THEOFANIA (EPIPHANY)

This is a 're-post'  from last year (since I hardly had any readers back then!)  

                 THEOFANIA (EPIPHANY)

      On the 5th, 6th and 7th of January we celebrate the "Lights" (Fota) since God is Light and has appeared to illuminate those who sit in darkness. Theofania (Epiphany) on the 6th of January is the last of the 12 days of Christmas and it's the day of purification of the people's souls.

      On the 5th we go to church where the great blessing/purification takes place in the temple. We all receive the Holy Water in tiny bottles and take it home where we spray it all over the house in order to become "purified" and blessed. Then, we also drink some, too. In some small villages the priest himself visits all the houses to bless them with the Holy Water. This also is the time when the Kalikantzaroi (Trolls) leave.


      After church the children go caroling (as they did on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) to the neighboring houses receiving sweets and money.
 
                  

         On the 6th of January we celebrate the Theofania (or Epiphany or The Blessing of the Waters). It is a very important holiday as it celebrates the Holy Trinity through the Baptism of the Lord, God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son and the Son was baptized by St. John the Baptist as the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. At some point during the sermon at church a long procession is formed following the priest at whatever road leads to a body of water - a lake, a river, the ocean or if that is not possible to a special tank outside the church. There the priest while chanting hymns throws the cross into the water. thus blessing the waters. The church bells ring and white doves are freed into the sky as daring young men dive into the chilly waters and compete in retrieving the cross. The one who brings the cross up to the surface is said to be blessed and to have good luck throughout the coming year.

                   

      The most spectacular ceremonies happen at ports where little boats and ships gather in a semicircular fashion blowing their horns accompanying the hymns sung by the church choir

      On the 7th of January we celebrate St. John the Baptist' s day. This day of course everybody named John (Yannis) or Johanna (Yanna) celebrate as well (Name Days).

      The next day, Christmas vacation is officially over and school starts again.


Please watch a related video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFTxlvH_-pY&noredirect=1

              

 

VASILOPITA (ST. BASIL'S PIE)

 

      New Year's Day is quickly approaching and Greeks are still in a festivity frenzy! 

 

      The holidays aren't over just yet (we have another big holiday after the New Year's, coming on the 6th of January the Theofania (Epiphany). There's no work on that day and all the stores are closed as well. I will be making a post about it).

      The pie you see in the photo is called Vasilopita which means St. Basil's pie. It's a traditional New Year's pie that every household bakes for this day and it's the first thing we eat when the year changes at midnight, so that everything will be sweet in the new year. Inside the pie there's a coin hidden. At midnight when the year changes the father or grandfather using a knife symbolically carves a cross over the pie 3 times before slicing it. Every slice is dedicated or called for a specific person.

The first slice belongs to Christ, the second slice to
the Virgin Mary, the third slice to St. Vasilios, the fourth slice goes to the poor and thereafter every slice goes from the oldest to the youngest in the family and guests present. The last piece just belongs to the house. Whoever finds the coin in his/her slice is considered to be the lucky one of the year. If the coin is in one of the first four slices then it is offered to the church or someone who is poor.

     It is said that St. Vasilios (St. Basil) was a well-educated and wealthy man who gave all his fortune to help the poor and needy people. One story says that in order to help out the poor without insulting them or embarrassing them he devised this trick of making little pies and hiding a coin in them before offering them the pies. In time this little pie was named after him and was an offering of joy and blessings.

     Also, we celebrate St.Vasilios on the 1st of January and everybody named Vasilios or Vasiliki (the female version) celebrate as well, receiving gifts and wishes just like a birthday! (read post about Name Days)

Check out my Vasilopita recipe!

 

VASILOPITA RECIPE

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk (room temperature)
1 cup butter softened
2 cups sugar
500 gr (appr. 6 cups) all- purpose flour
4-5 tsp baking powder
5 eggs
orange juice from 2 oranges (appr. 1/2 glass)
2 tsps vanilla extract
1 finely chopped apple
1/2 cup Cognac (Metaxa) or Brandy
1 1/2 tbs orange zest
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

      Marinate from the night before in a bowl the cognac, the orange zest, the orange juice, the walnuts, the apple and 1 cinnamon stick.

     The next day, in a large bowl blend (beat) the sugar with butter until it becomes fluffy white. Then add the eggs one by one. Add slowly the marinated mixture (after removing the cinnamon stick) and the flour sifted together with the baking powder, the vanilla extract and gradually the milk. Beat for another 2-3 minutes. Pour the batter into a greased and flour sprinkled round pan. Bake in pre-heated oven (325 degrees F or 165 degrees C) for about 70 minutes or until done. After it's baked place the coin (that you have previously wrapped in foil) anywhere you choose in a vertical position and a little deep. Then flip the pie/cake upside down on a platter (do that with the help of the platter) and after it has cooled down sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Your vasilopita is ready!

P.S. Placing the coin in the batter before it's baked will result in the coin sinking to the bottom (which will be later the top) and showing!

 

 

 

Photos are courtesy of Google images.

KOURABIETHES - GREEK CHRISTMAS COOKIES

      There isn't a home during Christmas time that won't bake (or at least buy) kourabiethes. Even though one can find them in pastry shops all year round, during Christmas it is the honored dessert and/or treat for guests along with the melomakarona. (will be posting this recipe after Christmas, don't miss it!)

      Kourabiethes (also kourambiedes) are sugared shortbread cookies made with toasted almonds. (There's also a version with walnuts or hazelnuts). In Greek: koo-rahb-YEH-thes. They have simple ingredients and are simple to make!

      The key to good Kourabiethes is the use of butter, and lots of it! Mind you, it has to be good quality full butter!

Recipe for Kourabiethes
(recipe is for 2 baking trays, aprox. 80 cookies)

1 lb. unsalted pure butter at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar (confectioner's, icing)
2 egg yolks
3/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil) 
2 cups of roasted almonds, coarsely chopped
1 shot of cognac or brandy
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 heaping Tbsp. of baking powder
5 cups of of all purpose flour, sifted

For topping:
1/2 cup Rosewater
Extra icing sugar for powdering (about 2 cups)

 

1. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar. Then add the oil. Add the egg yolks and beat for 10 minutes longer.
2. Add some of the flour (add 1-2 cups at a time and keep some to add later). Poor your brandy (cognac) to a large glass and then add your baking powder and stir it until dissolved. Now pour this mixture, along with the vanilla extract and the nuts and continue beating until blendid in and the dough is a cohesive soft mass.
3. Start kneading with your hands the mixture and s-l-o-w-l-y add the flour to the mixture until all the flour has been absorbed.
4. Set the dough aside to rest for about 30 minutes.
5. Using your hand, grab a piece of dough the size of a walnut and form them into the shape of choice - crescents or patties (you could also use a cookie cutter). Place each formed cookie on a baking tray lined with parchment paper (or greased cookie sheet). Repeat process until all dough has been shaped into cookies.
6. Bake in a pre-heated 350F oven (middle rack) for 25 minutes for each batch.
7. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with rosewater, then roll in the powdered sugar. Dust serving plates or platter with confectioner's sugar and add cookies.
   Now place some more icing sugar in a sifter and generously dust the Kourabiedes with more icing sugar until well-coated.
8. The cookies can be stored in a sealed container, in a cool, dry place and they’ll keep for at least two weeks

DYI CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS USING OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS!

 

      There's this Greek blog that I'm following called

http://www.jenny.gr/  that is absolutely fabulous! It has articles about beauty, style and fashion, health, celebrities and lifestyle, home decorating, recipes, etc. (You should check it out!) It is there that I came across these wonderful ideas of reusing old Christmas cards and I thought I should share them with you!

 

      I'm sure you have plenty of them from previous years that you just can't throw away and can't put them ALL on display either. So why not do something creative with the cards this year! (and the next...)

 

You could make a festive banner out of them!

 



The Christmas cards could make beautiful holiday placemats! (Lamination is of course necessary!)



 

Cut them in different shapes and create fancy 3D ornaments for the Christmas tree.

 

Create a unique wreath.

 

Cut them into small gift tags! That is always handy!

 

If you're emotionally attached to some of the cards and don't want to destroy them, why not make a beautiful album of them!  

 

If you have any DIY ideas about Christmas decorating, please do share!

GREEK CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

How do we celebrate Christmas in Greece? Well, the customs are many and they vary depending on the region so I'm just going to tell you the ones that are mostly common all over the country. First, the Greek Orthodox Church is celebrating Christmas on December 25th, on the same date as the Catholic and Protestant Churches. In Greece when we talk about the "holidays" we are referring to the holiday period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany on January 6th.

The Greek name for Christmas is Christougena which literally means Christ's birth. When Greeks say Merry Christmas, they say Kala Christougena. Also, we say Kales Yiortes=Happy Holidays. 

Even though the decorations have become more lavish and extravagant and the foreign influences are evident,

Christmas remains a quiet, solemn season that is still close to the true spirit of the holiday. It is not very commercialised, yet!

CHRISTMAS DECOR

    
      This weekend we finally set up our tree! Along with Christmas music, fireplace and hot chocolate! Last weekend we decorated the house and when I say, we I mean with the kids, the hubby helps a little too. I usually do it in two phases cause doing it all together is too much work and kids tire easily (mom, too!)   
                           

  

Here's our tree! I think my kids did a marvelous job decorating the tree this year. I hardly participated! Somehow they made it look overdecorated and I always thought we needed more ornaments! Of course, the nativity under the tree is a 'must'. This year I added some of the tree's lights in it to add a glowing effect to it. (Hubby's idea!)

     I couldn't take a picture of it with lights on (probably need a high tech camera or something) but believe me it looks good in the dark. A little tip from me to you:

CHRISTMAS IN ATHENS, GREECE

      Christmas is right around the corner and the season is in full swing in Greece, too!

      The City of Athens and other cities all over the country have dressed up with Christmas spirit. Holiday decorations are set up in streets and squares, musical and artistic events are scheduled and my city is turning into a a never-ending carousel of festivities.

      Even though Christmas in Athens in the past was a richly decorated affair, I'm afraid the financial crisis won't allow extravagant displays/celebrations this year.

      Nevertheless, the Municipality of Athens has some activities scheduled:

      On Tuesday, December 11 the holiday festivities will officially begin with the lighting up of Syntagma square downtown Athens that is usually accompanied by The City of Athens Philharmonic. 16 Christmas trees created by art students will be the main attraction this year combined with a huge ice skating ring that will be free for all citizens.

      Other well-know squares and streets will be filled with music and dancers entertaining passer-bys and spreading the Christmas spirit.

      There will also be "Christmas workshops" inviting youngsters to participate in toy making workshops or be entertained by pantomime.

There are also special events planned to welcome the New Year with a fantastic party featuring hundreds of fireworks and music performed by popular artists.

I will be posting more of this year's photos in upcoming posts. For now check out Athens from previous years:

There's also a post coming up with interesting Greek Christmas customs!
Stay tuned!!!






Photos are courtesy of Google image and glittergraphics.com

OXI DAY!

This Sunday (October 28th) we celebrate OXI Day!

    

      OXI, (oh-hee) means NO!  It is a national Greek holiday that is celebrated every year throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world, to commemorate the rejection by Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940. The ultimatum demanded that Greece allow enemy forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain "strategic locations" or otherwise face war. It was answered with a single word: OXI!!! (NO!)

 

      This  marked the date in 1940 when Greece entered WWII. After the World War II it became a national holiday in Greece and Cyprus.

     

      The novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin (which became a movie in 2001 wth Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz and John Hurt) features a fictionalized account of the meeting between Metaxas and Grazzi, written from Grazzi's point of view.

      The anniversary of 28th October 1940 is for all Greeks, one of the most important and glorious moments of our modern history. It is commemorated every year in every city, town or village with an official service held at the church, the laying of wreaths at statues/monuments dedicated to the WW2 war heroes and with  student parades. On this anniversary, most public buildings and residences are decorated with Greek flags. 

      In Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, celebrations of Oxi Day culminate in a large, lavish military parade down the main boulevard, during which military airplanes fly over the city in proud formations.

 

 

 

All photos are courtesy of Google images.

 

AUGUST 15th: A FESTIVE DAY FOR GREEKS

      [I know I promised vacation photos but this post really precedes it since tomorrow is a big holiday and I would like to tell you all about it (before and not after).]

KLITHONAS - AN OLD CUSTOM

      On the 24th of June it was St.John's the Baptist birthday, a religious holiday accompanied by many local customs, some of which are ancient old. Since it is also the day of the Summer Solstice, some of the ancient habits/rituals related to it have remained till today.  

   Klithonas (in Greek Κληδονας) is an ancient custom that comes to life on this day. It is a folk fortune telling ritual where  unmarried girls will learn the name of the man they will marry!  The night before young, single girls (usually dressed in traditional clothes) bring the "speechless water"
from a well (possible now, only in villages where a well may still exist) and pour it in a clay pot. In this pot they also throw a personal item. They seal it with a red cloth and leave it under the clear sky. They do this in absolute silence, they must not talk. 



      Then the celebration continues by lighting a huge bonfire in the town's square where people burn their Protomaya (first of May) wreaths. There's singing and dancing involved and everybody takes turns jumping over the fire for good luck.

      The next day the clay pot is opened while everybody is singing particular folk songs. As each girl takes back her personal item, a woman (designated the day before) recites or comes up with a couplet that foretells that girl's future. In some places these couplets could make you blush!!! (...especially when they're told by ...grandmothers!)  








      When the fortune telling is over, a great feast follows!!!

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ, ΜΑΜΑ

 (CHRONIA POLLA MAMA)

  

     Mother's day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood and it can be traced back to ancient festivals. It is celebrated in most countries of the world and is often associated to different events (religious, historical or legendary) and it's not on the same date for all the countries.

     No matter which country she comes from, a mother is a mother, it is a "sacred institution"!

     There's a poem (that has also become a Greek folk song)  by Jean Richepin (1849-1926) a French poet, playwright and novelist, that shows what a mother's love really means. It is called "The Mother's Heart"

A poor lad once and a lad so trim
Gave his love to her that loved not him

And says she, 'fetch me tonight you rogue'
Your mother's heart to feed my dog!

To his mother's house went that young man
Killed her and took the heart, and ran.

And as he was running look you he fell
And the heart tolled to the ground as well.

And the lad, as the heart was a-rolling heard
That the heart was speaking and this was the word

The heart was a weeping and crying so small
'Are you hurt my child, are you hurt at all?'

     What a beautiful and touching poem! 

     Well, to cheer us up, visit this site and take a fun quiz to 

find out which movie mom you are!  

http://just-for-mom.quiz.kaboose

 

(f.y.i. I did it and the results are: I am the Elastigirl mom

from "The Incredibles" movie (which made me think 'God, I hope I don't snap one of these days being so elastic and all'.

     I don't know how you plan to spend Mother's day but I think one of the best gifts a mother can receive on Mother's day is to have a day off of everything! NO getting up early and preparing kids for school, NO making breakfast, NO housework, NO cooking, NO helping the kids with homework, NO feeding the dog, NO grocery shopping, NO house chores, NO errands ... NOTHING, NADA. A day of self-indulgence -- going to the hairdresser's, having a manicure and pedicure, a massage, perhaps, being taken out for lunch and dinner and a movie maybe, and whatever the mother wants, needs or misses from her motherhood life. Being treated as a queen (her wish is everybody else's command) is a minor recognition for all the things she does year round for the family, so if any fathers out there are reading this don't you think the mother deserves a day of complete pampering and royal treatment?

     But we must not get all caught up in the " mother's day is for me"  complex and forget our own mothers. They deserve this day more than us. The prefix 'grand' in grandmother is not accidental! Remember that:  GRANDmother!

I wish you all to have a wonderful day!