On Christmas, people celebrate birth of Mitra (ancient Greek God named Invincible Sun God), sing carols and celebrate with family.Christmas meal is served with various vegetables and salads. Christmas Day in Greece celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Greek Independence Day (Ochi Day) 28/10/2019. This decoration and celebration last till 7th January, the next day of Epiphany. In Greece when we talk about the "holidays" we are referring to the holiday period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. Christougena, which in Greek means Christmas, is celebrated on the 25th December and is a time when families come together to celebrate. Christmas in Greece. Christmas in Greece is celebrated on 25th December. © 2021 www.calendardate.com. TAGS: Christmas Christmas events Christmas in Greece. If you want to be part of this feast, you have to disguise yourself and wear scary masks in order to ward off evil spirits. Many orthodox Christians in Greece celebrate this occasion on 7th January as per the Georgian calendar as this date is considered as 25th December in Julian calendar. Find a Christmas & New Year trip that explores Greece. Christmas in Greece is celebrated on December 25th, but presents are usually given to children on January 1st, St. Greek people have their own Santa clause named as saint Vasilis. From classics that are associated with the holidays in every corner of Greece to regional favorites, the tastes of the holidays are fabulous! It celebrates Jesus' birth. It include pork or lamb, Baklava, Kataifi, Theeples, pastries, cakes, egg, melomakarono, biscuits and many more. Christmas Day in Greece celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. In Eastern Europe, Christmas is an important holiday that is celebrated according to the religious calendar honored in each country.While some countries make merry on December 25, Orthodox countries observe Christmas on January 7. This holiday happens on the 25th of December every year. Celebrations really pick-up as Christmas day gets closer, usually from the 20th of December. Most of these customs and traditions date from the early Christian times or they are even continuations of ancient Greek customs. Christmas celebrations in Greece officially last for 14 days, starting on Christmas Eve and ending on Epiphany (6 January) with the ‘Great Blessing of Water’. Christmas 2020 fell on Friday, December 25.. How many days since Christmas 2020? This Greek Santa Claus visits the home of children and offers them small gifts. Wherever you choose to spend your Christmas in Greece, the joyous atmosphere will overwhelm you! Greece isn’t just a summer destination. Following the Gregorian calendar, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December. We use cookies to personalize content, ads, and provide social media interaction and analyze traffic on our site. It is actually a very solemn holiday in Greece. Date. Most people decorate their home and Christmas tree with stars and tinsel. It is not just Christmas tree which is used to celebrate Christmas in Greece. 25/12/2019. They decorate this wooden bowl on the day of Christmas. December 25 and 26 is a public holiday in Greece. Greek people have their own Santa clause named as saint Vasilis. Christmas Customs in Greece are many as this holiday is vividly celebrated. National. The patron saint of the holiday is Saint Nicolas, who is also the protector of sailors, for this reason, you will often see boats decorated with many sparkling lights, among with the traditional Christmas trees. Christmas Traditions in Greece On December 25th, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of Christ. Most families set up Christmas trees and shops have decorations and lights. Scope. Christmas Trees are popular in Greece, but an older and more traditional decoration is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the … Public Holiday. Greece. Christmas Day began on the 25th of December 1 BC when Jesus Christ was born. The Christmas Holidays in Greece begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day, and ends on January 6th, the day of Epiphany. Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on January 7. Follow a Dionysiac rite: In Kastoria, people recreate a three-day Dionyssian custom (6th-8th January), called “ragoutsaria” (from the Latin verb “rogo” meaning “to ask”). The truth is that mother nature have given their blesses to that land that it is still beautiful even during the winter. So there’s a whole month of festivities to enjoy. Christmas Day in Greece Christmas Day, on December 25, is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. 8 days, 10 hours, 23 minutes, 29 seconds. The villages and mountains that have no reason to be jealous for anything. It traditionally begins on 6 December with the Feast of St. Nicholas and ends on 6 January with the Feast of the Epiphany. https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/whenchristmasiscelebrated.shtml Country. In Greece St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, and December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. Is Christmas Day a … Merry Christmas! With its different regions, each with unique Christmas traditions, Greece is definitely worth discovering during the colder months.From the slopes of the north to the rugged plains of central Greece, through the shores of sunny Crete, here is a list of things to do at this festive time of year. Provides calendars for the calendar year for Greece. Christmas is an observance of faith in Greece and all over the country tables will be set with foods that have become tradition, passed from generation to generation. Greece has it’s own version of Santa Claus, they call him Saint Vasilis, who comes to their home on Christmas eve to deliver a few small gifts to the children. It became an official holiday in 350 AD. Basil), … When is Christmas in other years? All rights reserved. Basil's Day (Agios Vassilis). Decorations & Traditions. Christmas celebrations in Greece are all about celebrations of birth of Jesus and parties with family. Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas In Greece According to popular tradition, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th to honor the birth of Jesus. The Christmas season in Greece lasts for an entire month. Christmas boat As this is a maritime … This celebration lasts for a span of 12 days. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Greek people decorate table, Christmas tree, streets, fishing boats, wooden bowl, and home with lighting and decorative stars. There are 182 tours to choose from, that range in length from 3 days up to 27 days. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. This holiday happens on the 25th of December every year. The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches. Traditionally, New Year is when Agios Vasilis (St. Children visit every home and offer their well wishes to people. People gather by a Christmas tree near damaged buildings during Christmas eve in al-Hamidiyah neighbourhood in the old city of Homs, Syria December 24, 2016 Omar Sanadiki Christmas … However, as soon as December arrives, festivities begin: homes are decorated, and the smell of Christmas treats is in the air. Home » Holidays » Greece » Christmas » 2020 Christmas 2020 in Greece. This wooden bowl is used to keep small amount of water and basil. Provides the dates for holidays for the calendar year for Greece. In Greece, the Christmas season is in full swing by December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, when presents are exchanged, and lasts through January 6th, … A shallow wooden bowl is the main symbol of this season. However, no records exist in the Bible or elsewhere to suggest that Jesus was actually born on this date, which raises the important question – why is Christmas celebrated on December 25th? This Greek Santa Claus visits the home of children and offers them small gifts. The Christmas season in Greece now begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day, and ends on January 6th, the day of Epiphany. Traditionally the Christmas holiday period lasts 12 days in Greece. Christmas in Greece: The 3 most popular destinations Greece is one of the most popular destinations during the summer season. See Vacations in Greece - 9 Days - Premium - Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini (1 reviews) reviews Reviewed on tourradar.com. To get into the holiday spirit in Greece’s capital, admire the giant Christmas tree in Syntagma Square, visit one of the city’s many ice skating rinks, or grab a hot chocolate at Little Kook, a cafe in Psyrri that looks like a Christmas fairy-tale come to life in December. In addition to the Christmas customs experienced in the U.S., many of these countries also follow the Pagan tradition of commemorating the winter … Greece has its own Santa Claus that is called as Saint Vasilis. Christmas in Greece is celebrated on 25th December. Europe - Christmas in Greece: Athens & Santorini - This was my 1st trip to Greece & 2nd trip to Europe (1st was Italy). In some areas, a period of fasting takes place for some in preparation for this very spiritual holiday season. Have fun, ’tis the season to be jolly! Greece. Most buildings are closed other than railway stations and airports. Others spend time quietly with their family and friends. The most popular month for these tours is April, which has the most tour departures. In Greek, Christmas is known as Christougena (Χριστούγεννα) and people wish Merry Christmas to each other saying Kala Christougenna (Καλά Χριστούγεννα). They sing Kalanda and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.On the day of Christmas, Greek people leave a fire burning to keep away Killantzaroi away. When was Christmas 2020? Of this season, discover our Greece vacation deals solemn holiday in Greece, the tastes of the world Christmas... 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