Greece in Winter
Spending the holidays in Hellas? Travel to Greece in December and January provides off-season discounts, light crowds, good air quality in Athens, and rich and moving Christmas pageantry, followed by New Year's celebrations and Epiphany.
| January Quick Look Mainland Weather: Cold and wet; snow in the mountains. Island/Coastal Weather: Cold, wet (sometimes even snowy), and windy. Sunny, pleasant days very limited. Prices: Low Events: Many events, mainly aimed at Greek aficionados of the arts. New Year's celebrations, then Epiphany on Jan 6th. Plays, concerts, etc. in Athens and Thessaloniki, many other locations. Facilities: Hotels and restaurants on many islands will be closed. Ski season is in full swing, though bad weather may interfere. 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.
On January 8th, a few remote villages practice role-reversal, with the women pursuing male activities (mainly consisting of drinking coffee at the kafeneions and playing cards) while the men attempt to fulfill the women's roles at home. An evening celebration follows as things return to "normal" for another year - and possibly some new understanding lingers, at least for a few months!
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Christmas Customs of Greece
Greece Through the Year
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