Καλή χρονιά! Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος! Χρόνια πολλά! We wish you all a happy new year full of health and happy moments!
Here are some facts you might have missed during this Greek holiday season and some things that are yet to come:
1) On Christmas Eve morning - Παραμονή Χριστουγέννων, kids are knocking on every door of their neighbourhood, singing the Christmas Carol - Τα κάλαντα των Χριστουγέννων "Καλήν εσπέραν Άρχοντες". People then give them some pocket money (and sweets). In the old days, people were treating them sweets after listening to the Christmas Carol.
2) On New Year's Eve morning, kids are knocking on every door of their neighbourhood, singing the New Year's Eve Carol - Τα κάλαντα της Πρωτοχρονιάς "Αρχιμηνιά κι αρχιχρονιά". People then give them some pocket money (and sweets).
3) On New Year's Eve - Παραμονή Πρωτοχρονιάς, when the clock turns 00:00, we cut the New Year's pie - Santa Claus pie, what we call "Βασιλόπιτα" (a pie that is more like an orange flavoured cake). Inside of it, there is a hidden coin as well. Whoever finds it in their piece, is considered then to be lucky and will have a lucky year! The lucky one usually receives money (or a present) as a gift for finding the coin from the owner of the house.
4) On January 5th, kids are knocking on every door of their neighbourhood, singing the Epiphany Carol - Τα κάλαντα των Φώτων/ Θεοφανείων "Σήμερα τα Φώτα κι ο Φωτισμός". People then give them some pocket money.
5) On January 6th, in the morning, the waters (sea, lakes or rivers etc.) are blessed by an Orthodox priest. He then throws a Cross in the waters into where men dive, in order to catch it. The one who catches it first is blessed and considered to lucky and will have a good year!
Did you get the chance to see live any of these customs and be part of these traditions or are you planning to be in one of them next time?