Christmas Day in Greece
Christmas Day is a holiday in Greece.
When is Christmas Day in Greece
Christmas Day is celebrated on 25, December, 2023 in Greece.
About Christmas Day in Greece
In Greece, Christmas Day is a public holiday celebrated on December 25th. It is a religious holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is one of the most important holidays in the country.
The celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, which is known as ‘Protomagia’ or ‘First Day of Christmas’. On this day, many people attend church services and participate in a traditional meal with family and friends. The meal typically includes roasted lamb or pork, stuffed grape leaves, and a variety of sweets such as ‘melomakarona’ (honey cookies) and ‘kourabiedes’ (almond cookies).
On Christmas Day, families gather again for a festive meal and exchange gifts. Many people also attend church services on this day. In some parts of Greece, it is traditional to go caroling, known as ‘kalanda’, where groups of children and adults go from house to house singing Christmas carols and receiving treats in return.
Overall, Christmas Day in Greece is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness with loved ones.
History of Christmas Day in Greece
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major holiday in Greece, and it has a long and fascinating history. The holiday has been celebrated in Greece since the early days of Christianity, and it has undergone various changes and adaptations over the centuries.
In the early days of Christianity, Christmas was not celebrated as a major holiday in Greece. Instead, the focus was on the celebration of Epiphany, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. This holiday was celebrated on January 6th, and it was the most important religious holiday of the year.
However, over time, the celebration of Christmas began to gain popularity in Greece. The holiday was first introduced to Greece in the 4th century, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. At this time, Christmas was celebrated on December 25th, which was the date chosen by the Roman Catholic Church.
In Greece, the celebration of Christmas was initially met with resistance from the Orthodox Church, which was the dominant religion in the country. The Orthodox Church believed that the celebration of Christmas should be focused on the birth of Jesus, rather than on the commercial aspects of the holiday.
Despite this resistance, the celebration of Christmas continued to grow in popularity in Greece. Today, Christmas is celebrated throughout the country with festive decorations, traditional foods, and religious ceremonies. The holiday is an important time for families to come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus, and it is a time of joy, peace, and goodwill.
How is Christmas Day celebrated in Greece
Christmas Day is celebrated in Greece with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. The celebrations start on Christmas Eve, which is known as ‘Christougenna’ in Greek. On this day, people attend church services and participate in the ‘Christopsomo’ tradition, where they bake special bread with a cross on top, which is later blessed by the priest during the church service.
On Christmas Day, families gather together for a big feast, which usually includes roasted meat, vegetables, and traditional Greek sweets like ‘kourabiedes’ and ‘melomakarona.’ The day is spent with family and friends, exchanging gifts and enjoying each other’s company.
In some parts of Greece, there are also local customs and traditions associated with Christmas. For example, in the town of Kalamata, people light bonfires on Christmas Eve and jump over them for good luck. In other parts of the country, children go from house to house singing carols and receiving treats in return.
Overall, Christmas Day in Greece is a time for family, food, and religious observance, with many traditions and customs that have been passed down through generations.
Dates
Christmas Day will be celebrated in Greece on 2023-12-25 2024-12-25 2025-12-25 2026-12-25 2027-12-25 in the comming years.