PlaymoGreek children singing the “κάλαντα” (kálanda = Carols) in traditional costumes. Creation and
PlaymoGreek children singing the “κάλαντα” (kálanda = Carols) in traditional costumes. Creation and photo by Petros Kaminiotis. In Greece, children go from house to house and sing different carols in Christmas’ Eve, New Year’s Eve and Epiphany’s Eve. In return they are given a small amount of money and / or sweets, including traditional Christmas delicacies.The PlaymoGreek in the middle carries a small boat. A small boat, frequently decorated with Christmas lights or a miniature Santa Claus, is the traditional symbol of Christmas in Greece, an equivalent of the Christmas Tree which originates from Northern European countries. Why a ship though? The reason mostly lies in the duality of the Father Christmas’ identity in Greece. Greece’s equivalent of Santa Claus is actually Saint Basil who brings the gifts in New Year’s Eve and not Christmas, because January 1st is the day of Saint Basil. The foreign Santa Claus however is Saint Nicholas, who is celebrated in December 6th and is the patron saint of sailors and most coastal cities and islands throughout the country. Thus, the Greek tradition was to decorate a Christmas boat for Saint Nicholas while the New Year’s Eve carols are about the gift bringing Saint Basil. Due to the foreign influence of Santa Claus, the two saints have merged into the one entity of Father Christmas, who is called Saint Basil but looks exactly like the well known Santa Claus. Also, the Christmas tree has become more popular than the Christmas boat, although lately there is an effort especially in larger cities to include it in the Christmas decorations alongside the tree. -- source link
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