New Year!

New Year’s dishes Vasilopita The traditional New Year’s cake or “Vasilopita” is usually a common cake even though in some areas they make a meat pie! The most unusual about it is that we hide a coin inside it. At the turn of the year all family gathers and the father cuts the cut into even pieces and offers one to all family members. We also keep and extra piece for Jesus and for Santa. Whoever gets the coin is the lucky one for the whole year!

Shortbread Melomakarona turkey

CUSTOMS  The most important customs are the following :  The distribution of gifts to children, which the housewives prepare at home. These are mainly desserts such as buns, etc. melomakarona  “Kalanda”: small children from all neighborhoods singing Christmas carols visit houses and shops and collect sweets and tips.

Family dinner

Carols The carols are a Greek custom that is maintained undiminished even today with the children wandering from house to house andaccompanying their singing with the triangle or even guitars, accordions, lyres or harmonicas. The children wander from house to house, knocking on doors and asking: "Shall we sing? '. If the response from the landlord or housewife is positive, then they sing the carols for a few minutes ending with the wish “may we meet next Year as well!” "The housewives offer a small amount of money, and offer them melomakarona or buns. Carols are sung on Christmas Eve, New Year and Epiphany, and are different for each celebration.

Pomegranate The ancient Greeks used to break a pomegranate at the threshold of their house for good luck, something we do even today. The breaking of pomegranate takes place basically in the New Year. In some areas of Greece, the pomegranate is broken right after the New Year, when everybody comes out of the house before the New Year comes, turning all the lights. Then they exchange greetings, and the landlord or another family member who is considered lucky, break a pomegranate on his doorstep and then they all come in