CONTENT:

1. POLAND

2. GREECE

3. TURKEY

4. ROMANIA

5. SPAIN

6. FRANCE

7. ITALY

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/afyreezvst25

CHRISTMAS

AND NEW YEAR

AROUND EUROPE

POLAND

24 December

Christmas Eve dinner, also known as Wigilia, starts when the first star appears in the sky. Nothing is to be eaten until all members of the family have broken the Christmas wafers (opłatek) together and exchanged wishes for good health and prosperity.

The supper, which traditionally includes 12 dishes and desserts.

According to tradition, bits of hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. Meat is not allowed.

It’s Polish tradition that no food should be eaten until the first star in the sky appears on Christmas Eve. Children often position themselves in a window searching for the first twinkling light. This tradition is symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem which the Bible says guided the Wisemen to find Jesus.

The most popular dishes are:

CARP

RED BORSCHT

It's betroot

soup.

BOILED DUMPLINGS WITH CABBAGE AND MUSHROOM FILLING

Animals Can Speak

This old Polish legend claims that at midnight on Christmas Eve, animals are given the ability to speak. The story claims that they were given the ability to speak in order to welcome baby Jesus to earth. Children sometimes try to communicate with the family pets, unsuccessfully.

Attending Midnight Mass

At midnight after the Wigilia celebration, many Poles attend Midnight Mass at the church.

Summary:

There are 2 days of Christmas in Poland:

25th, 26th of December, but we celebrate also on 24th December - it is Christmas Eve.

31th December- New Year's Eve.

We go to the parties, dance, meet family and friends and let the fireworks to welcome a New Year. It's a great time.

Greece

Christmas Boats and Trees

Although Christmas trees are extremely popular in the States, both Christmas trees and boats can be found in the villages of the Greek islands. Throughout the country’s history, Greek wives and children would decorate wooden boats to welcome their husbands and sons back from the sea, safe from harm. Today, the tradition still stands.

Children Sing Kalanta

On Christmas Eve, it’s common in Greece for children to flock from home to home in their neighborhoods to sing Greek Christmas carols, or “kalanta.” After wishing their neighbors happy holidays, the children are usually rewarded with sweets, dried fruits and small change.

Kourabiedes and Melomakarona Sweets

From baklava to rizogalo, if you’ve ever tried a sweet treat at The Simple Greek, then you should be familiar with the Greeks’ love for delicious desserts. And during the Christmas season, Greeks pull out all the baking stops, making traditional favorites like diples, almond kourabiedes and soft melomakarona, dipped in syrup.

Christmas in Florina, Greece

This is the main bonfire lit in Florina on 23rd December.

Bonfires in Florina are a really old custom and are associated with fertility, fruition and with the winter solstice (on 21st of December), where after the longest night of the year, people are getting prepared for the rebirth of nature.

They also symbolize the fire that the shepherds lit in the manger to keep Christ warm.

TÜRKİYE

New Year Dinner

The whole family come together and have dinner on 31st December. They usually have turkey or chicken. Various kinds of beverages, cake and nuts are also bought for that night.