PRIMARY SCHOOL OF PYRGOS IN HERAKLION

CRETE-HELLAS

• OUR SCHOOL LOCATED IN A VILLAGE NAMED PYRGOS MONOGATSIOU. LET

US SHOW YOU IT AND GO OUT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR HABITS
AND HERITAGE.
WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR VILLAGE, PIRGOS!
PIRGOS IS IN THE SOUTH PART OF CRETE.
ITS POPULATION IS AROUND 1.500 PEOPLE.
WHO MAINLY WORK IN AGRICULTURE.
THIS IS OUR SCHOOL!
AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT
HOW WE SPEND THE FESTIVE DAYS OF
CHRISTMAS.
 AT CRISTMAS, IN OUR VILLAGE FAMILIES
GATHER AROUND THE TABLE AND ENJOY A
FESTIVE MEAL
WE DECORATE A CRISTMAS TREE OR SOMETIMES
EVEN A CHRISTMAS BOAT, WHICH IS AN OLD
GREEK TRADITION.
 ON CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR´S EVE, THE
CHILDREN GO AROUND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN
THE MORNING, SINGING THE CAROLS.
FAMILIES ALSO GO SHOPPING IN CHRISTMAS
MARKETS TO BUY PRESENTS, WHICH THE
CHILDREN RECEIVE ON NEW YEAR´S DAY.
IT IS SANTA CLAUS WHO BRINGS THESE
PRESENTS.
ACCORDING TO GREEK TRADITION MEGHAS VASSILIOS (SANTA
CLAUS) WAS A LEARNED MAN WHO WENT FROM DOOR TO DOOR
AT CHRISTMAS TIME GIVING HIS BLESSING.
 ONE DAY, A LOCAL OFFICIAL ASKED THE
VILLAGERS TO PAY THEIR TAXES, BUT, HAVING
NO MONEY, THEY WERE FORCED TO GIVE
VALUABLE PERSONAL ITEMS INSTEAD.

MEGHAS VASSILIOS RETRIEVED THESE ITEMS IN

THE END BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GIVE
THEM BACK TO THEIR OWNERS.
SO, HE ASKED THE VILLAGERS TO BAKE PIES AND
HID ONE ITEM IN EACH OF THEM. THEN HE GAVE
OUT THE PIES TO THE PEOPLE. THAT’S WHY THE
PIES WE BAKE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY ARE CALLED
“VASSILOPITES”.
ACCORDING TO ANOTHER MYTH, FROM THE 25TH OF DECEMBER
TILL THE 6TH OF JANUARY THE ELVES WHO LIVE UNDERGROUND
APPEAR ON EARTH.
THEY TEASE PEOPLE AND MESS UP THEIR HOMES.
THEY GO BACK TO THEIR HIDING PLACES ON EPIPHANY
 EPIPHANY IS AN IMPORTANT YEARLY CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION
THAT COMMEMORATES THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST.
ACCORDING TO TRADITION, A PRIEST BLESSES THE WATERS BY
THROWING A CROSS IN A LAKE OR THE SEA. CHRISTIANS DIVE TO
CATCH THE CROSS. EPIPHANY ALSO MARKS THE END OF THE
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.

•
FOR THE TIME BEING, WE
HOPE YOU HAVE A NICE
TIME AND WE WISH YOU
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR!