Gus Moutos

Greek Orthodox Christmas

I was born and raised in a small village called Rentina in the rugged mountains of central Greece.  Like most Greeks, I was raised in the Orthodox Church.  We celebrated Christmas on December 25^th with many of the common western activities and family gatherings.  Some Orthodox, especially the Russians, continue to celebrate Christmas on January 6 based on the Julian calendar.  Whichever day is celebrated, the season begins with a six-week fasting period lasting until Christmas, which my Mother strictly enforced.  We attended church regularly including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I liked to participate as a chanter in church, especially on holidays because parishioners would provide extra food to the chanters.  This was important because I, my mother, and my three brothers were always hungry during the war, and extra food was welcome especially during the winter.

In the village, there was less emphasis on gift giving on Christmas, and Santa Claus was replaced by Saint Basil, a bishop of ancient Cappadocia who would bring presents to children between December 25 and January 1.  On New Year’s Day (St Basil’s Day) my friends and I would visit many homes singing holiday carols, and we were rewarded with small amounts of money or candies.  New Year’s Day was a day of celebration with more family gatherings where gifts were exchanged particularly for the children.

The Christmas celebration period culminates on Epiphany, January 6.  Almost everyone in the village would gather at a wide spot in the river near our local Monastery to participate in the Blessing of the Waters which commemorates Jesus’ baptism.  The priest would bless the waters of the world then throw a gold cross into the river.  Swimmers dove in hoping to find the cross and bring it safely to shore.  The one who found the cross was said to have good luck the entire year.