Food, family highlight big fat Greek Christmas
by Derrick Ayers, reporter

    While most American families are decorating a tree this Christmas season, some like NW student Tina Peters, will be upholding the traditions of a heritage thousands of miles away and centuries old.

   Instead of a Christmas tree, the traditional Greek symbol of the yuletide is a shallow wooden bowl with a wire suspended across the rim, Peters said. From the wire hangs a sprig of basil wound around a wooden cross.

   As part of the routine, each day a member of the family, usually the mother, will dip the cross in holy water and sprinkle the rooms of the house to ward off killantzoroi or mischievous spirits who put out fires and spoil people’s milk.

   Peters pointed out another difference in the traditions is the events of Christmas Eve. In Greek communities, children will travel from house to house, offering good wishes upon the houses and singing kalanda, the equivalent of Christmas carols, with the accompaniment of small metal triangles and clay drums.

   In return, residents award sweets or coins to the children.

   Peters said her Christmas dinner varies from the traditional American meal.

   On Christmas day, roasted lamb and pork replace the turkey feasts. Also on the table are large loaves of christopsomo, or Christ bread, decorated or engraved to portray the main profession of the household.

   After dinner, children and adults alike enjoy melomakarona and honey cookies, traditional Christmas cookies, but family member do not exchange gifts on Christmas day, Peters said.

   Instead, gifts are opened on Agios Vissilli’s Day, Jan. 6, also known as Saint Basil’s Day, to commemorate the coming of the generous gift-bearing saint who climbs down chimneys to leave presents and bless houses.

   In the wee hours of the New Year, families gather to slice vassilopita, the bread of Saint Basil, in hopes of finding the lucky coin hidden inside the loaf, Peters said.

   “I used to always get the lucky coin, and it is like good luck for a year,” she said.

   As with many counties of the world, however, the practices and customs of the season vary from region to region.

   For example, in Vonitsa, in western Greece, locals gather and light a fire in front of the church. Meanwhile in the northern reaches of the nation, in Siatista, fires burn in the town square and locals ring bells to rid the village of bad spirits.

   Peters said Christmas is a time for her to embrace her family’s heritage.

   “It gives me a sense of where we came from,” she said.

   For people all over the world, holidays mean family time and traditions.

   Susan Liberman discussed the importance of traditions in New Traditions: Redefining Celebrations for Today’s Family.

   “Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world,” she wrote.