The Greeks celebrate Christmas on December 25, according to the New Julian calendar. On the eve of the celebration, Ksenia Klimova, a researcher of Greek traditions and folklore, candidate of philological sciences, told TD about Greek carols and Christmas and New Year's traditions.

- Ksenia Anatolyevna, you celebrated Christmas in Athens. How do the Greeks celebrate this holiday?

Christmas in Greece is a nationwide holiday. Everything is festively decorated, there are trees everywhere. The apogee of winter celebrations is December 25th. New Year celebrated much less solemnly. Those who usually go to church go to the temple for worship. But these are not all Greeks. Here at Easter, especially at procession, everyone goes, and Christmas is mostly celebrated at home.

My friends gathered at their aunt's house. The hostess of the house traditionally bakes “Christ's bread” (Christopsomo, Χριστόψωμο) with a cross on top and decorates it with nuts: one nut in the middle and four along the edges. The bread is not sweet, unlike the pie of St. Basil, which everyone bakes and eats on January 1 for New Year.

In general, it is believed that there should be a lot of dishes on the Christmas table, because this abundance will be equal to the wealth and abundance of the entire next year. The Greeks do not have a specific Christmas dish. Recently, they have taken the fashion of cooking turkey, but this is already a Western influence. Previously, they roasted a ram or a pig, who is poorer - a bird.

Be sure to have nuts and dried fruits on the table, because it is very important elements the subject code of any transitional rite. In general, a nut is a symbol of life, fertility, and so on. It is also imperative to supply sweets containing honey - an important ritual product for many cultures.

Among fresh fruits, pomegranate plays the most important role at Christmas, because pomegranate is a symbol of the new era. It is used in every transitional rite, and especially actively - on the New Year.

We have evidence that in Byzantium, when the New Year was celebrated on September 1, pomegranate was also perceived as a symbol of the onset of a new time: there are many seeds in it, and giving a pomegranate meant, as it were, to wish a person a lot of money, livestock and other benefits. In traditional culture, pomegranates were smashed on the doorstep of a house on Christmas or New Year's Day on St. Basil's Day, so that the pomegranate seeds would fall in the house, so wealth would fill this whole house. In traditional culture, they also scattered wheat, coins, and some grains around the house. They made such a symbolic sowing of wealth. Now they do not "sow", coins and grains are not scattered. But the pomegranate is periodically smashed, including in the city.

They decorated the pomegranate: they stuck coins, and expensive ones. Now they are made especially for the holiday. Any Greek shop is now full of pomegranates in all possible forms: plastic, wood, beaded, gold, silver, bronze, gilded. They are already simply given as a Christmas souvenir to each other for Christmas.

Pomegranates are also decorated with blue eyes from the evil eye, as in Turkey. This is a well-known Greek tradition: earlier, blue stones were taken from the sea and carried with them as a talisman against the evil eye.

- Back to Christmas: how do modern Greeks prepare for the holiday?

For Christmas, they decorate the city, decorate the Christmas trees. In general, in Greece, decorating a Christmas tree is a late custom. At Christmas, they could decorate a Christmas tree: an ordinary stick, on which ribbons and bells were tied. The result was the image of the world tree, known in any traditional culture.

Initially, in the seaside areas, specially carved for the holiday was decorated wooden ships- hung them with ribbons, flowers, bells. There were several such ships in the village, but they were not in every house: only a wealthy person could allocate time and money to make a ship. Then the children went around the village with these ships and sang carols.

In some villages, children still sing carols. In Athens, by the way, they also start caroling a few days before Christmas. True, ships specially decorated for the holiday are now bought in the store.

Caroling children also carried with them all sorts of pieces of iron - pots, pans - always made of iron, which they knocked on. The knock on iron was considered a talisman that drove away all sorts of bad characters. And in general, iron is a symbol of happiness, health and well-being: horseshoes that are hung and so on. Now children walk with musical triangles.

- Do children go as they wish or does someone specially organize them?

Most often they are collected by schools. They specially learn carols - and walk around the city, reproducing the folk rite. Of course, children think they are caroling to collect food. But in general cultural terms, carols are by no means a way to get sweets or pies, but a traditional general folk bypass rite, which is performed on the eve of a big holiday. At Christmas they sing carols and go around all the houses in the village, on Shrovetide they also go into every house and wish there was a good harvest.

This ancient tradition was preserved in Byzantium, when, for example, on September 1 (when the beginning of the new year was celebrated), during a roundabout ceremony, they announced the coming of the new year and wished all kinds of benefits.

Historically, it turned out that Christmas coincided with a transitional time (end of autumn - beginning of winter cycle). The rites of the transition period existed even before the adoption of Christianity. The tradition of the bypass rite has remained, new texts of carols have appeared, in which it is reported which holiday is celebrated.

- Where did the texts of the Christmas carols come from? Are there any pagan elements left in them?

It is difficult to say who exactly these texts were written by. Interesting story happened to the most famous carol:

Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες, αν είναι ορισμός σας,

Χριστού την ιείαν γέννησιν να πω στ"αρχοντικό σας.

Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλει,

Οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται, χαίρει η κτίσις όλη...

Good evening to you, sir, I beg your permission

Jesus Son of God to announce the birth of you

Christ was born on this day in the city of Bethlehem,

Heaven rejoiced, all Creation rejoices ...

(poetic translation by A. Grishin)

It is not written in a spoken language, a language that is very difficult to understand for an ordinary bearer of traditional Greek culture. It was recorded in the 19th century, although it is probably based on an earlier text. In Greece, almost everyone knows it, they sing with pleasure on Christmas, but no one knows the name of the author.

This carol is a common Greek, rather urban type, but for me as a researcher, local versions of carols are of particular interest. For example, in Zakynthos, the most revered saint is Dionysius. One of the carols mentions "O Agios" ("Ό Άγιος"), which means "Saint" in translation. But with the definite article. Usually the central place in the carol is occupied by Christ himself, and, as a rule, it is He who is meant by "Ό Άγιος". In Zakynthos, St. Dionysius, therefore in here "Ό Άγιος", despite the Christmas context, does not denote Christ, but St. Dionysius.

Depending on the area, the nature of the wishes may vary. For example, in the Ionian Islands close to Western Europe, a girl will want to marry a Spanish prince. These are the "remnants" of medieval ideas about the world, fairy tales that still live in the texts of carols.

In Mani, for example, the Slavs lived in the 6th century. And if in the carols of other regions a certain big river- a symbol of living water - in Maniat carols they will sing about the Slavic Danube. And when you ask informants what the Danube is and where it is, they say that the Danube is a river, and where it is, no one knows, no one can say.

- What are the oldest carols? When did they arise?

- It is hard to say. There is evidence of the traditions of circumvention rites, but no texts. We can say that the fixed carols have been formed approximately since the 12th century - this can be established thanks to some of the realities or linguistic forms mentioned in them. At the same time, older relics are still found there. However, the exact time of the origin of the carols is unknown.

- Is the holiday going on for five days from Christmas to New Year?

Oh yeah! All this time there is a richly set table, the holidays continue. And on January 1, another holiday is celebrated - St. Basil's Day. Podariko (Ποδαρικό) is still performed today. It is a custom that when the first guest enters the house on January 1, he must be a good man, enter with your right foot.

- Do they agree with him that he should come, or how lucky?

Sometimes they make a special agreement, sometimes a person can come himself, knowing that his acquaintances will be pleased if he makes a Podariko, because no one in his family has died recently and he himself is successful.

Basilopita (Βασιλόπιτα), a sweet cake in which a coin is baked, is always prepared for the New Year. There is no Christian symbolism on the pie of St. Basil. Now basilopita is sold in any supermarket. Just like Easter - colored eggs. One piece of basilopita is symbolically given to Christ, the other to Saint Basil.

- And where do these pieces go?

- Someone says that they are put behind the icon until next year, and then they throw it away. Most say that these pieces are then split up and eaten by family members anyway.

They still put the coin and always check who will be happy in next year.

- Is Saint Basil somehow especially revered in connection with the New Year?

Sure! It is Saint Basil who brings gifts to children. In the Greek tradition, he looks like Saint Nicholas in Western Europe: a red fur coat, a red hat, a white beard and a bag of gifts. Only the fur coat is not long, but short.

- Is this also a Western influence?

Well no. It's just that red is festive. Christmas carols are very interesting - the carols of St. Basil. They are all dedicated to this saint. According to the plot, he comes from Caesarea, an incomprehensible, distant, almost fabulous country and turns out to be a scientist who studied literacy for a very long time. And now he goes around all the cities and villages, and wherever he comes, he is asked to tell the alphabet: “Saint Basil, hello! Where are you going from now? - I am coming from Krizaritsi, and I am going to you. - Sing us some songs, tell us something: stories, fairy tales. - I didn’t teach songs, I didn’t learn fairy tales. I learned to read, I learned to read. "Okay, tell us the alphabet then." And when he begins to recite the alphabet, all the most interesting and important happens: it blooms world tree, on its branches appear the four Gospels, and in the center - Christ Himself.

- Do they arrange holidays, during which this dialogue with Saint Basil is staged?

How are we with Santa Claus and Snow Maiden? There is no such. A doll of St. Basil is placed in the house as a New Year's decoration. For example, under the tree.

- And the last of the winter holidays - Epiphany ...

The Greeks have very interesting traditions of celebrating the Epiphany. A large procession of parishioners led by a priest goes to some large source of water or sea. They necessarily throw a cross into the water to consecrate it, and young people jump into the water. Whoever gets the cross is considered the "first guy in the village" for the next year.

New Year in Greece is a holiday that has absorbed the past and the present, uniting the secular and religious customs of the country. At first glance, the picture is familiar to us - Christmas trees, garlands, holiday fireworks. But take a closer look, and you can easily find unique, primordially Greek New Year traditions!

Who brings gifts to children?

New Year, aka Προτοχρονια (Protohronia ) Is a favorite holiday of Greek children, because it is on this day (and not on Christmas, as in most Western European countries) that they receive their gifts from St. This is Valisia (the Greek analogue of Santa Claus).

Saint Basil (Ayios Vasilis) was one of the fathers of the Church. And since the celebration of the New Year in Greece coincides with the commemoration of St. Basil (died on January 1, 379), then his role in the celebration is special.

The tribute says that during his short life this man constantly helped the poor and needy, and gave them to the needs ordinary people all my fortune. Therefore, Basil, who has since received the nickname the Great, became for the Greeks a symbol of generosity and kindness.
And by the way, his homeland is ancient the city of Caesarea, not the North Pole).
Interestingly, even a few decades ago, the image of c in. Basil reminded little of Santa Claus. According to church tradition, this is a tall, thin, dark-haired man, in simple clothes with a long dark beard.

The festive image of St. Vasily, in whom even a few decades ago the children were congratulated at New Year's parties, resembled the clothes of a priest. On the head of the Greek Santa Claus was a miter-like hat, a staff in his hand. The suit itself could be of any color. Now St. Basil most often appears in front of children in the form of Santa.

Weather in Greece for the New Year will surely delight those who do not like severe cold and snow drifts, but at the same time do not mind feeling the romantic beauty of European winter. Shopping in Christmas markets, fun attractions in the city center and a cup of aromatic warming coffee at a nearby snack bar is a great "lightweight" option for a winter vacation in Europe!

How is New Year's Day celebrated in Greece?

Almost the same as ours - friends gather in cafes, bars and restaurants , or they go to visit someone... City streets are packed with people - the main Christmas tree flaunts on the central square of each city; trees, houses and shops around sparkle with festive illumination, here and there there are models of ships and boats decorated with bright lights (read about this tradition).

In the central square, you will definitely find a stage where festive concerts organized by the city authorities take place. For those who celebrate the New Year outside the home, the chiming clock is accompanied by a cannonade of salutes and fireworks.

Greeks and tourists stroll leisurely among all this bustle, while teenagers, meanwhile, have fun in their own way. They gather in groups and arrange comic wars among themselves, using harmless plastic "weapons".

At the time of the New Year, when the clock struck 12, the lights in the house are turned off, and then turned on, and I begin to congratulate each other with the words Χρόνια πολλά! (long years), or Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος (happy new year).

Gambling

Greeks consider New Year's Eve to be a happy day, so they gladly start playing cards and dice, not only at home, but also in cafes, eateries, and clubs throughout the country. But what can we say, even the main prize of the national Greek lottery - several million euros, is drawn on the first day of the new year!

In the evening, in anticipation of the chimes, the Greeks while away their leisure time playing cards - this is considered a good omen. Moreover, they play for money, although the amount of bets is usually symbolic - so that the losers do not get upset.

Festive table

Basilopita, a Greek New Year's pie (St. Basil's pie), is always present in every home on this day. The preparation of such a cake is one of the oldest pre-Christian traditions that has survived to this day. On January 1, Greeks gather with their families to cut a pie together, which is baked with a gold coin inside. The head of the family cuts the cake and the first piece is traditionally dedicated to Christ, the second - to the whole house as a whole, and the rest are distributed among the whole family. The one in whose piece of the pie there was a coin will be happy the whole next year.

As a rule, hostesses try to leave one place at the festive table empty. This place is intended for Saint Basil, since such a symbolic presence of him - good sign for the family.

Kalo Podariko or First to Enter

Celebrating New Year in Greeceis not complete without one more tradition. After midnight, the first guest in the house should be a good person who will bring good luck and prosperity to the hosts. Therefore, the Greeks specially invite successful relatives or acquaintances for this purpose, but most often–children, as they symbolize purity of intentions and innocence. After the first person to enter the threshold of the house, all the household members step by step, and the step must be taken with the right foot.

Garnet

In one of the past posts, this custom has already been mentioned. The pomegranate, considered a symbol of fertility, rebirth and prosperity since ancient times, plays an important role in New Year's rituals. In ancient times, pomegranates were hung over front door to lure happiness into the house.

Now the Greeks even take this fruit to church to bless it for a special ritual. Before the clock strikes 12, marking the beginning of the New Year, all household members leave the house and turn off the lights.

The person who steps into the house after the First Who entered (see the previous point) holds a grenade in his right hand and smashes it with force against the threshold. It is believed that the number of seeds dropped out symbolizes the amount of happiness of the family in the coming year.

Kali Hera

As you may have noticed, the New Year traditions in Greece pay special attention to children. For example, in addition to gifts from St. Basil, they also receive gifts from close relatives. Grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles give money to kids (Hera) or sweets as a wish for the best for the next year. By the way, on New Year's Eve, as well as on Christmas, children go around their relatives, friends and neighbors, singing carols.

Local customs

Each region has its own.K nFor example, in Crete, it was customary to introduce a plant called "sea onion" (seaside drimia) into a house for the New Year. It is a wild, onion-like poisonous plant that even animals do not eat - it causes a rash on contact with the skin. However, it has interesting property- even if the sea onion is removed from the soil by the root, it does not dry out. It is believed that its ability to withstand the most adverse conditions can be transmitted to humans and inanimate objects. This tradition has been known since the time of Pythagoras, from the 6th century BC, and belongs to one of the oldest in Greece.

As you can see, the Greeks approach the New Year celebrations with all responsibility, trying to attract happiness, money and good luck to their home. After all, faith in good things, as you know, can work miracles!

New Year in Greece is a holiday that has absorbed the past and the present, uniting the secular and religious customs of the country. At first glance, the picture is familiar to us - Christmas trees, garlands, holiday fireworks. But take a closer look, and you can easily find unique, primordially Greek New Year traditions!

Who brings gifts to children?

New Year, aka Προτοχρονια (Protohronia ) Is a favorite holiday of Greek children, because it is on this day (and not on Christmas, as in most Western European countries) that they receive their gifts from St. This is Valisia (the Greek analogue of Santa Claus).

Saint Basil (Ayios Vasilis) was one of the fathers of the Church. And since the celebration of the New Year in Greece coincides with the commemoration of St. Basil (died on January 1, 379), then his role in the celebration is special.

The tribute says that during his short life this man constantly helped the poor and needy, and distributed all his fortune to the needs of ordinary people. Therefore, Basil, who has since received the nickname the Great, became for the Greeks a symbol of generosity and kindness.
And by the way, his homeland is ancient the city of Caesarea, not the North Pole).
Interestingly, even a few decades ago, the image of c in. Basil reminded little of Santa Claus. According to church tradition, this is a tall, thin, dark-haired man, in simple clothes with a long dark beard.

The festive image of St. Vasily, in whom even a few decades ago the children were congratulated at New Year's parties, resembled the clothes of a priest. On the head of the Greek Santa Claus was a miter-like hat, a staff in his hand. The suit itself could be of any color. Now St. Basil most often appears in front of children in the form of Santa.

Weather in Greece for the New Year will surely delight those who do not like severe cold and snow drifts, but at the same time do not mind feeling the romantic beauty of European winter. Shopping in Christmas markets, fun attractions in the city center and a cup of aromatic warming coffee at a nearby snack bar is a great "lightweight" option for a winter vacation in Europe!

How is New Year's Day celebrated in Greece?

Almost the same as ours - friends gather in cafes, bars and restaurants , or they go to visit someone... City streets are packed with people - the main Christmas tree flaunts on the central square of each city; trees, houses and shops around sparkle with festive illumination, here and there there are models of ships and boats decorated with bright lights (read about this tradition).

In the central square, you will definitely find a stage where festive concerts organized by the city authorities take place. For those who celebrate the New Year outside the home, the chiming clock is accompanied by a cannonade of salutes and fireworks.

Greeks and tourists stroll leisurely among all this bustle, while teenagers, meanwhile, have fun in their own way. They gather in groups and arrange comic wars among themselves, using harmless plastic "weapons".

At the time of the New Year, when the clock struck 12, the lights in the house are turned off, and then turned on, and I begin to congratulate each other with the words Χρόνια πολλά! (long years), or Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος (happy new year).

Gambling

Greeks consider New Year's Eve to be a happy day, so they gladly start playing cards and dice, not only at home, but also in cafes, eateries, and clubs throughout the country. But what can we say, even the main prize of the national Greek lottery - several million euros, is drawn on the first day of the new year!

In the evening, in anticipation of the chimes, the Greeks while away their leisure time playing cards - this is considered a good omen. Moreover, they play for money, although the amount of bets is usually symbolic - so that the losers do not get upset.

Festive table

Basilopita, a Greek New Year's pie (St. Basil's pie), is always present in every home on this day. The preparation of such a cake is one of the oldest pre-Christian traditions that has survived to this day. On January 1, Greeks gather with their families to cut a pie together, which is baked with a gold coin inside. The head of the family cuts the cake and the first piece is traditionally dedicated to Christ, the second - to the whole house as a whole, and the rest are distributed among the whole family. The one in whose piece of the pie there was a coin will be happy the whole next year.

As a rule, hostesses try to leave one place at the festive table empty. This place is intended for Saint Basil, as his symbolic presence is a good sign for the family.

Kalo Podariko or First to Enter

Celebrating New Year in Greeceis not complete without one more tradition. After midnight, the first guest in the house should be a good person who will bring good luck and prosperity to the hosts. Therefore, the Greeks specially invite successful relatives or acquaintances for this purpose, but most often–children, as they symbolize purity of intentions and innocence. After the first person to enter the threshold of the house, all the household members step by step, and the step must be taken with the right foot.

Garnet

In one of the past posts about Greek traditions, this custom has already been mentioned. The pomegranate, considered a symbol of fertility, rebirth and prosperity since ancient times, plays an important role in New Year's rituals. In ancient times, pomegranates were hung over the front door to lure happiness into the house.

Now the Greeks even take this fruit to church to bless it for a special ritual. Before the clock strikes 12, marking the beginning of the New Year, all household members leave the house and turn off the lights.

The person who steps into the house after the First Who entered (see the previous point) holds a grenade in his right hand and smashes it with force against the threshold. It is believed that the number of seeds dropped out symbolizes the amount of happiness of the family in the coming year.

Kali Hera

As you may have noticed, the New Year traditions in Greece pay special attention to children. For example, in addition to gifts from St. Basil, they also receive gifts from close relatives. Grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles give money to kids (Hera) or sweets as a wish for the best for the next year. By the way, on New Year's Eve, as well as on Christmas, children go around their relatives, friends and neighbors, singing carols.

Local customs

Each region has its own.K nFor example, in Crete, it was customary to introduce a plant called "sea onion" (seaside drimia) into a house for the New Year. It is a wild, onion-like poisonous plant that even animals do not eat - it causes a rash on contact with the skin. However, it has an interesting property - even if the sea onion is removed from the soil by the root, it does not dry out. It is believed that its ability to withstand the most adverse conditions can be transmitted to humans and inanimate objects. This tradition has been known since the time of Pythagoras, from the 6th century BC, and belongs to one of the oldest in Greece.

As you can see, the Greeks approach the New Year celebrations with all responsibility, trying to attract happiness, money and good luck to their home. After all, faith in good things, as you know, can work miracles!

There are also carols, and what kind of "fees" do children receive for singing? What is Christoxilo and why is it burned in the fireplace? How can you become happy next year by eating basilopita, what kind of surprise awaits you inside? Since when have ancient Christmas rituals, such as cleaning the fireplace and burning the olive tree, remained unchanged? New Year for Greeks is a secular holiday with concerts in squares and colorful bouzouki performances in restaurants and austerity afterwards.

If you are going to celebrate Christmas in Greece, first of all, do not be surprised why the Greeks go to church. Secondly, don't be surprised that they celebrate Christmas at the same time with everything Western christian world- on the night of December 24-25. Orthodox Greece has long since switched to the Gregorian calendar, according to which it celebrates all holidays, secular and church.

IN Ancient Greece The New Year fell on the longest day of the year - June 22, since the Greeks began their chronology from the first day of the Olympic Games, which were held in honor of Hercules.

Godparents on Christmas always give gifts to their godchildren and take them to church, and the whole country is decorated with figures of the Holy Family, elegant Christmas trees and glowing boats. Prices in Greek shops are dropping to a critical level, while in taxis and food outlets, on the contrary, there are extra charges - the so-called "Christmas present" that you will give the staff, whether you like it or not. In cities, the concentration of people on square meter will exceed all allowable norms, shops on the pre-holiday days will switch to non-stop operation, and all that remains is to forget about transport, put on comfortable shoes and enjoy all this pre-holiday hype.

In Greece, it is also customary to exchange "photos". Fotiki are skewers with fruit strung on them. Usually oranges, figs, apples, candies are used. Above, a symbol of light and hope is installed - a candle.

The ones who really make good money on Christmas in Greece are the kids. Regardless of their hearing and voice, they learn kalanda - Christmas carols, the prototype of carols - and, accompanying themselves on the metal triangle, make all their neighbors happy with their appearance, including local shops, eateries and even offices. In pre-crisis times, their fee per adult was estimated at between 5 and 20 euros. Rates have dropped dramatically in the past two years. Let's see how the next Christmas goes, but, most likely, the guys will have to be content with candy. And also to say thank you.

The Feast of the Nativity of Christ in Orthodox Greece is celebrated on December 25, in a new style. The inhabitants of Greece greet Christmas with a special joyful mood, because it is always accompanied by the tradition of decorating the house, cooking festive dishes and the beginning of a new life in the new year, the expulsion of all the bad things from the past.

When the pie is cut, the first slice of the pie is for Saint Basil, the second for the house, the next for the oldest member of the family, and so on until the youngest, who gets the last. Some girls put their piece of cake under the pillow to see their betrothed in a dream.

In Greek villages and villages on the eve of three holidays: Christmas - New Year - Epiphany, once the owners of houses went out into the forest and looked for the strongest spruce tree, or instead used an olive tree, which was cut down and brought home. This tree was called "Christoxilo" - the Tree of Christ. The tree was cut and taken into the house in order to burn it in the fireplace during the entire period of the holidays - from Christmas to Epiphany. Today this tradition is preserved only in some villages of Northern Greece.

Until now, another tradition has been preserved - this is cleaning home fireplace... This was done in order to clean out all the ash from last year, the chimney and the chimney so that evil spirits and demons could not enter the house in the new year. On the eve of Christmas, in the evening, the whole family gathers around the fireplace, the head of the family lights a fire from wood chopped from the tree of Christ. As the popular belief says, while this tree is burning, Christ becomes warm in the cold Bethlehem cave. In every house they tried so that there would be enough firewood from this tree until the Epiphany holidays - "Ta Fota".

During the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, the main dishes on the Greek tables are two breads - "Christopsomo" and "Vasilopita", as well as pork, which is prepared by everyone possible ways... The bread is decorated with different dough figurines. As in many other countries, the Greeks serve turkey on the festive table, which they stuff with rice, chestnuts and raisins. Except turkey popular dishes these twelve days are geese, ducks and game (hare and wild boar).

There are many New Year's signs and prohibitions: for example, you cannot shout, and also grind and drink coffee. Black dogs should not be allowed into the house, as a dog is a "demonic" animal. We must try not to break the dishes.

In the post-Christmas days in Greece, it is unusually quiet. Overeating people sit at home, sort out gifts and enjoy family comfort. They have a week to come to their senses and celebrate the New Year with dignity.

If Christmas in Greece is celebrated at home, with the family, then New Year is a family and social holiday. A lot of entertainment establishments make their New Year's program, and in the first place, of course, are "bouzoukia" - truly Greek nightclubs with live music in a national vein. You need to book a table in such places long before the New Year, and such a pleasure will certainly cost a lot, but when did this stop the Greeks?

When celebrating the New Year with family members, the most anticipated moment is cutting the basilopita, a traditional New Year's cake named after St. Basil, the local Santa Claus. Vasilopita has an intrigue: a coin - "fluri" is baked into it, symbolizing special luck in the coming year. The procedure for cutting the basilopita will definitely have to be repeated in the work collective, and then the already found flury will bring its owner very tangible happiness: a cash prize or other pleasant encouragement.

In the coastal regions, specially carved wooden ships were hung with ribbons, flowers, bells. There were several such ships in the village, but they were not in every house: only a wealthy person could "equip" a ship. Then the children went around the village with them and sang carols.

In Greece, New Year is the day of St. Basil. Saint Basil was known for his kindness, and Greek children leave their shoes by the fireplace in the hope that Saint Basil will fill their shoes with gifts. Residents of Greece, when they go to celebrate the New Year, take a stone with them, which they throw at the doorstep of a hospitable home. If the stone is heavy, they say: "Let the wealth of the owner be as heavy as this stone." And if the stone is small, then they want: "Let the eyesore of the owner be as small as this stone."

In Greece, according to their custom, exactly at midnight the head of the family should go out into the courtyard and smash a pomegranate fruit against the wall. And if his grains scatter around the yard, then in the new year his family will be happy and joyful.

On the New Year's table, the Greeks serve pickled cabbage, cabbage rolls, pieces of chicken wrapped in pickled cabbage. From sweets, on the New Year's table must be "melomakarona" and "kurabie", as well as "diples" (deep-fried dough served with walnuts and honey syrup) and much more.

Christmas and New Year in Greece for a long time knock people out of their normal way of life, or rather, out of the budget. They are followed by weeks and even months of austerity, with bars filling only on Saturdays and taverns only on Sundays. The population of Greece will tighten their belts and, disdaining the cafeteria, will begin to master the coffee maker donated for the holidays. The most practical, however, will save part of the salary, because from the middle of January, mass sales begin in Greece - and this is also a tribute to tradition.

The next burst of excitement will wake up Greece around February, when carnival weeks will come here - an analogue of Shrovetide, but this is a completely different story.

Greece ... this word is associated with the warm azure sea, rocks, white houses on them, the smells of delicious food, and, of course, with the delicate aroma of meat. How are the Christmas and New Year holidays celebrated in this country and what is customary to serve on the table?

The first mention of Hellas (the official name is Greece, which is more familiar to our ears, came to us from ancient rome) date back to the 3rd millennium BC. Over the centuries, the Greeks managed to accumulate a colossal cultural and historical heritage. Celebrating Christmas and New Years also comes with special Greek traditions.

98% of the entire Greek population is Orthodox, so at Christmas both young and old go to church for a night service, and after the service everyone gathers at home at a large family table. At night they celebrate, by Greek standards, quite quietly, with conversations. Kotosupa (chicken soup with lemon) is usually served on the table in order to prepare the stomach for heavier food after the Christmas fast. But already in the morning, a wide walk begins: guests, numerous feasts and, of course, gifts and a Christmas tree! True, only wealthy families can afford a real live Christmas tree - they are brought from afar (usually from Denmark), in large pots. All Christmas trees are literally buried in sparkling toys and garlands, this is a real extravaganza of light and joy! The solemn presentation of gifts in Greece is not accepted - children and adults find them under their elegant Christmas tree. A small card with a wish and the name of the donor may be attached to the gift, perhaps.

The main dish of any festive table in Greece is meat meze. It usually includes sheftalia (fried chopped cutlets), dolma (grape leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice), kleftiko (simmered lamb), stifado (beef with onions and spices), and lukanica (grilled meat sausages). Without fail, meat dishes will be accompanied by wine (the Greeks hardly drink champagne, even on New Year's), warm homemade bread or pita, Greek village salad, olives, halloumi (fried goat cheese) and sauces: tachinosalata (consisting of young sesame seeds) , taramasalata (pink paste made from fish roe) and hummus (pea-sesame paste sauce). On a separate plate will be offered fresh herbs and lemons cut into slices, the juice of which is customary to pour over any hot dishes and snacks.

The feast of the Nativity of Christ for all Christians is primarily associated with the birth of Christ. But the New Year for the Greeks, in addition to the beginning of the actual new calendar year, is primarily associated with their beloved saint - Saint Basil (Agios Vasilios), whose memorial day is celebrated on January 1 in the old style and on January 14 in the new. For all children and adults, he has long become the personification of the Greek Santa Claus. It is to him that all the guys write notes with wishes, which they leave at Christmas under their home Christmas tree. On the day of the memory of the saint, the Greeks have a tradition to bake "basilopita" - the pie of St. Basil, into which a coin is baked according to custom. The Greeks greatly revere their Father Frost - Saint Basil, and therefore they often honor him in both the new and the old style. In many houses, a pie in memory of the saint is baked on January 1, and on January 14 they go to church, where they also receive a piece of freshly baked basilopita. New Year is usually celebrated much more modestly than Christmas. These are rather family and friendly gatherings. But the Greeks, adhering to old traditions, also have noisy fun. For example, when the clock struck 12, it is customary to run out into the street and fire into the air with guns, which are in almost every Greek family. Your favorite meat and / or fish meze will certainly be present at the New Year's table. We have already talked about meat meze. Fish is served in the same way as meat. It is based on octopus, squid, shrimp, oysters, mussels, crabs, as well as dishes from different types fish.