COMMON FOLK PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS
OF THE DODECAHEMERON IN GREECE

CHRISTMAS

While these are by no means comprehensive, they represent those traditions that are encountered in all parts of Greece. Specific regions, and even specific villages have quite specific practices that are modeled on these major traditions, but with a particular color that defines the people of the specific town, city, or region.

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

The Christopsomon (Χριστόψωμον): Refer to the specific exhibit on the table in the room

The Christoxylon (Χριστόξυλον): Where the decoration of the Christmas tree is a modern tradition in all Greek homes, in older times, the elder of the household placed the Christoxylon (a log dedicated to Christ and His Nativity) inside the fireplace or the hearth with the intent that it burn slowly and provide light from Christmas to Epiphany. The custom is based on the fire that provided heat to the newborn Christ in the manger. In a variation called the “Marriage of the Fire”, more than one log would be consecrated. The first two logs represent the husband of the household, then the housewife, and are crossed together prior to being lit.

The Feeding of the Well (Τάϊσμα της βρύσης): At midnight, on Christmas Eve-into Christmas Day proper, the young unwed maidens of the village would go to the closest water founts to “steal the silent water”. The water was so-called silent as none of the maidens would speak or utter any sound in the process. They would rub all the founts of the village with butter and honey, with the wish that the water from the fount would run quickly and sweetly and in the hope that good fortune would fall on their households; fortune as sweet as honey in order that their lives would be imbibed with sweetness.

The Lit Yew (Το Αναμμένο Πουρνάρι): A ritualization of the evening when Christ was born; when the Shepherds went to see and worship Him, all they found inside the manger on that cold night was a dry yew. According to legend, they cut the branches and each of the Shepherds, holding his branches, lit them on fire. This way, the darkness inside the manger gave way to the Light and the coldness gave way to Heat as the silent mount gave way to cries of joy. In this ritualization, on Christmas Eve, the villagers light yew branches and carried them through the dark village streets and then inside their homes.

The Christmas Kalanta (Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων): Small ensembles of singers accompanied by instrumentalists playing triangles, clay drums, violins, woodwinds, and horns visit the homes of the villagers offering traditional song (for examples, refer to the individual exhibit stations in the room) to the household whose theme includes well-wishes, reference to the Nativity, and ending with well wishes for the period and the upcoming New Year. Following the knocking on the door, the singers ask: “Can we sing them?” (“Να τα πούμε;)”; referring to the Kalanta), to which the head of the household responds “Tell them, tell them!” (“Πέστε τα, πέστε τα!”). The housewife then often offers sweets to the singers and the head of the household offers goods, often money as well-wishes are exchanged once again.