Unique Greek Christmas Customs: On St. Basil's day, the Vassilopita is baked. This is a cake which conceals a token. The entire cake is carefully divided up - the Saint gets the first piece, then the eldest member of the household, and so on down through the family, sometimes including those who live far away. A piece may even be set aside for the various kinds of livestock the household raises

.These days though, it is the vassilopita which is sliced and served in the wee hours of the New Year in search of the lucky charm (or coin) hiding within, that is present in every home.  St Basil's day is also when all vessels of water in the household are replaced with fresh water. But here the veil of orthodoxy wears a little thin - this is also the day for offerings to the naiads, spirits of local springs, to ensure the continued flow of the waters and to thank them for the previous year.

Yet there are a number of unique customs associated with Christmas that are uniquely Greek."kalanda", the equivalent of carols, christopsomo ("Christ Bread"). This bread is made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family's profession, Christmas morning begins with an early Mass at the Greek Orthodox Church. After the service, Greeks feast on roast turkey stuffed with chestnuts, rice, pine nuts, and a nut cookie called "kourampiedes". Baklava, another sweet dessert, is made from layers of phyllo pastry, filled with almonds and cinnamon, and then soaked in lemon syrup.

One of the habits is for Greeks to wear new clothing for good luck when the New Year comes and to return whatever borrowed, again for good luck. From Christmas to Theofania (Epiphany Day) people are not supposed to wash their hair, as they wait for the waters to be blessed on Theofania.On New Year's Eve, the residents fill the streets spraying one another with perfumes, wishing them well for the New Year. . In the Cycladic islands, it is considered a good omen if the wind blows from the north on New Year's Day. .

In almost every home the main Greek symbol of the season used to be, and are still common, a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house.                                               Back page