Crete tourist guide

What do the Greeks decorate for the holidays?

2021-12-13 19:07:47

Holidays are approaching inexorably every day. One of the symbolic signs is the appearance of Christmas illuminations and the official launch of lighting on Christmas trees set up in the main city squares. These events usually attract crowds of residents, because in Greece every opportunity is good to leave the house and meet friends.

However, it is worth remembering that decorating a Christmas tree was not part of the Greek Christmas tradition for a long time. This relatively new practice appeared in Greece quite recently. The lights on the Christmas tree were lit for the first time in 1834 in Athens. This happened thanks to Otto I Wittelsbach, the Bavarian prince and the first modern king of Greece, who decided to transfer this custom to the country where he was called to perform this honorable role.

Before that, traditionally in Greece, ships or their models were decorated with lamps. This underlined the age-old relationship of this country with the sea. It was also, in a way, a symbol of longing for those who had to spend Christmas somewhere far away at sea, far from home and their loved ones. Currently, this custom is rather on the islands, and the cities of mainland Greece tend to decorate Christmas trees. However, in the insular part of the country, it is a very vivid custom. In addition to decorating normal, large ships in ports, many Greek houses also decorate small ships, the so-called karavakis. Sometimes you will find both a Christmas tree and a karavakis in one house.

You can see how Crete looks this year in today's video above, shot in the port of Chania. There is an illuminated Christmas tree and ships decorated with lights in the port.

Gosia,  2021-12-13 19:07:47

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