Marinated deer ragoût with quinces mash

A delicious alternative for those who are not such big fans of roast turkey. An interesting dish which can be served anytime during the festive season but not only then, it can be a great Sunday meal!

Festive stuffed pumpkin with chicken (or turkey)

A delicious recipe! Very festive and a colourful addition on your Christmas or New Year table as a first dish. It needs its time but it is worth the trouble. Choose a good looking pumkin, well ripened and preferably a round one without any long "neck". Try it out to see if it is flat enough on the bottom so to be able to stand easily while cooking and for later on the table. Depending on how well ripened it is and the thickness of the flesh you might need to reduce or raise the time of cooking accordingly. You can always try the well known trick with a wooden skewer to be sure, it has to be soft inside

 

Isli - Traditional Christmas stuffed cookies

"Isli" are traditional Christmas cookies coming from the Greeks of Asia Minor and the origin of the name comes from Cappadocia (central Turkey region) which in a Turkish dialect literally means "this which exclusively is hand made". We could say that "Isli" are the Anatolian version of the "melomakarona". They are semi-syruped cookies which, according to the legend, were first invented by the "Karamanlides" (a Greek Orthodox, Turkish-speaking people native to the Karaman and Cappadocia regions of Anatolia. Today, a majority of the population live within Greece, though there is a notable diaspora in Western Europe and N. America). Karamanlides used to make Isli during the fasting periods of Easter and Christmas for the Orthodox Christians in Anatolia. Isli are shaped into triangles and the surface is then decorated with a fine (hand made) design with a special tool they used to have. This technique needs experience and patience so to make it last long after the cookies are baked. The basic ingredients for the stuffing are the walnuts and various spices, with the clove as the main one. The syrup needs to be light and in a specific temperature so to infuse the baked cookies properly without destroying their shape and texture. As I said, the recipe arrived with the Greeks of Asia Minor and until a couple of decades ago was not really as popular as other Christmas sweets. You would not find Isli easily in households others than those which had roots back in Smyrna and Constantinople or other places of Asia Minor which were full of Greeks. Nowadays though more and more people appreciate this special sweet and it is easier to find and buy even in sweet shops

Rice pilaf with chestnuts, walnuts and root vegetables

A tasty side dish to accompany the turkey or the roast meat at the Festive table this year but it can be served all year round. Rich in colour and ingredients this recipe will fully satisfy yours and your guests' appetite

Classic Vassilopita cake - Greek traditional New Year's Cake

"Vassilopita" or “Saint Basil's Cake" is basically a sweet bread and depending on the area it comes from, the recipe differs in texture and ingredients. Some resemble to a classic sponge cake with various spices and flavours added and others resemble more to the "Tsoureki" bread (a brioche type of dough which we also prepare for the Easter period). All recipes though have one thing in common, a coin which is usually baked along with the ingredients. Sweet flavouring is added to the bread which symbolize "the sweetness and joy of life everlasting". It also symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, liberty, health, and happiness for all who participate in the cake's cutting.

This, usually, takes place on New Year's Day (or often on New Year's Eve when the clock strikes midnight) and the bread is traditionally cut by the senior member of the family. The individual who receives the portion of the cake which contains the coin is considered blessed for the New Year. Each slice has a purpose starting with the piece cut in remembrance of Jesus. The second is for the Virgin Mary. The third is for St. Basil the Great, the other slices are cut for the members of the family beginning with the eldest. Slices may also be cut for the house, the traveler, the guests of that day and the poor.

This old tradition started in the last half of the 4th century, when Saint Basil the Great, who was a bishop, wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. He wanted to preserve their dignity so as not to look like charity. So, according to the legend, he commissioned some women to bake sweetened bread, in which he arranged to place gold coins. Thus the families in cutting the bread to nourish themselves, were pleasantly surprised to find the coins. St. Basil was born in 329 AD and he was one of the greatest Fathers of the Christian Church and he was Bishop of Caesarea, Cappadocia (in Asia Minor). He was the first person in human history to establish an orphanage for little children. He also founded the first Christian hospital in the world. His fame as a Holy Man spread very fast throughout the Byzantine world. He was considered one of the most wise and compassionate clergymen in the entire history of the Church.

His Feast Day is observed on January 1st, the beginning of the New Year and the Epiphany season. The Church, therefore, in respect for his many contributions to mankind in general, combined the joy and happiness of the New Year with the glory of the birth of Jesus and the Epiphany into what is known in the Orthodox Church as the "Vassilopitta Observance". I should mention that, for the Greeks, Saint Basil is the equevelant of Santa Claus and that's why we exchange our presents on New Year's Eve.
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The following recipe of Vassilopita is only one of many versions which can be found around Greece and the one that comes closer to my mother's recipe. Beside the sweet type of New Year's cakes (which they are the most common), in some regions like Epirus and Thrace, savoury versions of this special treat can be found which they are more like pies with phyllo pastry

Greek kataifi rolls

Kataifi, along with Baklava is one of the most popular and delicious Greek Desserts. It is made with a special type of shredded pastry called "kataifi" or "kadaifi" and so the specific sweet got its name from it. The pastry is like angel hair pasta and when rolled up resembles shredded wheat. It is often referred to as "shredded wheat dessert". A delectable nutty centre is rolled inside crisp, thread like strands of pastry, baked, then soaked in a sweet syrup. Like many other Greek desserts a sweet syrup is poured over to keep them from drying out and well preserved. This is a recipe that is also found in Turkey in a bit of a different form and other Middle East countries. Some versions of Kataifi use only almonds, but the recipe here today has a mixture of almonds and walnuts. You could also add pistachios. As the pastry is full of strands, it doesn't matter if you cut them or pull apart a bit. Kataifi is a dessert which can be served as one of the Christmas treats in some areas of Greece 

Baked rabbit with balsamic vinegar sauce and prunes

This is another delicious recipe for rabbit meat which can be served anytime but it is a great idea for your Christmas dinner if you want something different than the classic roast turkey. The balsamic vinegar gives a special flavour to the whole dish

Tart with Kadaifi pastry filled with leeks and prunes

An unusual and very tasty tart using Kadaifi pastry instead of the classic phyllo sheets or other pastry. A delicious recipe which can become one of the dishes you can serve during the Holiday season but of course it can also be served any other time

Mashed potatoes with leeks

An easy and very tasty variation of mashed potatoes. Great idea to accompany any roast meat or poultry dish. A more modern version which can be served along with other delicious dishes on the table during the Festive season but not only then

"Mandilakia" - Small phyllo pastry sweets stuffed with almond paste

"Mandilakia" literally means "small handkerchiefs (hankies)" and they got their name because of their shape. A traditional and very tasty recipe which in various areas of Greece is considered one of the Christmas delicacies to treat the guests. The quantity of the ingredients is big because simply you can never have enough!

Braised pork and lamb with quinces

Another delicious Winter dish for your Sunday dinner. Pork and lamb work together well in this recipe with the quinces giving an extra flavour to the whole dish

Chicken salad with pomegranate

A special and delicious salad dressed in Festive colours with an excellent taste! A nice idea for the turkey leftovers as well but it's for sure a salad you can serve anytime during Winter

Christmas whole roast piglet in the Greek way!

The most delicious recipe of all in my opinion during the Festive Season (but not only then)!!! A simple recipe with just a few simple ingredients but the result is something else!

Classic Greek Baklavas with walnuts

This is, probably, the most common version of Baklava in Greece and I don't think you need more details about this delicious and famous dessert. In many areas it is considered as the main Christmas dessert and often the women prefer to make their own, handmade phyllo sheets instead of using the store bought ones. It is a long procedure and needs a lot of patience (like my mother's...) to do this because the phyllo in Baklava has to be very very thin. Nowadays, though, at the Greek super markets a very thin type of phyllo pastry can be found easily under the name "Beirut Phyllo" referring exactly to this fine pastry since in Lebanon they are masters of this kind of syrup desserts

Christmas rice pilaf with chestnuts and chicken livers

An excellent sample of side dish next to your turkey, pork or other meat at the Christmas table. It can also be served as a main or first dish all year round. Another delicious recipe from the Greeks of Anatolia

"Saragli" Christmas phyllo rolls with pistachios and walnuts

A traditional syrupy sweet which can be found in various areas of Greece during the Christmas period but not only then. Because of the way it is shaped and cut it can be a perfect sweet treat any time of the year

Christmas stuffed turkey in the Greek way

One of many different versions of roast turkey from the Greek cuisine, maybe the most common and popular. It can be found in various regions around Greece and the variations have to do mainly with the different stuffings. Enjoy it in the Greek way this year!!

Oven-braised beef with vegetables and prunes

This is another classic dish and because it is cooked in the oven you don't need to worry for at least a couple of hours. Slow cooking gives a great taste to the whole dish

Classic "Kourabiedes" - GREEK traditional Christmas butter cookies

Important note and warning!

For those who have visited this specific recipe in my blog,

between November-December 2012

(or going to in the future), via the "Pinterest" site

assuming that when clicking on a specific post they will find

a recipe under the title 

"Classic Russian tea cookies {aka snowball cookies!}"

I'm afraid you've been misled!

I owe to let you know that what you are getting

clicking on that specific post is a traditional Greek recipe!!!

Kourabiedes is a delicate almond based cookie. This is the second most popular Christmas sweet but in various areas of Greece they are also offered as a treat on special occasions, like weddings and christenings. Legend has it that these cookies were crescent-shaped during the Turkish occupation of Greece, in deference to the Turkish flag. However, while crescent-shaped kourabiedes can still be found, after Greece regained independence from Turkey people in many parts of the country resumed making them in different shapes like oval, round or esses. The key ingredient and the secret for the best kourabiedes is the very, very good quality of butter you have to use ("pure butter" as we say in Greece, meaning cow's or goat's butter or a mixture of the two - although in the distant past people used to use lard since butter was not really something you could find in the region). With a good quality of butter you will achieve the most aromatic kourabiedes! Surfing around I noticed that Kourabiedes are quite similar to the "Mexican wedding cookies" and the "Russian tea cakes". There are minor variations for the Kourabiedes depending on the area they come from. Others they use whole almonds in or crushed and others they use walnuts. In some cases they add brandy or ouzo and in other cases, before icing, the cookes are drizzled with almond extract or rose water giving them a divine aroma!

Homemade Pomegranate liqueur

Beside all the vegetables and fruits the Geeks like to preserve and make spoon sweets and jams out of them another obsession of ours is to make home made liqueurs. Here is the first recipe for you and others will follow. A liqueur which adds something special to the long list of your Christmas treats for your guests but which you can keep serving and enjoying long after the festive season 

Pork fillet with chestnuts and walnuts sauce

A very rich in flavour recipe with a special sauce thanks to the chestnuts combined with the walnuts! A hearty Winter time dish to enjoy with the family

Classic Melomakarona - Christmas cookies with honey and spices

Melomakarona is one of the most classic and popular Christmas sweet in Greece. There are variations depending on the region they come from and also the last decade or so more modern versions can be found like those which are dipped in chocolate. The most classic versions are the plain ones (like my mother's) and those which are stuffed with nuts - a variation that can be found mainly in the Islands. There are those made exclusively of flour and those made of a mixture of flour and semolina. What all the versions have in common though is the olive oil. What makes melomakarona special is the honeyed syrup mixture the cookies are dipped into and the texture that arises from that process. The dipped cookies are pretty soft, due to the syrup, but are not chewy. The finished melomakarono has sweetness from the honey and sugar, a little spice from the cinnamon and cloves, and a nice crunch from the walnuts. With such combination of ingredients no wonder why they are so popular

Classic Christopsomo - Christmas Bread

Lets start our journey to the various Greek Christmas and New Year dishes

with the traditional Christmas bread

Christopsomo, litteraly meaning "Christ's Bread", is considered a sacred tradition in most Greek Orthodox homes, and the care with which it is made is said to ensure the well-being of the home in the year to come. Only the purest and most expensive ingredients are used for this bread. There are different versions of Christopsomo depending on the area it comes from or on the family's traditions. Basically it is like the normal bread but with a lot of decorations on top. More often is decorated with a cross, made of pieces of dough, and whole walnuts

Diples - Greek traditional Christmas deep fried sweets

"Diples" literally means "folds" in Greek. These deep fried delicate "cookies" are sometimes shaped in bowknots or other fancy shapes, depending on the region they come from, but for Christmas a lot of people make them in a shape suggestive of the swaddling clothes of the infant Jesus. They are honey rolls, so thin and flaky that they crumble when they are bitten. "Diples" are a traditional Christmas dessert made from thin sheet-like dough. Quickly the dough is rolled into long thin strips, cut into rectangles, and then fried in hot oil. Once they have cooled, they are dipped into a hot, syrup with honey. Traditionally, warm honey is used instead of syrup, and the diples are sprinkled with chopped walnuts and cinnamon. Diples are a speciality mainly coming from Peloponnese region where beside Christmas they are also served in other special occasions

 

Greek Christmas & New Year Traditions & Celebrations

Even though the Greek Christmas is regarded by many as not so popular as Easter period, we really have some very rich and colourful Christmas traditions. The Advent period is often taken very seriously by Orthodox Christians and those wishing to take communion on Christmas morning will be expected to fast during the whole period (or at least for the last three days). Fasting means abstaining from meat, eggs and dairy products as well as oil for those who are in a strict fast.

Christmas service takes place very early in the morning on Christmas Day and people gather at the church by the hundreds. If one sees someone at the end of Advent the traditional wish is “Good(Merry) Christmas” yet on Christmas Day the usual wish is not this but “Chronia polla” or “Many Years” (which is also the Greek traditional wish for important feast days, name days and birthdays).

We normally start decorating our homes rather late comparing to other European countries ie. just a week or ten days before Christmas when housewives will start making the traditional Christmas sweets such as “Kourabiedhes” and “Melomakarana”.

In Greece, initially, the Christmas tree was not among the traditional customs. People used (and fortunately still do in some areas) to decorate a small wooden (even handmade sometimes) boat, which was incorporated to the Greek tradition because we are a nautical country and much related to the marine traditions. This Christmas ship is sometimes carried around by carol-singers on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and on the Eve of Epiphany Day.

The Christmas tree became part of the Greek tradition when we started adopting many Western customs and habits. One of these was the Christmas tree in 1833 (after the revolution against the Ottomans and when we got our independence and Greece got her first Monarch, King Otto from Germany) and then the colourful lights we put on our balconies or in our living rooms and windows in order to add a touch of festive mood and ambience for these holy days. Decorations last till January 7th, on the day of Saint John, the next day of the Epiphany.

Christmas cards are not exchanged between members of the same family living together nor among friends who live near enough to be wished in person and on the phone. We tend to send cards to those friends and relatives who live far away and don't see often.

It is usually little children who sing the carols holding metal triangles and pass by houses very early in the morning and as an appreciation the housewifes treat them with Christmas sweets or some coins. There are three different carols in Greece, sung on Christmas Eve, on New Year’s Eve and the day before the Epiphany. The carols feature different verses, although their common ground is the offer of blessings and wishes to the household. There is an ancient song from the Homeric period which can still be heard today - with small changes - in the carols they use to sing in the area of Thrace:

"In this house we came of the rich-landlord

May its doors open for the wealth to roll in

The wealth and happiness and desired peace should enter

And may its clay jugs fill with honey, wine and oil

And the kneading tub with rising dough"

 

We tend to exchange holiday gifts on New Year’s Eve which is the most special day for children, according to the tradition of Father Christmas. The equivalent of St. Nicholas/Santa Claus for the Greeks is Saint Basil. He is the one who brings the gifts and leaves them below the tree for the kids and we leave a plate full of sweets and other delicacies for him. Saint Basil is not the same person as Santa Claus though; Saint Basil comes from Caesarea and not from Northern Europe....

On New Year's Eve, when the year changes at midnight, we usually turn the lights off and turn them on again a few seconds later; this is a move that symbolizes the new beginning. Then we sing the New Year's carol and exchange embraces, kissing and wishes with friends and family.

New Year’s Day is also St. Basil’s feast day (and the name day for anyone called Vassilis or for girls called Vassiliki – not to mention the day when the Orthodox Church celebrates the circumcision of Christ). Early in the morning on New Year’s Day a child (invariably a boy) does the "first-footing", as we say, by bringing a strange plant called a “dog onion” to the house and it is for good luck. This is a plant with a few thick green leaves and a bulb that is wrapped with aluminum foil. This plant has several names depending on which area it comes from. The boy who brings this plant to the house will be given a small amount of money as a gift for the New Year. Also on New Year’s Day there is the interesting custom of breaking a pomegranate at the door-step for good luck, health and prosperity.

A special cake is eaten on this day (or on New Year's Eve just after midnight) called the “Vassilopita” or St. Basil’s Cake in which a lucky coin has been baked in. Yet before this can be found, the head of the house must first cross the cake with his knife and then cut the first slice for God, then the next for the baby Christ, followed by the “All Holy”, as Mary is called, then the next slice for the house and after for each member of the family starting with the eldest. The one who finds the lucky coin in their piece will have good luck for the rest of the year. At the meal table there is also a special decorated round loaf called St. Basil’s bread (which is really identical in form to the “Christopsomo” (“Christ bread”) eaten on Christmas Day and the “Lights bread” that will be eaten on Epiphany Day).

Holiday meals are a big part of the overall Christmas tradition in Greece; we prepare the sweets first of all, because in many areas sweets are associated with happiness and hospitality. Preparation of Christmas sweets starts usually towards the second half of December, when the festive mood is much more evident. The most common sweets are Melomakarona and Kourabiedes for Christmas period and of course the Saint Basil's cake made for the New Year.

On Christmas day the family meal usually is roasted piglet with baked potatoes, salads and soups. "Lamb fricassee" or "rabbit stifado" are two other very popular dishes. In many households they prefer a roast Turkey which is a dish that becomes more and more popular nowadays and we usually cook it with a filling containing chestnuts, pine seeds, ground meat and raisins stuffed in the bird's belly.

On New Year’s Eve and first day, there is no particular food that has to be prepared, although the table should be rich and full – prosperity is always an issue for the coming year and a full dinner table is synonymous to good fortune and richness for the household.

Throughout the Twelve days of Christmas it is of interest to note that all houses are vulnerable to a malicious type of pixy called “Kallikantzari” (sing. “Kallikantzaros”) who play tricks on housewives, put out the fire and urinate on the Christmas food if it is not covered at night. They also saw the root of a huge trunk on which rests the foundations of the world.... the myth says. When the Good comes, the Evil has to leave and hide in the dark where it keeps living and grows based on its evilness. This is what happens with the Kalikantzaroi, the little black, hairy monsters that come up on earth a little before Christmas, but are forced to go down to the bowels of the Earth before the sanctification on the Epiphany day. The legend of Kalikantzaroi is a very common legend in Greece, and these creatures are associated with everything evil and bad.

The Greek Christmas celebrations conclude with the festival of “The Lights” as Epiphany Day is also called in Greece. In the Orthodox Church this feast is important commemorating Christ's baptism at Jordan river and is also associated with the blessing of the waters and can be quite spectacular in some towns. On the Eve of this day the priest will go round all houses and sprinkle holy water to bless the houses and all those who live there. On the day of Epiphany there is the "Great Holy" service in the church. In some larger churches, in Athens and elsewhere, a pair of doves are released from the bell-tower. In the port of Pireus (and other ports around Greece) and in most islands the priest throws the cross into the sea and a few young men will dive in to retrieve it – the one who catches the cross is being blessed.

Epiphany can really be seen to be the culmination of the Christmas season. The next day is St. John’s Day (i.e. 7th January). On this day everyone called Yiannis and Ioanna (John/Joanna) has their name day and relatives and friends who visit will still see the Christmas decorations up in the home. The decorations will be taken down on 8th January. This is also the time when children go back to school – i.e. on the first weekday after St. John’s Day.