Greek New Year’s Day

Just like in most countries you wish everyone a Happy New Year. But did you know that these kinds of wishes are made the whole year through? “Good day” is familiar, but on Monday you also say “good week”, on the first day of the month “good month” and of course on Januari 1th “good year”. Should this be a Monday, imagine how many wishes you have to issue in one sentence! This is done, but only in mockery.

New Year’s Day is an extra treat for children: it’s the nameday of the holy Vasilis, like Santa Claus. Small children find their presents on New Year’s Day, older children get their’s on 31th of December at midnight. Vasilis originates from Asia Minor, like Nicolas (Santa Claus).

In the first week of the year are more festivities. On January 6^th is the Epifania: the blessing of the waters. The highest papas in the neighbourhood first blesses the cross, and then throws it into the sea. The boys of the village (no, girls are excluded) dive in and whoever finds it and brings it back, will be lucky all year. In Pireaus only frogmen of the army are allowed to dive; too many accidents have happened in the past in the murky waters.

Both on 26th and 31st December as on 6th of January the children go by the houses with “kalanda”, songs with tales about the day. They used to receive nuts and sweets, nowadays it’s mostly money for some good cause like the school outing.