Christmas Customs in Greece are many as this holiday is vividly celebrated. Greek Christmas bread is called christopsomo which translates to Christ’s bread. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Athens and the rest of Greece is decorated with lights, Christmas carols and “Wham” songs are everywhere lifting spirits. Most towns in Greece are decorated with bright lights, bells, angels and other Christmasy objects.According to Christmas traditions in Greece, the patron saint of the holiday is Saint Nicolas, who is also the protector of sailors. The feast begins on Christmas Eve with starters including feta, tzatziki, avgolemono soup, roasted pork and potatoes, sometimes a stuffed turkey with raisins and rice, while tsipouro and retsina flow plenty to cheer up the spirits even more. There isn’t a more wintry comforting dessert than a proper homemade apple pie. Loaded with garlic and served with the most amazing lemon gravy. Whoever finds the coin is to have good luck for the whole year! And of course all the Greek Christmas treats, which every household prepares at Christmas time. A Guide To Greek Christmas Foods Avgolemono Soup (Egg-Lemon Chicken Soup). Melomakarona and kourabiedes are the two varieties of Christmas and New Year's cookies in Greece. The person who cuts it makes the sign of the cross three times. This baklava recipe is a perennial favorite, a classic Greek pastry made with flaky phyllo dough that is... Egg-Lemon-Chicken-Rice Soup. In recent years, many families also opt instead for a Christmas turkey which is a popular main dish in other countries. I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy *, © 2015 - 2018 Copyright - Villa Hurmuses Learn everything you need to know about Christmas in Greece! AVGOLEMONO – Egg & Lemon Chicken Soup With Rice. No Greek household is complete without a plate of each during the holidays. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The tradition of decorating the Christmas boat It is the made on Christmas Eve and has a cross carved into the top crust before it is baked. Updated: Dec 15, 2019 This post may contain affiliate links As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Diples, get their name from the Greek word for “fold”, and are a traditional festive dessert, that is very … Most times it gets slowly cooked in the oven, along with the potatoes to the point it falls of the bone. The fun part of the tradition is that whoever gets the coin in their slice will have good luck for the rest of the year! Cook it using a large free-range chicken or rooster to make this dish truly stand out! Maybe the most celebrated holiday of the year in Greece, it cannot get more festive. GO →, Copyright © 2021 Real Greek Recipes on the Brunch Pro Theme. For many people, this is on the 25th or Christmas Day. A traditional Christmas food in Greece is Christ’s Bread, or else “christopsomo”. In fact, the hog slaughter called hoirosphagia in Greek, is a winter event, including on our island of Mykonos. Moussaka. Until recently, Christmas was never considered much of a holiday in Greece. These cookies are soaked in a honey syrup, flavored with warm Christmas spices, and topped with extra honey and lots of walnuts. Christmas boat As this is a maritime … Roast pork is the traditional Christmas meal during Christmas in Greece. There are so many versions of this delicious Greek cake. During the days leading up to the New Year, every bakery and sweet shop across Greece has a selection of them with simple to more intricate designs. SPANAKOPITA – Spinach Pie With Homemade Phyllo. There’s really nothing better to serve on Christmas day then Greek desserts. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The traditional Greek Christmas food mainly consists of roast lamb or pork served with a spinach and cheese pie and salads/vegetables on the side. The beautiful powdered butter cookies called kourabiedes are made with rosewater. In Greece, the holiday turkey is made special by adding a rich stuffing which includes rice and raisins, nuts, mincemeat and a generous quantity of wine. It has recently become a choice for many families who serve it as the main Christmas dish. An old fashioned Greek cake, full of spices, and walnuts, completely soaked in syrup. Dishes prepared for these feasts are typically created using pork, lamb, or goat meat as the main dish, with a variety of appetizers and desserts to round out the meal. Diples means folded. But in recent years things have slowly changed and now the occassion is celebrated lavishly. Greek Christmas bread is called christopsomo which translates to Christ’s bread. There are lots of variations of Moussaka with traditional family recipes. καλά Χριστούγεννα! Why are roasted chestnuts, savory smoked ham, fruity cakes, specialty cookies, and eggnog popular Christmas traditions? Most of these customs and traditions date from the early Christian times or they are even continuations of ancient Greek customs. Traditional Christmas food can be found throughout the country on Greek family tables from the mainland to right here in Mykonos. In Greece though, it is traditional to exchange gifts on January the 1st. Turkey has rightfully made it to the list of traditional Christmas food from Greece. For Greek Orthodox Christians, it is the period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. The natives of Greece prepare for Christmas by fasting for 40 days, after which they dine on a large feast. Traditionally served on New Year’s Day. These cookies are made throughout the winter holiday each year and every Greek has their preference of one over the other! The first week of the carnival starts with a specific church celebration. Have you ever tried any of the Greek Christmas food? While Greece is widely known for its fascinating history, enchanting islands, and magnificent weather, it is also known to have some of the tastiest food in the world! This rustic, old-fashioned Greek pie can’t be missing from any Greek celebration table. Or Merry Christmas in Greek Explore the Christmas traditions of Greece. In Greece, a country with ancient food customs, Christmas traditionally belongs to the humble pig. Melomakarona go hand in hand with Kourabiethes and they’re in every Greek home during Christmas. 9 Greek Christmas Food Traditions Baklava Recipe. Therefore we won’t miss a chance to cook it for any celebration. Christmas is here! Each person at the table gets a slice. These cookies are in every Greek home during Christmas time. Some variety of a pork dish, like fricassee or braised with plums, is always the king of the festive table. Essentially, yiaprakia is a type of stuffed cabbage that is primarily served at Christmas in certain regions. Its the cookie we leave for Santa on Christmas eve, next to the fireplace, along with a glass of scotch and a carrot for his reindeer! It is known as the Advent feast. No matter what the main dish is, one thing is certain: Christmas food in Greece is delicious! A truly unique dish made with a part of beef that’s more budget-friendly. And its pastry that’s folded while it gets deep-fried. The traditional Moussaka recipe consists of sauteed eggplant, tomato, ground lamb, a layer of potatoes, and a final fluffy topping of cheese and béchamel sauce. Hotel restaurants in Greece closed on Christmas, New Year’s Eve & Day December 16, 2020 CORONAVIRUS , FEATURED Leave a comment 2,128 Views Hotel restaurants will not be permitted to open neither on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, nor on New Year’s Eve and the New Year’s Day, Greece’s Development Ministry said on Wednesday. A traditional Greek Christmas bread, filled with walnuts, raisins, and spices. Or they simply love both Melomakarona are made with semolina, cinnamon, and clove cookies drenched in honey. Lamb is almost every Greek’s favorite meat. Pork and “gourounochara” are very popular and all festive dishes that are made are based on the pork! However, a lot of modern versions use ground beef without potatoes. If let’s say you attended a Greek dinner that’s what you’d probably get for dessert. Anyone with a Greek friend or Greek heritage knows about the two types of delicious Greek Christmas cookies: melomakarona and kourabiedes. Christmas holidays in Greece like any other country is all about feasting with the loved ones. MELOMAKARONA – Honey Cookies With Walnuts. Both of them have their charm. When served everyone gathers around and holds it while the oldest family member cuts it, by creating a cross at center first. Perhaps the biggest difference between Christmas in Greece and in other parts of the world though, is the day on which Christmas presents are exchanged. Christmas lunch usually involves the Greek habit of cooking as many different foods as possible, with the extended family meal stretching well into dinner. Like other holidays in Greece, food is a central part of the celebration. Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our top 10 recipes! Nice and creamy this comforting soup is either served as a main dish along with Greek pies or you can serve as a starter. Turkey is a big part of Greek Christmas food customs, and it is common to find this bird on most Greek Christmas tables. Goes well with Greek pies as a side like a Tiropita or Spanakopita that are never missing from a Greek feast! It is prepared on Christmas Eve and it is eaten at the lunch of Christmas day. Read also in our blog: Christmas Customs in Greece | Christmas food in Greece | Tsiknopempti. The Christmas season in Greece now begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicolas day, and ends on January 6th, the day of Epiphany. In northern parts (the mountainside) the Christmas dinner consists of comfort stews and soups while in other areas, they serve roasted pork or beef along with homemade rustic pies. As per Christmas tradition in Greece, they cook lamb or pork as their main dish. Over the years, Greeks have included turkey in their Christmas meal. The third and last week is called Cheese Week or White Week when you are not allowed to eat meat, just dairy and fish. “The holidays” in Greece is a longer period than just Christmas Day. Here is the latest collection of upcoming Christmas festival articles, read it and enjoy your festival. Greek salad is a classic food item and loved all over the world. When there is a celebration, there is festive food. However, Christmas celebrations have become alike those in the Western world and now all those turn out in any Greek house at Christmas time. The tradition is that on Christmas Day, the head of the household makes the sign of the cross above the loaf of bread. Another very traditional Greek sweet served on Christmas day. Traditionally each area in Greece has its own traditional Greek Christmas food. In some areas, the holiday is preceded by a time … The first thing that comes to our minds when we think of Christmas dinner is a stuffed turkey served with lots of delicious gravy on top. Due to this long standing tradition, feasting on a pork meal on this significant holiday has become the natural choice as the traditional meat of the winter season. When families sit down for a delicious home cooked Christmas dinner, the main course is typically roasted pork. Usually, families come together around the table to share a Christmas dinner with cheese or meat filo pastry triangles, feta cheese, pistachio nuts, a Greek s… There are two sides to Christmas in Greece; one is religious and solemn, while the other is festive and glamorous. With a delicious Petimezi glaze (Grape Molasses) see here how to make Petimezi. It has an inviting bright color and has rich and refreshing ingredients like cucumber and chopped romaine, lush tomatoes, wrapped in a herb-rich vinaigrette. Then the slices are symbolically served in a certain order: one slice is set aside for the house, for Christ, the Virgin Mary and then Saint Vasileios. DIPLES – Fried Pastry With Syrup & Walnuts. Melomakarona (honey cookies) and kourabiedes (sugar-coated butter cookies) are the most popular traditional Christmas desserts in Greece. I love making healthy, homemade dishes completely from scratch + sharing them with you... →10 Greek Recipes To Give A Vegan All The Protein And Energy He/She Needs, →How To Make Grape Molasses (reduced grape must), →How To Tie A Roast (easy tutorial with pictures), →What Is Olive Oil And Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About It, Never miss a recipe. I'm Fotini and cooking is my job as well as my passion. Greek Independence Day. The fasting period starts on November 15 and ends on December 24 in the evening after the first star is seen in the sky. Also popular is bread called Christopsomo that has a cross design baked into it and is eaten after Christmas dinner. And even though this has been adapted as the Christmas dinner in Greece also, it wasn’t always so. Many people in Greece will fast for 40 days in the run up to Christmas. If you are looking for some interesting articles on Christmas, have a look on our website. As for desserts? Christmas in Greece. Imagine all the flavor of Baklava in a cake! These iconic foods, vital to holiday menus, are fully ingrained in the culture of the holiday, and although used in various ways at different latitudes, they all tend to be eaten solely during this time of the year. Christmas in Greece comes with many old traditions and plenty of festivities. Traditionally, the main course of Christmas dinner in Greece is roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies. On Christmas Day the tradition used to be roast pork to break the fast, but now turkey is becoming popular. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Stuffed cabbage leaves. Christmas was always a religious holiday and Christmas trees, candles and presents were not a sign of Christmas in Greece. So here’s what you would find on a Greek Christmas table…, LAHANODOLMADES – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls In Egg & Lemon Sauce. Greek Diples Recipe (Christmas Greek Pastry with Honey) Christmas on a platter, drizzled with honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts! A soft, buttery cake, flavored with orange and brandy and a hidden coin inside. The Greek Independence Day is celebrating the declaration of the Independence War against the Ottomans on March 25th, 1821. Inside, there is small coin covered in foil that was placed inside the dough before it was baked. There are two things that are the same. A walk in the towns and villages of Greece during Christmas will bring you to decorated squares, streets, shops and houses. It is served with cheese pie and with vegetable salads. Dec 14, 2020 - Explore Greek Boston's board "Greek Christmas", followed by 527 people on Pinterest. Each one has the New Year written on top of the cake. This one is made with a sugar cookie crust and a jam-like spiced apple filling. This hearty stew is served on Christmas day in some areas of Greece, usually along with rice or pasta. Stuffed Cabbage. The olives and creamy feta enhance the special flavor and appeal in … See more ideas about greek christmas, greek recipes, greek dishes. The cabbage leaves symbolizing the cloth that baby Jesus was wrapped in. Again a classic Greek holiday meal. Most towns and villages like to decorate with lots of lights, bells and angels. The most popular traditions are the decoration of the Christmas boat, the Greek Christmas carols, the tradition of Saint Basil’s cake, the pomegranate, “kalikatzaroi”. MOSHARI LEMONATO – Stove Top Pot Roast With Lemon Gravy. A very aromatic Greek pork recipe with lots of garlic, rosemary, and orange flavors. Design by GSM - Content by Blog Smart Agency. It is the made on Christmas Eve and has a cross carved into the top crust before it is baked. https://goo.gl/UwxBi8 Download TONS of FREE PDF lessons to learn Greek twice as fast! Made solely of ingredients sourced locally, these scrumptious delicacies have, according to Karamanes, been part of … However, the real tradition all over Greece is having pork. In northern parts (the mountainside) the Christmas dinner consists of comfort stews and soups while in other areas, they serve roasted pork or beef along with homemade rustic pies. With age-old recipes, Greek cuisine has been influenced by Middle Eastern, Italian, and Ottoman cultures. A must try! Traditionally families and friends get together to celebrate the Christmas period, which lasts for 12 days. And although most of the time it is made with storebought phyllo, using homemade phyllo instead makes a huge difference in flavor. Warm, comforting full of spices and aromas very Christmas-y! Beef Stew With Tomato-Wine Sauce & Spices. The second week is called Kreatini (from the word kreas, which means meat), and you are allowed to eat meat every day. 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