Still, the birth of Christ, with all its happy cheer, merry gift giving and carol singing, its tree decorating and trademark Santa Claus figure, has as good as passed into the Greek psyche, especially in the last 45 years. In Greece, as in most parts of the world, Christmas is regarded as one of the most – if not most – solemn festivities of the calendar.  The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. Christmas tends to be a quiet, solemn, season. In Santorini they place a big tree in the main square of every village and every body gathers there and celebrates as in all neighbourhoods.    

On Christmas Eve, village children hit the streets to proclaim the good news of the birth of Christ. They knock at every door singing the traditional Kalanda. "Shall we sing them? or "Na ta poume?" This is the characteristic question by the children who knock on each door offering to sing the carols, whether they are for Christmas, for the New Year or for Theofania. The Kalanda are usually  accompaniment of small metal triangles. The Kalanda bring good wishes and praise for the master of each house, as well as the other members of the family. Kalanda differ from area to area. Every house must return the good wishes of the children with the traditional gift. . In the islands people tend to have an ornate boat instead of a Christmas tree and children nowdays receive money instead of candies when they sing the kalanda.  

Christmas trees which were once rare in Greece are becoming more popular. They are placed in the home in mid-December, decorated with tinsel and topped off with a star. It is the magical place that keeps everyone's gifts. Santa Claus will leave his gifts there as always. The demand for real Christmas trees has tripled over the last 15 years. Still, there are still homes and public venues opting for the traditional decoration of a wooden boat. Some claim that this custom's roots are linked with the December 6 celebration of Agios Nikolas (St Nicholas), the patron saint of sailors.

Oh! Santa Claus! or Agios Vasilis. "It just wouldn't be Christmas without him" The children hang up their shoes and socks in the windows or above the fireplace, waiting for Agios Vasilis to fill them with gifts. In older days, families would place a large log in the fireplace for Agios Vasilis to step on as he slipped down the chimney with a bag of toys. And in some areas of Greece it was believed that Christ himself visited via the chimney to check on the preparations for the Christmas feast. Agios Vasilis has different names in some countries such as: Weihnachtsmann in Germany, Pere Noel in France, Papa Noel in Spanish, Joulupukki in Finland, etc.