Christmas Around the World: Greece
Day 8 took us to…
Greece!
Learning about Christmas in Greece makes me want to visit there even more. The deeply rooted traditions are so special (and a little odd!). I am sure we’ve all seen the Greeks in tv and movies- they know how to celebrate!
When December comes, the people of Greece start decorating. However, Christmas celebrations do not begin until Christmas Eve and last until Epiphany, January 6.
Santa Clause in Greece is not Saint Nicholas; he is Saint Basil. Greek children believe their Christmas gifts are delivered on Christmas Eve, but are not opened until New Year’s Day, which is also Saint Basil Day.
Christmas trees are popular in Greece, but the Greeks also decorate ships! Maritime traditions and industry has always been a huge part of Greek history, so naturally ships are very important to them. Most households decorate a model ship, and some people decorate both a ship and a tree.
Fun Facts
- The Greeks have some odd traditions involving chasing spirits away during the 12 days of Christmas. I encourage you to read about them!
- Greek children, especially boys, go house to house on Christmas Eve singing carols while drumming. The usually carry around a model boat decorated with gold-painted nuts. If they sing well, the adults may treat them with coins, nuts, or fruit!
- Midnight Mass is very important to the people of Greece. After mass, they go home and end their Advent fast!
- Christmas meals often include roasted lamb or pork, spinach and cheese pie, and other salads and vegetables. They eat a lot of pastry desserts such as baklava and kataifi.
- On Christmas Eve, the Greeks made Christ’s bread to be eaten on Christmas Day. Christ’s Bread is a sweet bread flavored with oranges, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a cross on top.
- On New Year’s Eve, also Saint Basil’s Day Eve, families gather for dancing, singing, and feasting.
- The Greeks also celebrate Epiphany, which is celebrating Jesus baptism when he was a man. A priest blesses a cross and throws it into a cold river, lake, or sea and the man who dives in and finds it first is said to have good luck for the rest of the year.
What We Did
We found Greece on a map! We also talked about what we already know about Greece, since we have studied Ancient Greece before.
Why Christmas has fantastic information about Christmas in Greece.
YouTube was not very helpful! However, we did watch the following videos:
The girls made their posters for the day. They enjoy this, and it helps them to remember what they just learned!
We found this book on Greece at our local library.
And finally… WE MADE A BOAT! This project has by far been the biggest hit of our unit study. Of course, we had to decorate it!
Day 9 coming up tomorrow! Merry Christmas!