greece christmas food

The reason for this is that turkeys aren’t all that common in Greece, and those that are in Greece are also relatively new. Maybe the most celebrated holiday of the year in Greece, it cannot get more festive. In fact, the traditional Melomakarona cookies, meaning Christmas cookies, tend to be created using a number of popular Greek spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and orange. There is always a cross on the top of the bread that represents the cross of Christ (after putting it in the oven mine does not […] Christmas holidays in Greece like any other country is all about feasting with the loved ones. Turkey is a relatively new Christmas food in Greece. Not only that, but there are those who consider this bread to be sacred. All houses are decorated with Christmas tree and other decorations, while Christmas food in Greece includes very special recipes. This is a round bread made with more special ingredients, such as raisins, aniseed, walnuts or almonds, etc. Chicken soup is a very popular dish that brings solace and good cheer to the sick and weary all over the world. Made from powdered sugar, they also seem to melt in the mouth with every bite! Foods and drinks hampers are a must when it comes to annual business gifts. The traditional Greek Christmas food mainly consists of roast lamb or pork served with a spinach and cheese pie and salads/vegetables on the side. Athens and the rest of Greece is decorated with lights, Christmas carols and “Wham” songs are everywhere lifting spirits. Slaughtering hogs  usually takes place during winter. This is used to emulate Christ’s bread. Christopsomo, or Christ's Bread, is considered a sacred tradition in many 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. This means that it is often a primary source of meat for the Christmas feast in Greece! Here are 35 Traditional Greek Dishes and Desserts you should eat in Greece! The Greek breakfast: time to make it a new trend? Christmas on a platter, drizzled with honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts! It’s Christmas time once again and the Greek cuisine boasts some delicious savoury and sweet dishes. In this time period, there are many chances for eating together in the Greek families, such as on Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day. Melomakarona cookies are very popular in Greece during the Christmas holiday season. In most places in Greece, these cookies are referred t as the Christmas cookies. Christmas sweets and food . Kourabiethes Cookies are always dusted with, rolled in or buried under confectioner’s sugar. ). People who raise and slaughter their own hogs usually prepare their tasty dishes for Christmas around hearths and open fires. They are often made using toasted almonds. This is a good chance for families to come together over the decorated table and try Christmas food prepared by the housewife. While Greece is widely known for its fascinating history, enchanting islands, and magnificent weather, it is also known to have some of the tastiest food in the world! In the northernmost Greek prefecture of Evron in the region of Thrace, a special sesame baklava is made on Christmas Eve. In any Greek home, over the Christmas season, kourabides, melomakarona and dipples, can be found, piled high on plates, ready to be offered to any visitor that might drop by. Traditional Greek Recipes for Christmas Feast. Since it contains no dairy products and eggs (forbidden during Advent), it can be enjoyed the night before the fast ends on Christmas Day. But the Greek version that is special is the avgolemono- the Greek name of their traditional egg and lemon soup. Greece is known for her wide array of spices that are cultivated throughout the year, and their Christmas foods are no different. They also make lots of sweet dishes, cakes, pastries, and cookies as per Christmas tradition in Greece. Christmas in Greece, as anywhere else in the world, involves large quantities of food. Christmas is one of the most important days not only to Christians in Greece, but to Christians all over the world. This is a cake that is cut right after the coming of the New Year, which actually means a little after midnight, or at the lunch of New Year’s Day. Melomakarona (honey cookies) and kourabiedes (sugar-coated butter cookies) are the most popular traditional Christmas desserts in Greece. With age-old recipes, Greek cuisine has been influenced by Middle Eastern, Italian, and Ottoman cultures. Want to know more about Greek Food & Cuisine? Christmas is one of the most important days not only to Christians in Greece, but to Christians all over the world. It is cooked in the oven, on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. Until a couple of decades ago, Christmas meat was usually lamb or pork, but today most housewives cook a turkey, probably affected by western cultures. One of the most characteristic traditions in Greece is actually the naming tradition. While not exactly a Greek Christmas food, vasilopita is a cake that is made and eaten on New Year’s Day. Unlike many of the foods that are served on the Greek Christmas table, turkey is somewhat new on the scene. Christmas is a very important festival in Greece and traditionally food plays a major role. For Greek Orthodox Christians, it is the period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. Turkey is a big part of Greek Christmas food customs, and it is common to find this bird on most Greek Christmas tables. As a result, people are in the mood to celebrate, and for Greeks, this means bringing out all their favorite foods! There are many recipes to bake a vasilopita. Making Christopsomo is a tradition that dates back thousands of years and is considered sacred in Greece. Avgolemono Soup (Egg-Lemon Chicken Soup) Avgolemono is a very common dish enjoyed throughout the year – not only on Christmas. Of course, very popular Christmas sweets are kourabiedes and melomakarona. The broth has a bright yellow color due to the eggs. Cinnamon, orange and cloves are often used to give these cookies a unique and attractive taste. Melomakarona is a typical cookie sweet served in Greece during Christmas. Here are the typical Greek Christmas foods you can find on every table around Greece. Buy online a range of Greek foods and drinks gifts and hampers, perfect gifts for Greek food lovers, ... We will create love, birthday or anniversary hampers, congratulations, thank you, or seasonal Christmas, Valentine’s and Mother's day or other occasion hampers. The traditional Christmas celebration lasts for 13 days, from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6th, the day when the baptism of Jesus Christ is … There are many other traditional Christmas foods in Greece. In many families, recipes are often passed down from one generation to another. This bread is lovingly prepared by people in the household, but bakeries also sell it for those who don’t want to make their own. These cookies can be made in different shapes. I also share what Greeks typically eat for breakfast, Christmas and Easter as well as some famous Greek liquours that you should try. The people preparing these foods laws put their best foot forward to impress their loved ones and visitors. When you think Christmas cookies, you probably don’t think about Greece. Comments Off on Traditional Food Served on Christmas in Greece. Blog > Greece > Christmas food in Greece: taste and tradition. Other nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts can also be used. In Greece, Christmas is a time when families bring out their favorite meat dishes, particular pork, but other types of meats are also served. In some areas, the holiday is preceded by a time of fasting. In fact, the term Christopsomo (picture above) means Christ’s bread. Kourabiedes are actually buttered almond cookies with powdered sugar, while melomakarona is honey cookies with walnuts. The traditional Kozani version consist of ground pork and cabbage soaked in in brine for a period of 6 weeks. Continue Reading. A traditional Christmas food in Greece is Christ’s Bread, or else “christopsomo”. The top of all Christmas food in Greece is Saint Basil’s Cake, called Vasilopita. Apart from the known and traditional dishes and desserts such as turkey and pork, pies and classic melomakarona pastries, buns, folds,baklava, kantaifi and cake every place has its own culinary tradition! Traditionally, the main course of Christmas dinner in Greece is roast pork, with a variety of side delicacies. Here’s a recipe for Baked Pork Loin and another for Roasted Pork with Celery. The Christmas turkey is stuffed with rice, walnuts, raisins, chestnuts and mincemeat or giblets. Traditionally families and friends get together to celebrate the Christmas period, which lasts for 12 days. Christmas food in Greece could not miss the sweets. As a result, people are in the mood to celebrate, and for Greeks, this means bringing out all their favorite foods! There are also some versions  that have nut centers. Christmas preparations, however, include more than Christmas trees, ornaments and lights; getting ready for the festive season is also about preparing lots of sweets! It is prepared on Christmas Eve and it is eaten at the lunch of Christmas day. 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