We exchanged wishes for Christmas and New Year 2016 by double click in the padlet, and we also uploaded texts, images and videos for customs of this period in this FORUM.
Christmas Celebration in Greece
Christina Mesopotamia - 14.12.2015 11:20
The momogeri.
In Platanias and Sitagri, villages of Drama region there is the custom of Momogeri, which comes from the Pontian refugees. The name of the custom associated with the mimic movements of the protagonists. The momogeri, in the form of sentile persons, wear animal skins of wolves, goats or other animals, and are armed with swords.
The momogeri appear throughout the period of the twelve days of feasts, and wander in groups, in the streets of villages, expecting luck for the new year, and sing carols or other wish lyrics. When two groups meet, they make a lie war until one team to win, and the other to swear allegiance. Variants of this custom are found in villages of Kozani and Kastoria, called Ragoutsaria.
Boumpousaria or Rogkatsaria are called, in West. Macedonia region, the carnivals of New Year and Epiphany period. The custom of Boumpousiaria appears, mainly, in town of Siatista and its surrounding villages, and also in villages of Grevena town.
As Rougkatsiaria are known all over the rest of the prefecture of Kozani, Kastoria, etc. In Kastoria, in particular, are called Rogkoutsaria, and are celebrated on 7 and 8 January.
In Siatista, the Boumpousiaria are celebrated on New Year's Day and on Epiphany Day (we cal this Day "Theophania" in Greek) - whereas in all other villages of Voio, they are celebrated only on the New Year's Day.
Vaia Mesopotamia - 14.12.2015 11:28
Christmas Dishes
On Christmas Day we eat turkey, a custom which arrived in Europe from Mexico in 1824. On New Year's Day, the habit is to make chicken or turkey, stuffed with chestnuts, walnuts, raisins, minced meat, onions, pepper, and parsley.
However, in several regions of the country, the custom of chicken soup maintains, especially in Thessaly, and on Crete. In old years, the chicken soup was the main dish Greeks ate, when they returned from church. Another dish of this period is the roast pork (cooked on the coals of the fireplace). On this day, also, there is the custom of a the traditional dish of pork with praso, selino, or any other meat with rice.
Christmas is the time of hogs slaughter.
Moreover in different parts of Greece, there are different customs. For example in Zagorochoria, in Epirus, at Christmas, people make a food like pancakes, that symbolize the birth of Christ in Manger. Also, housewives make the Christmas cake, that is usually round, and is a symbol of celebration.
Here is a Christmas recipe:
Pork prasoselino
What we need:
2kg pork into pieces (shoulder or pork tenderloin)
1 kilo leeks (about 3 large)
1/2 kilo of celery
1/2 pound of celery root
1/2 cup olive oil
1 large onion
Salt Pepper
3 eggs
juice of 2 lemons
How do we do it:
Clean and wash the celery, the celeriac, and the leeks, and cut them into pieces (about two fingers width celery and leeks, celeriac about one finger width) and leave them at a colander.
Wash and drain well the pork.
Pour the oil in a large saucepan over high heat, sauté the meat to get light color, and add the grated onion. Mix lightly the wilted onion and add hot water (to cover meat in a half). Cover the pot and boil.
In another pot, boil salted water, and when just boil, add the celery, the celeriac and the leeks for 7-10 minutes, blanch and strain.
Ten minutes before closing of the meat add the blanched vegetables gently, shaking the pan to go everywhere.Allow to boil for about ten minutes.
Prepare the lemon sauce.
In a bowl, beat the eggs well with a whisk, and gradually add the lemon juice. Drizzle the food, and shake the pan to go everywhere.
Christmas Celebration in Denmark:
Jens Christian Brødbæk - 17.12.2015 09:37
The Danish students have made a Christmas film. The story is written by some of the students in the class, who attend our writer class, and it shows some of our Christmas traditions. This is a link to the film: https://youtu.be/vw5lJYqfSjY and you can find it in the video folder too.
In our school in Venoe we made a short film for christmas. Hope you ll enjoy it.