Porto Cheli • Greece • The love we share

The mornings on the days before Christmas and New Year, children in groups go from one house door to the other to sing the carols.  Every region has different Christmas carols but everywhere the lyrics are joyful and wish luck and prosperity to the family members.  When signing, children usually

St Basil’s Cake is prepared for the dinner of New Year’s Eve. Some families in the villages cut the cake after lunch on January 1st, but most families cut it right after the coming of the New Year at midnight.    This cake, called vasilopita in Greek, is dedicated to Saint Basil, who is the Santa Claus in the Greek tradition and

As this is a maritime country, the Greeks traditionally decorate boats for Christmas. This custom survives today in seaside towns and islands, where people decorate Christmas boats in the central squares.    The Christmas tree is a foreign custom for Greece and it was brought by Otto, the first king of the country, who was of