{"id":24329,"date":"2020-12-03T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=24329"},"modified":"2020-12-03T19:42:25","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T18:42:25","slug":"greek-christmas-differs-regular-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/greek-christmas-differs-regular-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"6 ways a Greek Christmas differs from your regular Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dreaming of spending the Christmas holidays in Greece? You\u2019re in for a treat! The Greeks have all kinds of unique and wonderful Christmas traditions. Even better, the festivities begin as soon as December hits and last until early January… So there\u2019s plenty of time to get your dose of Christmas cheer. From decorated boats and Greek Santa, to the kalanda and vasilopita, here\u2019s how to celebrate Christmas in Greece<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Greek Santa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The merry, rotund, red-suited Santa Claus, is the iconic symbol of Christmas around the world. But in Greece, he\u2019s a little different. While your regular Santa originates from Saint Nicholas, the Greek Santa is called \u2018Agios Vasilis\u2019, meaning Saint Basil, or Basil of Caesarea. As one of the Three Hierarchs, Saint Basil the Great was known for caring for the ill, building hospitals and giving to the poor, and he became known as the saint who gives gifts at Christmas in Greece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED CONTENT: <\/strong>Our guide to Greece: everything you need to know<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Christmas boats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by The KNLs \/_\\ A piece of Greece (@theknls)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>