COMMON FOLK PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS
OF THE DODECAHEMERON IN GREECE

NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS

The “Podarikon” (Το Ποδαρικό): Like many cultures rooted in old civilizations, Greeks are particularly superstitious, especially during the holiday periods. It is important who crosses the threshold of their homes. Thus, it is customary during New Year’s Day that the first visitor to the home is of good repute, clean, and particularly fortunate in their lives. Young children are often very welcome as the first visitors given the cleanliness of their person, heart, innocence and absence of the human destructive passions.

The Smashing of the Pomegranate: Pomegranates are symbols of eternal life and fertility in ancient Greek mythology and this symbolism carried through via rituals to modern tradition. Pomegranates are endowed with many richly-coloured and textured seeds. Following the church service on New Year’s Day, the head of the household throws a pomegranate on the side of the main doorway, or in front of the door, smashing the pomegranate open, in that the seeds spread widely, in the hope of fertility and good health.

The Vasilopita (Βασιλόπιτα): Similar in concept to the Christopsomon, this sweet bread is offered on New Year’s Day in commemoration of St. Basil (see specific exhibit in the room). In addition, there is a coin placed inside the bread and the slice that contains it, after being offered to the members of the household and possible guests, is said to bring good luck and health for the entire New Year.

The New Year Kalanta: Just like for the Christmas Kalanta, singers and musicians would offer songs for good health for the New Year with lyrics relevant to the New Year and St. Basil.