| Christmas in Crete is a particularly festive period characterized by the spirit of these holy days. Influenced by Western European culture, Christmas is light, bright, and full of decorations. The shops and the streets use an array of lights and impressive decor from early December to welcome the celebration of the Holy Birth. However, despite the western European influence, the traditional Cretan customs are still alive in most areas of Crete. |
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| The festive atmosphere in Rethymno begins when the town organizes many fun activities for everyone! They have dance and music performances at the House of Culture, Christmas bazaars with lots of games, and festive events at the Square of Agnostou Stratioti, and the “Mikrasiaton” square. On the 23rd of December, a folklore festival will take place at V.Kallergi street with traditional Christmas carols and folklore music. Traditional dancing, raki, and wine will be on hand to enhance the evening's entertainment. On the morning of Christmas eve in the "Metropolis" square, Micky and his friends will play, dance and celebrate Christmas with all our little friends!!! On the 29th of December, a special race will take place starting and finishing at Agnostos Stratiotis square. This is known as the Santa Run as all participants will be dressed as Santa Claus and will race by foot, bike, and even skates!!! At the end of the race, a live rock band will play in the square for everyone's enjoyment!! |
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One of the most anticipated events occurs in the main square when the Rethymnon Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra plays its favorite Christmas songs. On Christmas Eve, you can hear traditional Christmas carols filling the alleyways of the city, accompanied by the sound of the lyre and the mandolin. |
Children all over Greece await the morning of Christmas Eve in eager anticipation. The tradition is for them to go ‘carolling’. Usually, they form small groups and head off early in the morning around their neighbourhood visiting houses and shops to sing the traditional Christmas Eve carol to whoever answers the door. They knock on the doors and ask if they can sing, and the owner always answers positively. The children, accompanied by their triangles, guitars, accordions, lyres, or harmonica, sing the traditional song. When they finish they wish the owner a Merry Christmas, and in return, the owner rewards them with money. However, in the past, the owners offered them traditional Christmas sweets, such as “melomakarona” or “kourabiedes”. |
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| Traditional Christmas sweets !!! |
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year without question! And there is no better way to get into the festive mood than enjoying some traditional Christmas sweets! Here are three of the most popular Christmas sweets found in every household throughout Greece! |
In my opinion, melomakarona is the top Christmas treat! They are cookies made with olive oil and ground spices like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg that give them their unique Christmas flavour and smell. |
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| | After baking, the melomakarona are dipped into a honey syrup, and walnuts are grated on the top. Some people add grated walnuts to the cookie dough for extra flavour. If you are a chocoholic, try the chocolate-covered melomakarona. These are not so traditional, but they are just as tasty! |
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| Kourabiedes are shortbread-type biscuits with almonds. If you want your kourabiedes to be successful, you need to pay attention when buying the butter you will use, as it needs to be of top quality. Traditionally rose water is added to the dough for flavour, although vanilla or mastic can be used instead. |
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| The kourabiedes are usually shaped into circles, small balls, or crescents. After baking, a lot of powdered sugar is sprinkled over the biscuits. That’s why it is always impossible to enjoy kourabiedes without having powdered sugar on your clothes or everywhere around you! |
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| While melomakarona and kourabiedes are made at any time during the Christmas season, Vasilopita is a special cake made only on New Year’s Eve. There are many different recipes for Vasilopita. However, no matter which one you use, the cake is always decorated in the same way, covered with powdered sugar and the number of the New Year is written on the top. |
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| A gold coin is added to each cake before it goes into the oven. No one knows which piece of the cake the coin will appear when cut! The highlight in every Greek house after the arrival of the New Year is the cut of the Vasilopita! The person that finds the gold coin is said to be lucky all year round! |
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