CUSTOMS ABOUT CUSTOMS ABOUT WATER IN GREECEWATER IN GREECE

The following customs have The following customs have their origin in the Greek their origin in the Greek

tradition :tradition : When a woman is about to give birth, her When a woman is about to give birth, her

family throw water in the street or in family throw water in the street or in their garden so that the baby will “flow” their garden so that the baby will “flow” its way into life, like water flows, very its way into life, like water flows, very easily!easily!

When somebody is to start a journey, his When somebody is to start a journey, his family throw after him water so that his family throw after him water so that his journey will be easy and safe!journey will be easy and safe!

Konstantina Konstantina KoutrouveliKoutrouveli

In some villages of the country, after a wedding In some villages of the country, after a wedding the bride and her relatives often go to a source the bride and her relatives often go to a source of running water. The bride offers some water of running water. The bride offers some water to her guests and they all wish that her to her guests and they all wish that her wedding will be successful.wedding will be successful.

In the cities as soon as the bride leaves her In the cities as soon as the bride leaves her parents’ house, her mother throws after her parents’ house, her mother throws after her water for good luck in her marriage. water for good luck in her marriage.

Maria Gavriilidou Maria Gavriilidou

People used to believe that water sleeps for People used to believe that water sleeps for some time, so if somebody would encounter some time, so if somebody would encounter “sleeping” water, like a river, he or she shouldn’t “sleeping” water, like a river, he or she shouldn’t speak because they would disturb it and speak because they would disturb it and something bad would happen to them. If they something bad would happen to them. If they wanted to drink it they first had to stir it up so it wanted to drink it they first had to stir it up so it would wake up, and afterwards drink it.would wake up, and afterwards drink it.

The “feeding” of the The “feeding” of the water tapwater tap

In some villages of central Greece the midnight In some villages of central Greece the midnight of Christmas Eve you can still see the “feeding of Christmas Eve you can still see the “feeding of the water tap”. The unmarried girls go of the water tap”. The unmarried girls go around the village and when they see a water around the village and when they see a water tap they cover it with butter and honey, tap they cover it with butter and honey, wishing that as water flows, so will their house wishing that as water flows, so will their house thrive, and as honey is sweet so will their life thrive, and as honey is sweet so will their life be. On the way back home they remain silent be. On the way back home they remain silent and bring “new” water to their house. and bring “new” water to their house. Afterwards they use this water to sprinkle their Afterwards they use this water to sprinkle their houses for good luck!houses for good luck!

Saint Ioannis (John) “Klidonas” According to this old tradition on the 23rd of June, the

night before Saint Ioannis nameday, three girls would go silently to three different water sources in a village and collect in a small bucket the “silent water”. Then all the girls would put something of their own in the bucket, cover it with a red cloth and put it under a pot with basil all night.

The next day they would dress the youngest girl of the neighbourhood in very pretty clothes, much like a bride. She would take each item out of the bucket without knowing whose it was, and an old lady would say a small rhyme, usually an erotic one to predict the girls’ love life and that is what would happen to each girl, whose item was picked from the bucket.

Panagiota

Siammenou

Saint Ioannis KlidonasSaint Ioannis Klidonas

““Perperouna”Perperouna”

Perperouna is another Greek Perperouna is another Greek tradition. We can see it in many tradition. We can see it in many villages of the north-eastern country. villages of the north-eastern country. The people dress up a poor or orphan The people dress up a poor or orphan girl with flowers and they go around girl with flowers and they go around the village singing a song and the the village singing a song and the other people throw at her drops of other people throw at her drops of water. This means that they need rain water. This means that they need rain for their plants, flowers and fields.for their plants, flowers and fields.

When the new school When the new school year startsyear starts

When the new school year starts a priest When the new school year starts a priest comes to every school in the country. comes to every school in the country. After a short service he holds a branch of After a short service he holds a branch of basil, dips it into Holy Water and basil, dips it into Holy Water and sprinkles it around the school and on the sprinkles it around the school and on the forehead of every student and teacher. forehead of every student and teacher. This is done to bring health to everyone, This is done to bring health to everyone, prosperity and good knowledge!prosperity and good knowledge!

Eleftheria Eleftheria StratigopoulouStratigopoulou

The evil eyeThe evil eye

Water plays an important role in breaking the spell of the evil eye.The evil eye is an ancient superstition and is a kind of negative power which we all more or less carry within ourselves. We can inflict damage on another person even unconsciously if we stare at them too long with adoration or envy.

The victim will get a headache, dizziness, may stumble or fall or even faint.

The one who can break the spell will put a few drops of olive oil in a cup of Holy Water. If the oil stays in the surface you are ok. If the oil dissolves you have been “evil eyed”. In Greek this is actually a verb.

The spell breaker will read prayers, make crosses on the forehead and hands with the oil and water, do the sign of the cross several times and stand quiet for a short time. Then the spell is broken and you feel fine again.

Epiphany traditions and Epiphany traditions and celebrations in Greececelebrations in Greece

Epiphany is celebrated in Greece on January 6th.  The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word Theofania meaning “Appearance of God” or “Manifestation of God”.  Theofania is derived of two words: “Theos” meaning God and “Fania” meaning appearance.  Epiphany in Greece symbolizes the baptismal of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist.The Feast begins the evening of January 5th with the blessing of the water at the baptismal front inside the church.  The following day, January 6th, the blessings of the water begin and thus the beginning of sailing, signifying that the waters are calm.  January 6th also celebrates the fact that the goblins that were present till then, are finally gone. 

Epiphany is a great celebration in Greece, even as big as Christmas.  On the day of Epiphany, church was and is of the utmost importance to attend.  Since Greece is surrounded with water, many churches and church goers will follow the priest to the nearest water port, so that the priest will bless the waters with the cross.  Then young, teenage boys will dive into the water to retrieve it.  Who ever retrieves it has the blessings of the church and good fortune for the rest of the year.  Some people might think that since Greece has a warm climate, the waters will also be warm; but it’s not so on January 6th.  The waters are still quite cold. 

After retrieving the cross, the winner, paraded, all wet, carried by his fellow divers, for a few blocks till they reached the church.  They were followed by the priests dressed in their colorful holy clothes chanting hymns.  The military band, playing, preceded them, followed by the military, significant political figures and the mayor of the city.  After church, the priest would visit the homes of the parish to bless the households with the blessed water.  Holding a bunch of basil that’s been dipped in the blessed water in one hand, and the holy cross in the other, he would sprinkle the home and bless it.  That tradition was and is very common in different parishes in Greece. 

Dimitris Ermeidis,Vaggelis Darganakis, Alexandros

Karipidis

Blessing of the water - Blessing of the water - Retrieving the CrossRetrieving the Cross

BaptismBaptism In Christianity Baptism (from the Greek baptizo) is for the

majority the rite of admission, almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church.

Baptism has been called a sacrament and an ordinance of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament reports that Jesus himself was baptized. The usual form of baptism among the early Christians was for the candidate to be immersed totally or partially in water (standing or kneeling in water while water was poured on him or her).

While John the Baptist’s use of a deep river for his baptism suggests immersion,the normal form of the Christian Baptism from the 3rd century onward indicates that the candidate would stand in water while water was poured over the upper body. Other common forms of baptism now in use include pouring water three times on the forehead.

Pavlos Misailidis

The Baptism of JesusThe Baptism of Jesus

The day of the BaptismThe day of the Baptism

The day of the baptism is the most important day The day of the baptism is the most important day in the life of a Greek Orthodox’s life. A baby is in the life of a Greek Orthodox’s life. A baby is usually baptised the first year of its life. usually baptised the first year of its life.

At the baptism the baby is undressed and wrapped At the baptism the baby is undressed and wrapped in a clean, white towel. The priest blesses the in a clean, white towel. The priest blesses the baptismal water and adds some olive oil that is baptismal water and adds some olive oil that is brought to the priest by the godparents before the brought to the priest by the godparents before the ceremony begins.ceremony begins.

He dips the baby into the holy water three times, He dips the baby into the holy water three times, repeating the baby’s given name. The baby then repeating the baby’s given name. The baby then receives a sacrament from the priest, which is olive receives a sacrament from the priest, which is olive oil that has been blessed by the patriarch (myrrh). oil that has been blessed by the patriarch (myrrh).

At this point the baby is dressed in white clothes and the At this point the baby is dressed in white clothes and the priest puts a golden cross on a chain around its neck (the priest puts a golden cross on a chain around its neck (the golden cross and chain have been provided by the golden cross and chain have been provided by the godparents), and gives the baby its first holy communion.godparents), and gives the baby its first holy communion.

When the ceremony ends, the parents kiss the When the ceremony ends, the parents kiss the godparents’ hands and remain in the church to accept godparents’ hands and remain in the church to accept the guests’ wishes.the guests’ wishes.

Sugar-coated almonds, wrapped in lace with a small gift Sugar-coated almonds, wrapped in lace with a small gift tied to it is given to each of the guests (bobonieres). A tied to it is given to each of the guests (bobonieres). A celebration usually follows at the parents’ house or at a celebration usually follows at the parents’ house or at a restaurant.restaurant.

Vasiliki Vasiliki Giapantzali Giapantzali

Ancient Greek myths and Ancient Greek myths and legendslegends

Water was used by Zeus, the father of gods and men, Water was used by Zeus, the father of gods and men, as a means of punishment for people who didn’t show as a means of punishment for people who didn’t show respect to gods. So he ordered rain for days and the respect to gods. So he ordered rain for days and the land was destroyed. When he decided it was enough land was destroyed. When he decided it was enough he found Triton, Poseidon’s son, who had a seashell he found Triton, Poseidon’s son, who had a seashell that made a beautiful sound. The rain rain stopped that made a beautiful sound. The rain rain stopped and all the water listened to the beautiful sound and and all the water listened to the beautiful sound and formed land again.formed land again.

Poseidon also used water as a punishment for Poseidon also used water as a punishment for Odysseus because he had blinded his son Polyphemus Odysseus because he had blinded his son Polyphemus the Cyclops. He ordered the sea to make huge waves the Cyclops. He ordered the sea to make huge waves to keep Odysseus away from his home, island Ithaca, to keep Odysseus away from his home, island Ithaca, for ten years.for ten years.

Poseidon, God of the SeaPoseidon, God of the Sea

Some more mythsSome more myths Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis said Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis said

that water belongs to everybody. When some that water belongs to everybody. When some peasants from Lycia didn’t let her drink water peasants from Lycia didn’t let her drink water that was in their area she turned them into that was in their area she turned them into frogs.frogs.

Ancient Greeks believed that nearby rivers and Ancient Greeks believed that nearby rivers and lakes were the home of fairies. Fairies were lakes were the home of fairies. Fairies were very beautiful creatures and were either Gods very beautiful creatures and were either Gods or Nymphs. They loved water and they used to or Nymphs. They loved water and they used to stand on a water lilly or dance near a water stand on a water lilly or dance near a water spring, a creek or a river.spring, a creek or a river.

Maria GavriilidouMaria Gavriilidou