What is Christmas like in Greece?

Show all answers

..Tolia..

the last week before Christmas people are shopping so much! Markets and malls are so crowded, you cant pass!
presents, clothes, deserts, candies of all kind, food, everything !
Everybody is happy, streets are decorated with Christmas Lights and other stuff, and every house has its own Christmas decoration too - most of them they put lights of all colors in the balconies, colorful, in every shape and size, the outcome is really fantastic!
The day before Christmas, children and adults too, are going in every house, every store, singing the jingle bells!
At Christmas day, love is in the air! :D
everybody is happy, the day we all expected has come - a day full of gifts, joy, food and many kisses :D among friends, relatives and beloved ones

in big cities, there are usually live concerts, free entrance, for everyone to attend, and many happenings for children

we just love this wonderful time of the year

Merry Christmas our American Friend :)))))

Nicolas N

I have been in Athens-Greece for the New Year's Eve and it was great. A better celebration than in other european capitals.

AM1706

hmm... I guess you got pretty much the idea so far.. :) But I will answer anyway coz I am already in this Christmas kind of mood :)

So, early DEcember most of the shops and stores and malls have Christmas decoration. All employees are waiting for the Christmas bonus, this extra wage - including me :)

There are lots of people on the streets on Saturdays mostly to do some Christmas shopping, and there is also one Sunday that all shops are open. Ermou street (one main pedestrian street full of stores in central Athens) is crammed with people. Lately people do window shopping rather than actual shopping, comparing to 5-10 year before..

Somewhere in early December our Christmas tree at Syntagma Square is lit. There are some cute little stores as if taken out of a fairytale and a carousel in the middle of Syntagma Square (the central square in front of the parliament). You can buy traditional greek Christmas sweets form those stores, however the past 2-3 years this happens to almost all central squares in Athens. Smiling kids holding baloons and their parents' hands. Sad husbands getting into cosmetic stores with their wifes. Happy wifes holding tons of bags around them - from all that merciless shopping.

On Christmas eve and New Years eve, most kids go out singing Christmas carols and get some money or sweets, or even both. Most greek kids not to say all have done this at least once in their lives... :)

All cafes and bars and clubs are more than full... We got one more reason to stay out late and party and drink our heads off... :)

Traditional food on Christmas are pork and stuffed turkey. Traditional sweets are melomakarona and kourabiedes (i will give you the recipe some other time but they are delicious).

Hope thats enough for you to make a booking right away!! You still got time!! :)

GREEK BARBiE

it is very warm and lovely and the kids run around singing kalanta. really sweet, i live in the US, so it is pretty similar.

Kimon

Not much different really, we only go to church a bit more than Americans do, eat a lot more (of course) and no turkey here just piglets or lamb. A lot more caroling too.

Airpole

Christmas celebrations in Greece were never all that big thing compared to European countries. But nowadays, it is only so, because commercial reasons make it so. Besides it is a family get together home gathering of no major importance than any other reunion. The Christmas spirit that is cultivated by the media from about a month and a half ahead is on account of a consuming and spending spirit that makes the market a happy place to be and that adds to the spirit.

The biggest celebration in Greece is the Greek Orthodox Easter that coincides with nature's spring blooming and the celebrations have a definite out going character.

LIL_TRIPZ13

isnt it like the same in america???????

asimenia

It's not celebrated like in US or Uk - it's quite low key with family. Gifts are given on New Years Eve - St Basil comes that night.

The celebration to see and be part of is Easter! No one celebrates the Resurrection like the Greek Orthodox!

Andy V

I guess you secretly practice woo-doo instead of drinking off yourself to the ground by Metaxa.

Here in Greece, is like yours. In a lot of places is snowing very much, sometimes and in Athens where I live. We have a Christmas tree, we light up the fireplace.................... and then we eat. Before all these we goes to the church. Aaa, the best is that the schools overs, and we are a lot of time with our friends and we have plenty of time to do whatever we want. But only for 2 and a half weeks. Sometimes only 2 weeks.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: