MACEDONIA-THRAKI

1. Florinas residents welcome Christmas by lighting large fires at midnight. The children of each neighbourhood collect wood and put them in a safe place, so as not to be stolen from the children of other neighbourhoods. If children steal wood from other neighbourhoods they use them to start a fire and celebrate a feast. It’s a shame for him to steal wood and does not dare to go to school the next day.

2. In Siatista the customs of “Kladaries” and the “kalianta” have revived. The “kladaries” are the fires lit every year to heat Chris. The “kalianta” is the siatistino carols in the local dialect.

3. In Thasos children sing Christmas carols carrying lit lanterns.They also cook a lamp stuffed with rice and celery.

The Christoxylo, custom of Macedonia.

In north Greece, the land lord chooses the strongest and thickest wood of his field. After that all the family burns up this wood and they believe that Christ heats in the care of Bethlehem. The house is cleaned before the burning of Christoxylo to avoid any hint left by the old ashes.