Posted on

Strikes & Work stoppages in Greece UPDATED!

 



You can be sure you’ll get the most updated and to the last minute information

*

Before publishing any announcement about strikes in Greece and sending you the updates, we refer 24/7 to all the official media, news agencies, transportation sites, union websites/announcements, Greek and English speaking newspapers, major television and radio news, always double checking each announcement so that you get the most reliable, accurate  and to the last minute updated information.

As this is changing rapidly and several times during a day, please check the announcements constantly on our website: www.livinlovin.gr. You can also like our Official Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/livinlovinathens, or Follow us: @livinlovin.gr on Twitter to be sure you’ll get all the information needed.

We have to give credits to: http://www.tanea.gr/, http://www.in.gr/, http://www.tovima.gr/, http://www.enet.gr/, http://www.skai.gr/, http://www.kathimerini.gr/, http://www.naftemporiki.gr/(all these in Greek), http://www.ekathimerini.com/

and http://www.enetenglish.gr/ (in English), TV news agencies megaTV and skai TV, major radio stations like Skai radio, Athina 9,84, Real FM and Vima FM, Internet websites:  http://www.athenstransport.com/ for which we get all transpotation news,  http://www.oasa.gr/ and http://www.apergia.gr/ (all in Greek), and many more.

***

METRO & SUBURBAN (Proastiakos) MAP

***

 

FORTHCOMING STRIKES

LATEST UPDATE: 30/04/25, @ 18:00

THURSDAY 1st MAY Labor Day !!!

 
So far, the following Unions have announced their participation:
 
* METRO Blue Line 3 & Red Line 2 : will be running from 09:00 to 15:00
*** Please check out further down the last itineraries 
 
* The Syntagma and Panepistimio Metro Stations will be closed by the police until further notice, with trains passing through these stations without stopping.
 
* Electric Railways Green Line 1:  24-hour strike
 
* the TRAM: 24-hour strike
 
* Hellenic Train, National Railways OSE : 24- hour strike
and 
* The Suburban Railways (Proastiakos): to/from the Athens Airport included, 24 -hour strike
 
Part of the Hellenic Train routes, including the routes of the Athens Suburban Train is expected to be done with security staff.
 
  •  Buses: will be running from 09:00 to 21:00
  • The Trolley Buses: will be running from 09:00 to 21:00

Note that traffic is expected to be restored after 10:00 a.m., and vehicles will begin to pull out at (or before) 8:00 p.m.

  • EXPRESS BUSES (X Buses) TO ATHENS AIRPORT: the express buses to the Athens Airport are also affected, and will be running like the Blue Buses

The last trains will depart: – from Anthoupoli to Elliniko at 14:42, – from Elliniko to Anthoupoli at 14:37, – from Municipal Theatre to D. Plakentias at 14:44, – from D. Plakentias to Municipal Theatre at 14:36, – from Airport to Municipal Theatre the first train will depart at 09:10 and the last at 13:58, – from Municipal Theatre to Airport the first train will depart at 09:06 and the last at 13:54.

  • TAXIS: Will be running as usual
* PNO (Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation): 24-hour strike. All ships will stay docked from 00:01 of Thursday May 1, to 24:00 of the same day
 
* * GSEE (Private Sector Workers Union): 24- hour strike
 
* ADEDY (Public Sector Workers Union):  24 – Hour strike
That affects you if you have dealings with: tax offices, court houses, post offices, public schools, state hospital doctors, Citizens’ Information Centre (KEP), OAED, etc, or if you are planning to visit a  Public-run museum or archaeological site (not all of them), – private museums (NAM, Benaki, will be unaffected.
 
* POEDIN (Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers):​  
 
*EEEKE (Air Traffic Controllers’ Association of Greece):   
 

Customers are kindly advised to check the latest flight details by visiting the official website of AEGEAN www.aegeanair.com and Olympic Air www.olympicair.com or by calling:

AEGEAN:
From Greece: 801 11 20000
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 6261000

OLYMPIC AIR:
From Greece: 801 801 0101
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 3550500

info: 8018010101 (if you are calling from α landline) and +302103550500 (if you are calling from α cell phone or from abroad) click on: YOUR AIRLINE

​
  • PSA (Pharmacist​s’ Assosiation of Attica): 3-hour workstoppage from 11:00 to 14:00
 
* PIS (Panhellenic Doctor’s Association):  calls on its members to offer free services to young people, aged 16 to 30, on February 28, on the occasion of the two-year anniversary of the Tempi tragedy.
 
 

​* EINAP (Panhellenic Union of Public Hospital Doctors):​

​* POEDIN (Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers):​

​* OMYLE (Port Employees Union & Dock Workers Union):​

* OLME (Federation of Secondary education State School  Teachers):​  24-hour strike

Please check out the “Strikes Day by Day” section further down for details.

****************************************************

CANCELLED & RESCEDULED FLIGHTS

 Please contact Aegean Air at:  Reservations: 801-1120000, 210-6261000
Airport: 210-3530101, 210-3534289-– 92  

Customers are kindly advised to check the latest flight details by visiting the official website of AEGEAN www.aegeanair.com and Olympic Air www.olympicair.com or by calling:

AEGEAN:
From Greece: 801 11 20000
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 6261000

OLYMPIC AIR:
From Greece: 801 801 0101
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 3550500

info: 8018010101 (if you are calling from α landline) and +302103550500 (if you are calling from α cell phone or from abroad) click on: YOUR AIRLINE

 

  • Our website www.livinlovin.gr and Facebook Page www.facebook.com/livinlovinathens will be constantly updated as more information comes in. 

***

TRAINOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization) & SUBURBAN (Proastiakos) MAP:

*

***

Alternatively to/from the Athens Airport you can use: LINK

The Suburban Railway

X-BUSES

As an alternative to/from the Athens Airport you can use the X-Buses Click HERE for the timetable, itineraries and info. 

TAXIS

Or TAXIS Click for the Official ATHENS AIRPORT TAXI Website (all fares, itineraries, durations, etc)

***

Bear in mind 1. that the EXPRESS (X) BUSES TO ATHENS AIRPORT:

  During the Blue Buses strike, all buses (including the Express Buses to/from the Athens Airport) are affected. A 24- hour strike is from 00:01 to 00:59 

*

* The Syntagma and Panepistimio Metro Stations will be closed by the police until further notice, with trains passing through these stations without stopping.

Bear in mind 2. that in case of a strike of the OSE & PROASTIAKOS (Suburban) trains the Metro Blue Line 3 goes as far as Doukissis Plakendias metro station and NOT to the Athens International Airport. 

*

Bare in Mind 3. In case of a strike of the Suburban Railways, you can use the X-Buses to/from the Athens Airport. Click HERE for info. 

You can be sure you get the most reliable, accurate  and to the last minute updated information.

***

Alternatively to/from the Athens Airport you can use Click on the link:

How to transfer between the Athens Airport – Piraeus port – and the city

Credits to: athenstransport.com

***

Athens Transport information in English

  https://www.athenstransport.com/english/

*

You can be sure you’ll get the most updated and to the last minute information

***

 

Please check out “Day by Day” section below. Info will be updated as soon as it comes out

Many thanks to Athens Transport – Μέσα Μαζικής Μεταφοράς της Αθήνας for the info during 2017, and we are looking forward to their contribution in the NEW YEAR !!!

***

In case of a strike of the EEEKE (Air Traffic Controllers’ Association of Greece_),

customers are kindly advised to check the latest flight details by visiting the official website of AEGEAN www.aegeanair.com and Olympic Air www.olympicair.com or by calling:

AEGEAN:
From Greece: 801 11 20000
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 6261000

OLYMPIC AIR:
From Greece: 801 801 0101
From abroad or mobile: + 30 210 3550500

info: 8018010101 (if you are calling from α landline) and +302103550500 (if you are calling from α cell phone or from abroad) click on: YOUR AIRLINE

***

CONNECT WITH US & STAY INFORMED:

CLICK ON

LIKE US

FOLLOW US

 

For INFO about how to get to and from the Athens Airport (including X BUSES), to Athens centre, to Piraeus, etc CLICK HERE.

*

INFO about the X BUSES to /from the airport, routes, timetables etc, click on: Athens Airport Bus

*

Bear in mind. EXPRESS BUSES TO ATHENS AIRPORT:

  During the Blue Buses strike, all buses (including the Express Buses to the Athens Airport) are affected.

*

(*) Bear in mind that in case of a strike of the OSE & PROASTIAKOS (Suburban) trains the Metro Blue Line 3 goes as far as Doukissis Plakendias metro station and NOT to the Athens International Airport. Click on the link:

***

(**)Bear in mind that Trains, Buses and Trolleys will begin withdrawing from service at least one hour earlier and will not be back in service until (at least) an hour after the end of strike/ work stoppage

***

 EXPRESS BUSES TO ATHENS AIRPORT:

FYI:  during the Blue Buses work stoppage or strike, all buses (including the Express X-Buses to the Athens Airport) are affected.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 STRIKES DAY by DAY

(as announced) 

 M O N D A Y  03/04/23

***

TAXIS: working as usual 

am5 (1)ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): working as usual

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green line): working as usual

BLUE BUSES:    work stoppage from 11:00 to 16:00

Bear in mind EXPRESS (X) BUSES TO ATHENS AIRPORT: During the Blue Buses strike, all buses – including the Express Buses to/from the Athens Airport – are affected.

TROLLEY BUSES:  work stoppage from 11:00 to 16:00

TRAM: working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization): working as usual

***

T U E S D A Y  04/04/23

***

TAXIS: working as usual 

am5 (1)ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): (lines 2 and 3): 24 – hour strike.

        NO METRO connection with the Athens Airport.

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green line):  24 – hour strike

BLUE BUSES:   working as usual

TROLLEY BUSES: working as usual

TRAM: 24 – hour strike

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization):  working as usual

***

W E D N E S D A Y  05/04/23

  •  

taxi12TAXIS: working as usual

ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): working as usual

 ELECTRIC RAILWAYS(Green line):  working as usual

BLUE BUSES: working as usual

TROLLEY BUSES: working as usual

TRAM: working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban) & Train-OSE (Hellenic Railways Organization):  working as usual

T H U R S D A Y  06/04/23

*

TAXIS: will be working as usual.

ATTIKO METRO (Line 3 Blue & 2 Red ):   will be working as usual

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green Line 1): will be working as usual

BLUE BUSES:  will be working as usual

TROLLEY BUSES:  will be working as usual

TRAM:  will be working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization):        will be working as usual

***

F R I D A Y  07/04/23

***

TAXIS: will be working as usual

ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): will be working as usual

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green Line): working as usual

BLUE BUSES: will be working as usual  

TROLLEY BUSES:  will be working as usual 

TRAM: working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization):

working as usual

 

***

S A T U R D A Y  08/04/23

***

TAXIS: working as usual 

am5 (1)ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): working as usual

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green line): working as usual

BLUE BUSES: working as usual

TROLLEY BUSES: working as usual

TRAM: working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization): working as usual

 

***

S U N D A Y  09/04/23

***

TAXIS: working as usual 

am5 (1)ATTIKO METRO (Blue & Red lines): working as usual

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS (Green line): working as usual

BLUE BUSES: working as usual

TROLLEY BUSES: working as usual

TRAM: working as usual

PROASTIAKOS (Suburban), & TrainOSE (Hellenic Railways Organization): working as usual

 

************************************************************

Airport EXPRESS Bus Connections

To and from the Athens International Airport

www.athenstransport.gr

……………………………………………………………….

Posted on

Carnival or Apokries in Greece


WHAT ARE THESE COWBOYS AND WITCHES DOING AROUND ATHENS?

No, don’t worry, we haven’t lost our national character or costumes, it’s Carnival or Apokries in Greece, a feast  of fun celebrated all over the country with masquerade and parties.

This festival dates back to Dionyssus, the ancient Greek god of wine and fun and it was meant to worship him  as well as to help the earth put forth shoots-hence the various leaping dances and the various kinds of disguise in order to please harmful spirits. In ancient Greece this festival took place in early spring, today it’s celebrated 40 days before Easter, so we can see that this ceremony has been incorporated into the Christian religion.
The name APOKRIES means “abstention from meat” , because  after that starts the period of Lent that goes on till Easter.
The characteristic of Carnival is disguising and wearing masks. Can you see what the masks remind you of?  YES ! The clay masks worn by actors in ancient Greek theatre. The costumes and disguises offered-and still do- anonymity and freedom of expression.
Apokries is celebrated all over Greece, with feasts that can’t always be described as ‘decent”- in memory of Dionyssus and his followers, who worshiped the phallus and fertility. The songs sung again cannot be described as “decent”, and if you go I hope your Greek is not enough to help you understand the lyrics !!!
This year  the beginning of Carnival or Triodion was on the 21st February – by Tiodion we mean, the beginning of the 3-week Carnival Season which ends on Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) 15/03/21, the beginning of Lent before Easter.  In between is  TSIKNOPEMPTI,  a very interesting feast, a Thursday when everyone eats meat (04/03). Tsiknopempti  is supposed to be the last meat-eating until Easter (02/05, this year).
The end of Carnival is marked by KATHARI DEFTERA, “Clean Monday”, 15/03 this year, and a long weekend .This Monday is “clean” because we get really serious about not eating meat and going healthy and we eat seafood, pickles, laganes ( a kind of flat round bread) and tarama (a dip made of fish eggs), all that accompanied by wine-that’s when we forget about being serious!
We also fly kites! Preferably in places without electricity wires above, hoping to get the right wind and trying to hush kids up when they go “:But I thought the kite was for ME, daddy, not for you and your friends !!!” NOTE THAT Kite flying will be allowed this Kathari Deftera, only in areas walking distance from your residence.
With that we leave you, hoping you will enjoy Kathari Deftera in Greece and come back with your experiences from this cheerful holiday !!!
photos are from Karnavali of Patras, the Carnival parade ! (from their official cite)
Posted on

Martis or Martia

 


Dearest friends,

This little bracelet is called MARTIS or MARTIA and mothers used to make it for their children-now we make it ourselves-to protect them from the first hot sun of spring.

The MARTIS bracelet custom dates back into time, as you can imagine-everything here does, right? – and was found in the Elefsinian rituals, Its name was KROKI and it was a bracelet worn by the priestesses of the temple in Elefsina around their right hand and left foot.

You are supposed to wear it during the whole month and then, when the first swallows are back, you hang it on your rose bushes so that the swallows take them to build their nests.
If you don’t have rose bushes, hang it somewhere for the swallows to see.

Do you like mine ? 

Posted on

An Ancient Greek eye on Meteorology

To everyone’s delight, the Αlkyonides days have come again this year!

We can see you wondering: the what???

The alkyonides days, the days of spring in the heart of winter. These days usually last from 15 December to 15 February and they visit Greece every year, with few exceptions,  ie. 1947.

Do you know the myth about them? Alkyoni was  daughter of Aiolos, God of the winds,  and was married to Kiykos. They were so happily married and so much in love that they called each other Zeus and Hera. The real Zeus and Hera felt deeply offended by the sacrilege and decided to punish them severely. So they transformed Kiykos into a bird, a vulcher. Alkyoni searched for her beloved husband everywhere, but couldn’t find him anywhere. She cried and cried until the Gods decided to transform her into a bird as well,  alkyoni. The problem was that alkyoni is the only sea-bird that lays and hatches its eggs in mid-winter. As a result of that, the waves carried them away and she was left in despair. The gods then, touched by her misfortune and misery, decided to cease the bad weather for two weeks to give alkyoni time to reproduce.  So,  as we can all see, there are some days of spring in the heart of winter which give us the opportunity to … hatch our eggs, take them out in the sunshine, admire them as they are riding their bikes while we are enjoying the heightened temperatures for the season.

(this is one of quite a few versions)

Posted on

SHARING the Athens WE LOVE with YOU !#1

PEOPLE LOVE our Tours & Walks … we LOVE THEM too!

*

*

We started the tour by climbing up from Dion.-Aeropagitou to Anafiotika


What’s this plant?

Do you know how Lecabettus Hill was made?

How a 1870 building can host modern art.

Old Greek ads and posters.

Spice and herbs kingdom

A touch of red!

Dried pepper kingdom

A small chapel with fantastic icons.

Reaching the Central Market.

The fishmonger of our hearts is recommending fish that…

“Barba-Mitsos” grilled for us.

“No diet” day!

PLEASE NOTE THAT: The itinerary is never prefabricated as flexibility is our motto !

Posted on

Distinguished EPITAFIOS in Athens

Some of you are going to be in Athens during Easter, so we thought it would be nice if you knew where to find the most picturesque and traditional Epitafios (a procession of the icons and the coffin of Jesus Christ around the streets of the district).

*

It ‘s always on Good Friday evening, usually around 8 or 9, except the Monastery of Kaisariani where it takes place 2 – 2:30 in the afternoon through the forest.
So, the most beautiful are in Plaka, at the churches of Agia Aikaterini (starts at 19.30)
and Metohi Panagiou Tafou in Erextheos str.(starts at 19.00).
*
Other churches where the Epitafios are special and have beautiful choirs are: Kapnikarea church on Ermou street, Agios Georgios Karytsis with singers from the National Opera in Karytsi square, Agia Eirini on Aiolou street and, more quiet and peaceful, Agios Dimitrios in Plaka (7, Epimenidou street).
Another idea is the monasteries of Pendeli, Agios Ioannis Kynigos in Agia Paraskevi.
*
Remember to have candles with you (brown for Friday, white or a decorated or plain white one for Saturday) and enjoy it with all your heart!

What follows on the video is perhaps the most beautiful hymn of the Greek Orthodox Church.

It’s the mourning of Virgin Mary for her dead son. Although it may sound strange to you, try to listen to it, especially after 4.25”. The singer is a very young traditional music singer, but her performance in Byzantine music is remarkable.  We would love to hear some of your impressions.
*

Posted on

MY EASTER SMELLS OF …

Easter for me has very specific smells that bring back memories from my childhood.

All that being said, I can confide in you that Easter smells of violets – understandable! -ammonia, that my mom used in Easter cookies to help them raise -NOT pleasant- and sour orange tree blossoms that bloomed in every neighbourhood,and still do.

 That’s about my Easters in Athens as a child.

Now let’s talk about YOUR Easter in Greece, or better, what we think your Easter in Greece should be like and what you should not miss.
*
CORFU is famous for having a very artistic and …musical Easter.
On Good Thursday and Good Friday you can attend the mass at the Cathedral – with an organ -, the bands go around the streets playing mournful music, and the procession of Epitafios through the little streets of the old town late in the evening give an air of mysticissm and sanctity. The hymns of Good Friday are my personal favourites!
All that until Saturday morning at 11, when people break pottery by throwing them from the windows, in an attempt to chase THE evil-which is not intimidated at all, as we can all see!!!!
*
CHIOS island and a lot more, like Kalymnos, are famous for the “rocket war”, a very fierce and loud firework throwing and battle between neighbourhoods.
 Very spectacular, very loud!
*
HYDRA, this very special island of Argosaronikos, is famous for putting the Epitafios into the sea in order to bless the sea water. Considering that Hydra was a naval society that depended on sea fares and trade, that makes perfect sense.
*
In the CYCLADES I have my personal favourites:
Paros, and more specifically the Epitafios in Marpissa and Santorini in Pyrgos, one of the most beautiful villages of the island, with the little lanterns on the slope of the rock that light up the whole place.
*
CRETE.
 What I like about Easter in Crete is -except for the food and the music and dancing that I adore – is the burning of Judas after the resurrection. One big dummy that represents Judas is placed on a bonfire-with a whistle in his…well, backside, and is burned after church with everyone celebrating and the whistle blowing.
Mmmmmm, interesting habit!
*
LEONIDIO IN ARKADIA , PELOPONNISOS
.A sweet place, quite near Athens, with small pebble beaches and mountain villages, with a very particular habit:
On Saturday, as soon as the priest announces the resurrection of Jesus -that’s midnight – the sky is filled with paper balloons of various colours that are made by the local people or neighbourhoods. Very spectacular!
 
*
The other areas celebrate Easter in their own ways, all very particular and all related to the local habits, customs and traditions. I cannot recommend only one place, there are too many! Remember that Easter is our most important Christian holiday.
So, find your own favourite place, go, enjoy, come back and tell us:
WHAT DOES YOUR EASTER SMELL LIKE?
Posted on

EASTER SHOPPING HOURS 2019

 

Easter holiday shopping hours  begin on Thursday 18/04/19

 

THURSDAY 18/04 & FRIDAY 19/04

All shops will be open from 9:00 to 21:00

*

SATURDAY 20/04, from 9:00 to 18:00

 

PALM SUNDAY 21/04, from 11:00 to 18:00

 

HOLY WEEK:

*

Holy MONDAY 22/04 to Holy THURSDAY 25/04/2019

from 9:00 to 21:00

 

GOOD FRIDAY : 26/04:  from 13:00 to 19:00

 

Holy SATURDAY: 27/04 from 09:00 to 15:00

 

EASTER SUNDAY 28/04: CLOSED

 &

MONDAY (after Easter) 29/04: CLOSED

&

from TUESDAY 30/04: 

regular shopping hours

 

 

Posted on

“Kalin imeran archondes” (“good day Lords”)

(photo)”Children singing the Christmas carols”:

painting by Nikiforos Lytras

carols-lytrasIf someone rings your doorbell early in the morning of  24, 31 December or 5 January, don’t think it’s a naughty neighbor determined to wake you up, it will probably be children singing the “calanda”, the Greek  Christmas carols. These are sung by groups of children or, at least two, accompanied by little triangles, accordions, or guitars. As you open the door, the children will ask you: “Na ta poume?” (Shall we say them?). Your line here is: “Na ta pite” (go ahead and say them). After 25 groups of carol singers you may say: No, thank you, or just not open. Now, you should know that our calanda are very cheerful and joyful songs, they go way back in history (like everything else here), you will absolutely love them, you won’t understand a word because the language is formal Greek with a touch of Ancient Greek. Therefore, open your purse and give the little ones some money, even if you hated them, just for the time they spent learning all these words! You know, in the past homeowners offered the children sweets and pastries, but now…you can’t really pay for your PLAYSTATION with melomakarona, can you?

We’ll be back with more about Christmas in Greece.

* “children singing the Christmas carols”: by Nikiforos Lytras

 

Posted on

Christmas Customs in Greece

Christmas in Greece can be a lot of things: it can be White-unusual ! – or warm, or HOT ! But in any case, it’s celebrated all over the country, maybe not as gloriously as in the rest of the world-let’s not forget that Easter is our biggest holiday-but our customs are quite interesting and some of them date back into history. Let’s see some of them:

CALANDA (Greek Christmas carols):

If someone rings your doorbell early in the morning of 24, 31 December or 5 January, don’t think it’s a naughty neighbour determined to wake you up, it will probably be children singing the “calanda”, the Greek Christmas carols. These are sung by groups of children or at least two, accompanied by little triangles, accordions, or guitars. As you open the door, the children will ask you: “Na ta poume?” (Shall we say them?). Your line here is: “Na ta pite” (go ahead and say them). After 25 groups of carol singers you may say: No, thank you, or just not open. Now, you should know that our calanda are very cheerful and joyful songs, they go way back in history (like everything else here), you will absolutely love them, you won’t understand a word because the language is formal Greek with a touch of Ancient Greek. Therefore, open your purse and give the little ones some money, even if you hated them, just for the time they spent learning all these words!

*

dsc00265-300x225

Our personal favourite sweet and custom of the New Year is the VASILOPITA, the cake we cut and share on New Year’s Eve or Day. The vasilopita is usually a cake with a coin inside it. As we cut and share it, we cut the first pieces for Jesus, Saint Basil, the poor, the house, and then the members of the family and the friends. The “head” of the family — grand father or father — does the cutting and sharing, the rest of us search to find the coin, as whoever gets it will be the luckiest one throughout the year. Now the history behind this tradition is: In the 14th century Cappadokia, a Byzantine province in Asia Minor, suffered from famine but this fact did not stop the heartless eparch* of the town from demanding to get the taxes, threatening the town with destruction. St.Vasilios, the Bishop in Caesareia, urged the people to offer their valuables in order to rescue their town. The people obeyed and Saint Vasilios collected a pile of offerings to give the eparch*, but the last minute he managed to smooth his heart and change his mind. Now Saint Vasilios had a problem: he was left with a pile of valuables to give back to the people, without knowing who they belonged to! So, he got a brilliant idea: he asked the baker to bake one small cake for each family and he put one piece of jewellery inside. And the miracle happened: each family got what they had given!!! Ever since that time we celebrate this event by sharing the cake with the coin – only one coin, no more…

Eparch: in the Byzantine Empire, the governor of an eparchy

*

karagkiozis-kallikantzaroiweb

So, now that you know about these customs and habits, you can celebrate Christmas and the New Year in happiness and….more knowlegdable, until we get back from the holidays and find out about… KALIKANTZARI !