| Greece in December 2002 | |
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Enjoy the increasingly-intense Christmastime pageantry of Greece while spending very little on hotels and transportation, a special gift to visitors to Greece in December. Several cruise lines offer special deals on winter sailings. The prices are great but the destinations are limited, and rough weather may cancel some scheduled port visits.
| DECEMBER Quick Look Mainland Weather: Cool to cold with rain and some snow possible, depending on elevation. Island Weather: Cool to cold; high winds. Many days clear but uncomfortably cold, windy, and rainy. Prices: Low Facilities: Many islands are virtually closed. Large islands are still enjoyable for the more determined visitor. Air and boat travel schedules are limited. Port visits by tender from cruise ships may be cancelled due to rough water. |
Christmas launches the twelve-day season which runs through Epiphany on January 6th. Epiphany celebrations in towns by the sea or by rivers will include the local priest throwing a cross into the waters, where it is retrieved by intrepid young men who dive for it in the frigid waters, a blessing of the waters which dates back to ancient times. As the day of the baptism of Jesus, many Greek Orthodox families arrange children's baptisms for this day. If you're in the Athens area, Piraeus has a particularly lavish ceremony.
New Year's Eve is celebrated more and more vigorously in Athens and elsewhere, and larger hotels usually host a party. On the island of Chios, ship models are created and carried around by groups of fishermen singing songs. January 1st is the Feast of St. Basil, when many Greeks practice the old custom of slicing a piece of the Vassilopita (Basil Cake) in hopes of finding a lucky coin concealed by the baker. Though St. Nikolaos may seem to be a more obvious inspiration for Santa Claus, it's St. Basil who visits with gifts on this day. Playing cards on a table covered with lucky green felt is also supposed to assure abundance the whole year through.
Many businesses, sites, and museums will close irregularly through the holiday season, though, officially, the actual dates of December 25th-26th and January 1st are the only ones supposed to be affected - but please don't count on this. There will be a small travel crunch just before Christmas and just after January first and again after the sixth, as some Greeks go home for the holidays and then return to Athens.
DECEMBER NAME DAYS, FESTIVALS, AND EVENTS
December - on Corfu - St. Spryidon
December 4th - St. Barbara - patron saint of the military.
December 4th - St. John of Damascus
December 5th - St. Savvas the Blessed
December 6th - Saint Nicholas Feast Day - widely observed
December 9th - Saint Anna day
December 12th - Saint Spyridon
December 13th - Saint Efstratos
December 15th - Saint Eleftherios
December 17th - St. Dionysos of Zakynthos
December 17th - The Prophet Daniel
December 20th - St. Ignatius the God-Bearer
December 22 - St. Anastasia the Healer from Poison
December 23rd - at Kozani/Siatista - Klarides - Festival with bonfires commemorating shepherds who proclaimed the birth of Jesus.
December 23rd- at Florina- Bonfires and caroling
December 24th - widely observed - caroling in the streets
December 25th - Christmas. Also, name day for Christos.
December 26th - The Most Holy Theotokos
December 27th - St. Stephen the First Martyr
December 31st - at Gythio - Exchange of gifts in the public square in the Nativity area. Fireworks, music, food.
December 31st - on Chios - Model ships carried while fishermen sing local songs.
December 31st - Throughout Greece - card playing on green covered tables, gift exchanges.
Feast days are usually celebrated at churches and monasteries named after the saint of that day.
More Resources:
Greece Through the Year
Bargains and Specials
Events Calendar
Detailed Weather Links
