Many years ago, while I was working in Athens and the Peloponnese in the weeks before Christmas, the request came to bring some Greek Christmas decorations back with me. It was an unusual ask, because Christmas is celebrated in such a different way in Greece, and it is only in the years since that it has become such a major holiday celebration.
Our celebrations, even our vocabulary surrounding Christmas, are different in each European language. Christmas is Noël in French, Natale in Italian, Natal in Portuguese, and Navidad in Spanish and Weihnachten in German.
The Greek word for Christmas is Χριστούγεννα (Christougenna ), which means ‘Christ’s birth,’ a combination of Χριστός (Christos), Christ, and γέννα (génna), meaning birth. So, to say ‘Merry Christmas’ or Happy Christmas, Greeks say Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Kala Christougenna).
So, here are some more Greek words and phrases to add to any vocabulary:
• Η παραμονή των Χριστουγέννων (i paramoni ton Christouyennon), Christmas Eve
• Ημέρα των Χριστουγέννων ( Imera ton Christouyennon), Christmas Day
• Η Χριστουγεννιάτικη κάρτα (i Christouyenniatiki karta), Christmas card
• Το Xριστουγεννιάτικο Δέντρο (to Christouyenniatiko thendro), the Christmas tree
• Χριστουγεννιάτικα κάλαντα (Christouyenniatika kalanda), Christmas carols
• Τα Κάλαντα (to kalanda), the carols
• Σας εύχομαι καλά Χριστούγεννα (Sas efkoma kala christouenna), I wish you Merry Christmas
• Χρόνια πολλά (chronia polla), a phrase we use to wish you many years of good health, said on your birthday, name day, major holidays – and said at Christmas too
• Καλές γιορτές (kales yortes), ‘Good Holidays’ or ‘Happy Holidays’
• Η Παραμονή της Πρωτοχρονιάς (i paramoni paramoni protohronias), New Year’s Eve
• Καλή Πρωτοχρονιά (Kali protohronia), Happy New Year’s Eve
• Καλή Χρονιά (Kali Chronia), Happy New Year
• Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος ( Eftihsmeno to neo etos), a more formal way of saying ‘Happy New Year’
• Άγιος Βασίλης (Ayios Vasilis), Saint Basil, I suppose the Greek equivalent of Santa Claus
Some Orthodox Christians may fast for 40 days before Christmas, which is a little longer than Advent in the Western churches, abstaining from meat, eggs or butter.
For most Greeks, Christmas has become a month-long season, starting on Saint Nicholas Day on 6 December and ending with Epiphany on 6 January. Saint Nicholas has a particular significance in maritime Greece, and his day honours the patron saint of sailors, with special ceremonies in coastal communities and aboard decorated boats.
Traditionally, Christmas in Greece has featured festive boats or καραβάκια (karavakia) rather than Christmas trees, and these decorative vessels range from tiny mantelpiece displays to massive installations in city squares, symbolise a welcome and safe homecoming for seafaring family members.
Children used to make their own boats, using wood and paper and then decorate them with colourful fabrics, cotton and twigs. Then, on Christmas Eve, they would go door-to-door in groups from early morning, singing carols, bringing their hand-made boats to fill with sweets and coins.
The first Christmas tree in Greece was introduced by the Bavarian King Otto in 1833. In recent years, Christmas trees often replaced the boat. But the boat has regained its popularity in many places as a Christmas decoration.
Modern Greek families often combine both traditions, displaying Christmas trees alongside traditional boats, creating unique festive environments that honour both ancient customs and contemporary practices. In Thessaloniki, the Christmas celebrations and displays include a famous three-masted ship in Aristotelous Square.
A traditional food is Χριστόψωμο ( Christopsomo), literally ‘Christ’s Bread’, the sweet Christmas bread that is served traditionally on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Some flavour the bread with nuts and dried fruit, others with spices and dried herbs, and a small amount of olive oil is added to the dough to help with the texture. The design varies too, but traditional christopsomo is adorned with either a cross or the Greek letter X (chi), the initial for Christ.
Christmas Day in Greece focuses on family gatherings rather than gift-giving. Instead, children traditionally received their seasonal gifts on New Year’s Day, 1 January, Saint Basil’s Day, delivered by the kindly Saint Basil rather than Santa Claus.
Part of the tradition for Saint Basil’s Day is the Βασιλόπιτα (vasilopita a circular sweet bread decorated with almonds, and with a hidden coin is hidden. This bread is always cut on New Year’s Day: the first piece is cut for Christ, and the rest of the pieces are distributed starting with the eldest member of the family.
Epiphany Day, Θεοφάνεια (Theophania) on 6 January brings the Christmas celebrations to a conclusion. People gather at the nearest seaside, lake or river. There the priest blesses a cross, throws it into the water, and young men dive in to retrieve the cross.
Previous words in this series:
1, Neologism, Νεολογισμός.
2, Welcoming the stranger, Φιλοξενία.
3, Bread, Ψωμί.
4, Wine, Οίνος and Κρασί.
5, Yogurt, Γιαούρτι.
6, Orthodoxy, Ορθοδοξία.
7, Sea, Θᾰ́λᾰσσᾰ.
8,Theology, Θεολογία.
9, Icon, Εἰκών.
10, Philosophy, Φιλοσοφία.
11, Chaos, Χάος.
12, Liturgy, Λειτουργία.
13, Greeks, Ἕλληνες or Ρωμαίοι.
14, Mañana, Αύριο.
15, Europe, Εὐρώπη.
16, Architecture, Αρχιτεκτονική.
17, The missing words.
18, Theatre, θέατρον, and Drama, Δρᾶμα.
19, Pharmacy, Φᾰρμᾰκείᾱ.
20, Rhapsody, Ραψῳδός.
21, Holocaust, Ολοκαύτωμα.
22, Hygiene, Υγιεινή.
23, Laconic, Λακωνικός.
24, Telephone, Τηλέφωνο.
25, Asthma, Ασθμα.
26, Synagogue, Συναγωγή.
27, Diaspora, Διασπορά.
28, School, Σχολείο.
29, Muse, Μούσα.
30, Monastery, Μοναστήρι.
31, Olympian, Ολύμπιος.
32, Hypocrite, Υποκριτής.
33, Genocide, Γενοκτονία.
34, Cinema, Κινημα.
35, autopsy and biopsy
36, Exodus, ἔξοδος
37, Bishop, ἐπίσκοπος
38, Socratic, Σωκρατικὸς
39, Odyssey, Ὀδύσσεια
40, Practice, πρᾶξις
41, Idiotic, Ιδιωτικός
42, Pentecost, Πεντηκοστή
43, Apostrophe, ἀποστροφή
44, catastrophe, καταστροφή
45, democracy, δημοκρατία
46, ‘Αρχή, beginning, Τέλος, end
47, ‘Αποκάλυψις, Apocalypse
48, ‘Απόκρυφα, Apocrypha
49, Ἠλεκτρον (Elektron), electric
50, Metamorphosis, Μεταμόρφωσις
51, Bimah, βῆμα
52, ἰχθύς (ichthýs) and ψάρι (psari), fish.
53, Τὰ Βιβλία (Ta Biblia), The Bible
54, Φῐλοξενῐ́ᾱ (Philoxenia), true hospitality
55, εκκλησία (ekklesia), the Church
56, ναός (naos) and ἱερός (ieros), a church
57, Χριστούγεννα (Christougenna), Christmas
58, Series to be continued.
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