Dinner, Greek Food Cooking Class and Athens' Food Market Tour, Interactive 3D Guided Walking Tour of the Acropolis, Hiking Day Trip Through the Historic Thermopylae, Athens By Night: A Tour in Athens Nightlife, Authentic Greek Dance Lesson and Greek Food Fiesta, Treasure Hunt in Athens Historical Centre, Pottery Workshop: Create Your Own Greek Souvenirs, Urban Athens Walkthroughs With a Graphic Designer, Athens For Foodies: A Walking Food Tour in Athens, The Complete Private Acropolis Experience, The Exclusive Acropolis of Athens Private Tour - 2 Hours, Delphi Day Trip Out of the Ordinary (with Lunch), Peloponnese Day Trip: Unique Mycenae and Nafplio Sightseeing Tour, Ancient Corinth Day Trip From Athens with Wine-Tasting in Nemea Wine Region, Athens Family Workshop: Play and Learn in the Ancient Agora, Hiking and Sea Kayak Adventure in Central Greece (overnight), Delphi and Meteora Trekking Adventure (overnight), Walking Tour of Chania Old Town in Crete, Greece, Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Trip in Mirabello Bay from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos in Crete, Private 'Skip the Line' Tour to Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum from Chania, Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini (Private), Morning or Sunset Fishing Tour in Santorini. Traditionally, the main course of The classic way of serving foie gras is with pain d’épices (similar to gingerbread but less sweet) and a side of chutney or confit d’oignons – this works well as an entrée or as a mini version for the apéritif. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Interesting Facts about Christmas Tradition in Greece St. Nicholas is the most significant person during Christmas celebrations. Stuffed turkey is still very common. The Christmas season in Greece now begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day, and ends on January 6th, the day of Epiphany. In random order, here is what makes the top of the Greek holiday traditions: By tradition, there’s roast lamb with potatoes and pork on the menu. Book Private and Tailor-Made Tours and Activities. As each family member gets a piece, the winner gets blessings and a lucky charm for the year to come! Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. Many Greeks wrap basil around a wooden cross, instead of having a Christmas tree. They play drums and triangles as they sing. Singing carols is popular, especially on the three official carol days, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and January 5th. Feta, which is made from goat’s milk, is the Greece’s national cheese. Children visit homes, singing, playing a triangle and asking for money. Christmas in Greece is traditionally a solemn, religious holiday. Tradition has it that Greeks decorate a boat instead of a Christmas tree. It’s customary on New Year’s Day to cut a cake called “Vassilopita” (which translates to ‘the cake of St Basil’). Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. Istanbul on christmas day is lit up with decorations and church services during this time of the season are something not be missed for it is one of the best things to do on Christmas day in Turkey. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. During Epiphany on January 6th, priests bless the waters, and the ships sailing on them. Tradition has it that children go from door to door asking “na ta poume?” or else “shall we sing?” expecting permission to sing the carols (the “kalanda”) accompanied by the sounds of the triangle, guitars, accordions, harmonicas and whatever will impress the ‘crowds’. What will he bring? Small boys sing carols and beat drums during Christmas Eve. We respect your privacy & promise not to spam! They believe that he comes to their homes on the occasion of Christmas to give small gifts to the children. Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. To be or not to be in Istanbul? Most people celebrate on December 25th. What next? People used to travel their native place or villages from town and the traffic during the Christmas season becomes a nightmare in Kenya because everyone is travelling. (It’d better be money, if you don’t want to get black-listed! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. Today, there are over 2,5000 Christmas markets all over Germany you can visit, all of them Tis the season dear readers (fala-lala-lah-lalah-la-lah! Your Big Fat Greek Christmas: Interesting Facts About Christmas in Greece. ), for work, even one for the pet! Sometimes they will also carry model boats decorated with nuts which are painted gold. What are typical Italian Christmas traditions? Christmas tops the list of kids’ favorite holidays. In practice, we stuff ourselves with these monsters throughout December (and January, if there are any left!). Also Check out […] Here are some facts about Greek Christmas celebrations, traditions and customs. Greek people have their own Santa clause named as saint Vasilis. Beautiful Christmas carols called kalandas have been handed down from Byzantine times and add to the reverent quality of the celebration. The Icelandic Christmas are celebrated for 13 days, they begin on December 24th and end on January 6th. Guide to Greece traditions: Traditional festivities (name day celebration, engagement, carnival, clean monday, easter), superstitions and more. It dates back to the Homeric ages, and the average per-capita consumption of feta cheese in Greece is the highest in the world. Copyright ©2020, theTravelPorter, Ltd. All rights reserved. In Greece, people celebrate the “name day” of the saint that bears their name rather than their own birthday. During Christmas, the cross is dipped in water each day and sprinkled around the home to keep evil spirits away. Christmas in Icelandic is Jól, but it is an Norse word and similar to the word Yule. ), Only a few hours away from stuffing our belly with a handful (or two) of mouth-watering Christmas delicacies and while we're still out of a food-comma, thought to share with you a few interesting facts that make the Greek Christmas a tad bit different (and possibly extra fatty!). By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Keep the goblins out December 24th and end on January 1st all the cookies the Greek Islands the plant though! And that’s what makes it so special ‘the cake of st Basil’ ) especially boys, often go singing!: St. Antoine Church, … Christmas tops the list of amazing facts. 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