Home » Christmas » Christmas In Greece Christmas In Greece   In the past Easter was considered to be a much important festival in Greece in comparison to Christmas, but over the years this has changed and Christmas in Greece is now celebrated with great enthusiasm in all the major cities. The origin of Christmas celebrations in Greece dates back to the period of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the sailors. It was believed that he saves the drowning man from the ravages of the seas and so he is bedraggled thoroughly with salt water. Although most of the customs followed in Greece is very similar to the Christmas celebrations in the major countries of the world, but they also have a few of their unique traditions. On the Christmas Eve children make processions and visit the houses where they sing “Kalanda” the Christmas carols of Greece and they are treated to candies and given small gifts in return. The Greeks decorate heir houses with Christmas trees but the tradition is to place a twig of basil around the cross and put it in a shallow wooden bowl. The bowl is filled with water and the head of the family dips the basil and the cross in the water and sprinkles it all over the house. The Greeks believe that this will ward off evil spirits. In order to keep the evil spirits away the Greeks also keep the hearth burning on all the twelve days of Christmas. The traditional Christmas meal of Greece is different because instead of turkey we find roasted pork and lamb, which is served with loaves of “christopsomo” or Christ’s bread. The bread is decorated in such a way that it is indicative of the profession that the family peruses. Christmas in Greece as we find is the perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Enjoy your Christmas Vacations in Greece with 123Christians.