1.    AN INTERVIEW WITH STAVRINA’S GRANDMA   ABOUT CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN KERAMOTI

-         Good afternoon, grandma! I would like to ask you about Christmas traditions when you were young. What did you use to do on Christmas’ Eve?

-         On Christmas’ Eve we used to slaughter pigs because traditionally we ate pork at Christmas. Their intestine was washed and filled with minced meat, leek, rice and spices. We baked it and we ate the so called ‘’bambo’’. At night we ate nine kinds of food: halva, olives, pipe, cabbage, peppers, aubergine, tomato, pickles, salt and pepper. The elder member of the family used to make the symbol of the Cross three times and afterwards he made his wishes for each one of us. Moreover, he crossed the ‘’christopsomo’’ three times, cut it into pieces, shared them to us and wished us Merry Christmas.

-         How interesting! Tell me, what else did you do?

-         In the morning children sang the carols. The housewives used to treat us Christmas sweets or fruit instead of money. At that time people were usually poor and they could not give us money. In the evening we used to lit fires and dance around them.

-         A ha! What kind of sweets did your mum use to make?

-         My mum used to make ‘’loukoumades’’ with flour, water and olive oil. They were served with caster sugar. She also made ‘’finikia’’ with honey and christopsomo. They were all simple!

-         And they must have been delicious! How did your family spend New Year’s Day?

-         In the morning we all wore our finest clothes and went to the church. When we came back home the elder member of the family broke a pomegranate in front of the door and he entered the house by his right foot and by tapping an iron. These customs are related to good luck. Then we kissed each other and we wished Happy New Year! For lunch we used to have roast rooster,

Kebap with rice,  green salad and sweets.

-         Did you cut the ‘’vasilopita’’ at that time?

-         Yes. Of course! The landlord crossed the ‘’ vasilopita’’ three times, cut it into pieces and gave them to every member of the family. The first piece was given to Christ, the second one to Mary Virgin and the third one to Saint Vasilios. Also, the housewives used to put some pieces of the ‘’vasilopita’’ to the faucets of the village for the poor people. Then they filled a bottle with some water and they came back home silent and without speaking. In this way they were supposed to bring prosperity to their homes.

-         Oh, how nice it would be if we continued all these traditions! Thank you so much, grandma!

-         You’re welcome, sweetheart!

                                                                                                                                 Stavrina, class C2

2.ΤHE CHRISTMAS TREE

The decoration of the Christmas tree is an international Christmas custom. Before the 8^th century pagans used to decorate the oak. Around 750 Saint Vonifatio introduced the decoration of the fir, a tree that was related to the Christian tradition. The Christmas tree symbolizes the happiness of people and the nature which comes up with Christ’s birth . According to investigators, the first decorated tree appeared in Germany in 1599. The first ornaments were clothes, packages and wrappings of  food or other useful items. However, as the years passed by the ornaments became more beautiful and artistic. Traditionally the first person who decorated a Christmas tree was Martin Luther. It is also said that the custom came from the east. In Greece King Othonas introduced the custom of fir as Christmas decoration in 1833. Since Greece is a country surrounded by the sea Greeks’ original custom is to decorate a boat.

Christmas tree can be natural or artificial. The Christmas trees  at Buckingham palace in London and at the White House in the USA are the most famous and glamorous Christmas trees in the world. Last but not least, the most expensive Christmas tree all over the world is placed at the hotel ‘Emiratis Palace’ in the United Arab Emirates . All its ornaments are extremely expensive jewellery and precious stones. They are all available for sale and their value is 11 million dollars!!!

                                                                                                                            Cathrine, class C2

Source: https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Δένδρο_των_Χριστουγέννων

3.Epiphany in Keramoti

Epiphany is a Christian celebration of the recall of Jesus Christ’s baptising by Saint John the Baptist. We celebrate  it on January 6^th and it is the third and last celebration of the twelve days of Christmas period.

Epiphany in Keramoti is celebrated traditionally. In the morning  people go to the church of the village to pray and celebrate Christ’s baptizing. When the divine service finishes people and the music band accompany the Icon of Baptism to the port. When the Holy Icon arrives at the port the priest waits for people from the nearby villages to come. With the presence of the Mayor, the port officers ,the army officers and the police the priest throws the Cross into the frozen waters of the sea! That moment people of different ages dive into the sea to catch the Cross. Some men let pigeons fly in the sky which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. People who watch the custom on their boats light fireworks. It is said that the person who catches the Cross first in the sea will be blessed throughout the year. Christians also save some Holy Water at home for the whole year. They drink it when they are ill because they believe that it can cure some illnesses such as the headache. On January 6^th and 7^th the priest of Keramoti visits the houses of the village in order to bless them with the Holy Water.

                                                                                                       Alexandra, class C2