GREEK CHRISTMAS SESSION CUSTOMS
i will try to explain some of modern traditions and its roots from ancient and Christian times,
1 first of all Greeks do not have st Clauss neither st Nikola But st Basilios αγιος Βασιλειος
a Bishop from Caesareia of Pontos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_of_Caesarea
although the fun starts from ST Nicola's day
a pie at new years eve with a flori (golden coin from italy) as tradition demands but any coin can be useful
the lucky of each house must enter go out and enter house to bring lack the whole new year
also persons who do not earn coin are prohibited to enter first at a house the whole day,
(the luck of 1rst day of Γαμηλιων January is from old pagan times)
2 the christmass carols καλαντα kalanta
they get their names from Latin word Calendar
you see mostly simple people pay their loans, or get their money from merchants each of 1 day of a month, especially January,
so the day before they went to wealthy merchants to remind them etc
their songs after christianity talk about jesus
the video bellow is modern from Thessaloniki, where Students that their families originated from Thrace song their Kalanta (σαραντα εκκλησιες Κων/πολις, 40 churches outside Istanbul)
3 the shiny Boat
well Poseidonion (december) is the month that ships were allowed to sail,
so at 4-5-6 December all ships were pulled to shore and get repaired, and also painted and had best treatment lights and colours so poseidon to see them and ask them soon to enter seas
Let me Remind you that 6 December is St Nicolas Day, so Sailors gave gifts to their Kids that day 6 december Poseidon Day, today St Nikolas day. cause mostly these Days return from sea.
The today ! january day of st Basileios is after 900 AD by an effort of Christians to Give another meaning to ancient rituals,
or the last Moon month of a year.
So instead of Christmas tree in Greece they prefer Christmas Boat
The naval culture of Greece.
4 Makedonian fire
According Makedonians December (Αυδναιος) was a bad month, something like the Dead's month,
so in order to be gentle to Gods they light Big fires especially at 23 December ( winter Solstice)
that was to warm Apollo Phaethon to make bigger races in sky (to make bigger the days)
No Tree was allowed to be cut that Days especially Oak (Zeus Holy Tree) since they kill amadryas (the fairies of the Tree) but Bushes
Later after Christianity that remained in Upper Macedonia at 24 December as warming the new Born Jesus,
that custom is also popular to Slavic Speaking Makedonians.
5 The Makedonian Army Celebrations
December January and February were popular months for war or campaigns
(Αυδναιος Περιτιος Δυστρος)
Remember Peritios January was the Month of Wedding,
So Army return home or camp near Cities, Certain days they were allowed to go Drunk to city,
and they prepare and make new weapons Armor etc
so they were Black from rust
they also play with Death Χαρος by provoking with jokes of God Komos (Κωμος God of Comedy)
that created carnival which start from 23 December to find a bride new years eve 7 january end of January but Mostly Fabruary month dedicated to God Bacchos
that maybe was their last fan, especially the Young since in March (Makedonian Xanthos 3nd moon month after winter Solstice) they Join the army as full man and soldiers
if they get married they escape 1 year from soldier
that gave them many names
example is ρουγκατζια rougatzia from Latin Regae
λαγκατζαρια lagkatzaria ( I dont know why, but I heard that is from Λογγος forest area of a river inside gorge
a river dale) cause they stand there for a Girl to love them,
μομοεροι momoeri means the old men of God Komos
αραπηδες arapides means black people, I don't know why, but 2 solutions I read say the they were Black cause they paint their face Black to know each other, they were black from the iron works,
in the Christian times they are named καλικαντζαροι kalikantzari - karkantzari
the word is similar to Goblin,
after a month they look like that
The thetrical act contains 4 mainly
1 is the Bride and the old man, meaning marry me and not an old man,
2
the Bear and the priest !!!!! that act exist among Kalash in Pakistan today as a ritual of mariage,
3 the goats and the horse sometimes, holy Makedonian animals consider that Capital was named Goats Αιγες
the ones who will go to army,
4 the army and the rich soldier who return,
The Kalash Carnival marriage ritual
same as the Makedonian
only instead of God Komos the God is named Chomos
the same acts like ancient Greece and Makedonia
The Divinity and the Bear
The goats
The Bride and the horse so the young man to choose
even same month late december compare Greek month Γαμηλιων month of mariage,
well is to late, I will continue another time
Best wishes for Happines, and as Greek say HEALTH AND BLESSING (Yγεια και Ευλογια)