Christmas in Greece: Pomegranate | The Greek Online School (2024)

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Christmas in Greece: Pomegranate | The Greek Online School? ›

There are pomegranate ornaments on the Christmas tree, good luck charms for the new year and of course bowls full of the actual fruit with Christmas decorations around in most Greek homes. The truth is that pomegranates have been symbols of prosperity, fertility and regeneration since ancient times in Greece.

As per Greek traditions connected with their Orthodox religion, Christmas is a time for family reunions and celebrations last up to twelve days until January 6th when presents are given to children on the night between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Smashing a pomegranate on New Year's Day is an ancient Greek custom that continues to this day as the red-colored, nutritious fruit is considered a symbol of life and good fortune. Ancient Greeks believed that the pomegranate's ruby-like arils, or seeds, symbolized abundance, perhaps because of their quantity.

In the old times, children would be offered holiday sweets and pastries, but today they are usually given some money. The Christmas boat is the traditional seasonal decoration in Greece.

It is not a coincidence that all the homemade, crates in our grocery stores, and all the food shops are decorated by these wonderful fruits these days. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility, rebirth and prosperity for thousands of years and can be traced back in Greek mythology.

While your regular Santa originates from Saint Nicholas, the Greek Santa is called 'Agios Vasilis', meaning Saint Basil, or Basil of Caesarea.

Greece is a uniquely beautiful and welcoming country to explore - and while the Eurozone can often be more expensive than other areas, Greece can still be a budget-friendly travel destination. With good advice and a bit of planning, you can have a fabulous trip without spending a fortune.

As she bent down to pick it, the earth opened and Hades seized her and dragged her down to his kingdom. By eating a few pomegranate seeds, Persephone tied herself to Hades—the pomegranate being a symbol of the indissolubility of marriage.

Pomegranates play an important role as a symbol of righteousness in Judaism, as they supposedly contain 613 seeds, which correspond to the 613 commandments of the Torah. Thus, at Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Jews eat this fruit one seed at a time, for as many wishes as possible to be fulfilled.

Raw pomegranate isn't toxic to dogs, but it can make them sick. 1 "Eating more than a few of the seeds or any of the peel can cause digestive issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain," says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian and consultant with PetKeen.com, a pet advice site.

Is Greece kid friendly? ›

Greece is a Kid-Friendly Country

Tourism in Greece is focused on families, offering kid-friendly facilities and numerous activities for the whole family. It doesn't matter which part of Greece you choose to visit, because you will definitely find kid-friendly tours whether they are indoor or outdoor activities.

Northern Greece – Thrace

“Msoura” is the traditional Christmas food of Melissochori, Thessaloniki. This is a trilogy of pork, beef, and chicken simmered with vegetables and rice in the oven.

In Greek mythology, the pomegranate has come to be a symbol of many things that can be perceived as positive including: life, rebirth, eternal life, fertility, marriage, abundance/plenty, etc. All of these are recurring words associated with the meaning of the pomegranate and all put the symbol in a positive light.

You can guess why we celebrate also the birth of Jesus in this time. Persephone ate six of these pomegranate seeds, and it was then decided she would stay 6 months a year in the Underworld (fall and winter) and the other six months with Demeter (spring and summer).

On his mother's lap, Baby Jesus grabs the pomegranate handed to him by Mary: a fruit that was considered a symbol of Christ's passion, whose red kernels symbolize the blood shed by Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity.

December is a great time to visit Greece because the weather is mild and the cities are less crowded than during the peak tourist season.

Easter. Easter is the most important celebration for the Greeks, even more than Christmas.

Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam do not recognize Christmas as a public holiday, but the holiday is given observance.