Page 15 - IE Mag December 2018_Neat

GREEK COMMUNITY MANAGER -

YIANNIS

Greece has a long navy history
"As far as Greece is concerned, Kourabies with almonds or covered
heading back to Odysseus times,
since most of the country’s citizens in chocolate are two modern
are orthodox, Christmas is but this tradition has been versions of this sweet. As far as the
around for only a few hundred
celebrated widely. However, melomacarona, this pastry goes
years. Seamen’s wives started this
habits differ in this part of Europe. really viral these days in Greek
habit to welcome back their
For instance, Santa Claus doesn’t social media with hundreds of
bring the presents to children on beloved husbands who had been funny memes being made since its
away for months. They decorated a
Christmas Eve, but with a 6-day name literally means macaroni
small wooden boat as proof of their
delay on New Year’s Eve! There’s (pasta) with honey. Of course, this
happiness that they're back.
an explanation about it; the tasty pastry has nothing to do with
equivalent Santa Claus in Greece is Nowadays, if you ever visit a Greek pasta, however honey is the main
house you will probably find a
actually Saint Basil the Great ingredient of this cookie. You can
decorated boat along with a tree.
who's celebration is on the 1st of find both of them in every bakery
Melomacarona and kourabies are
January. and patisserie in Greece during this
What is more, it’s a popular tradition the two traditional pastries that are period, however it’s considered
made exclusively around the
to decorate a boat in your home quite shameful for a housewife not
Christmas period! Kourabies are a
instead of a tree. Yes, you read that to cook her own pastries; especially
kind of a shortbread covered with
right! if she has visitors at her home!"
powdered sugar.

PORTUGESE COMMUNITY MANAGER -

TIAGO

"Christmas in Portugal is a unique Make sure to head towards Serra da
experience. In many countries, the Estrela if you want to enjoy fun times
main celebration of Christmas takes in the snow or even skiing! After
place on December 25th, however in Christmas, groups of people will go
Portugal you start the celebration from house to house to sing
earlier by having a family dinner on Christmas songs often accompanied
the 24th followed by the exchange of with small instruments. They usually
gifts and deliveries from Santa/Jesus start with an opening song asking
at midnight. As well as the beautiful the owner of the house for food and
street decorations that you can find drink! The owner of the house should
throughout the country, the families invite them in to warm up and help
also decorate their homes with the themselves to a spread of
traditional nativity scenes (presépios) snacks. Sweet snacks like dry figs
with the curiosity of having the Baby with walnuts inside them or savoury
Jesus placed on it only after the 25th snacks like cheese, chorizo and wine
of December. Even though you won’t or brandy. One thing is for sure, if you
necessarily have a white Christmas, spend your Christmas in Portugal,
in some parts of Portugal, it even you won't be hungry! Feliz Natal!"
15
snows.