Hello dear friends,We are very happy to share our e-book with you! 

In this project, the children of our kindergarten explored Greek Christmas traditions and expressed them through their own drawings and creative ideas.

In this book, you will discover customs such as carol singing, decorating the Christmas boat, baking festive sweets, and many more joyful traditions that are part of our culture. 

We hope you enjoy our Christmas journey and learn more about the way we celebrate this special time in Greece.

Merry Christmas and warm greetings from our kindergarten!

 In Greece, many families decorate a small Christmas boat during the holiday season. This  tradition comes from our close connection to the sea. Children and adults add lights, ribbons, and colorful ornaments to the boat. The bright, decorated boat symbolizes hope, safe travels, and the joy of welcoming the New Year.

Here are our Christmas boats, decorated with love and imagination by the children!

We love making two special Christmas sweets: kourabiedes and melomakarona. Kourabiedes are soft, buttery cookies covered with lots of icing sugar, and melomakarona are honey cookies with cinnamon and nuts. Families make them together every December, filling the house with sweet holiday smells!

Here you can see the children’s lovely drawings of our traditional Christmas sweets, kourabiedes and melomakarona!

During Christmas, children go around their neighborhood singing carols. In return for their songs, they often receive money, cookies, or traditional sweets like kourabiedes and melomakarona. This joyful tradition brings the community together and fills the streets with festive music and laughter.

Now, let’s see the children’s drawings Christmas carols!

We also celebrate the New Year with a special cake called Vasilopita, which we cut on January 1st. Inside the cake, we hide a lucky coin! The first piece is an offering for Christ, the second for the Virgin Mary and the third for the home.Then we cut a piece for each one of us. Whoever finds the coin is the lucky one of the year and will have good fortune throughout the year!

Here you can see the children’s drawings of our special New Year’s cake, the Vasilopita!

In Greece, we celebrate Christmas by decorating our Christmas trees with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Every town usually has a big event where the main Christmas tree in the central square is lit, often with music, games, and other festive activities. At home, families also decorate their own Christmas tree and place it near the window so that everyone passing by can admire it. Decorating the tree brings joy, excitement, and a feeling of togetherness during the holiday season

Here are the children’s colorful drawings of beautifully decorated Christmas trees

Another beloved Christmas tradition is the exchange of gifts. Families place their presents under the Christmas tree and open them together on Christmas Day, December 25th. This custom is full of excitement and joy, as everyone feels the happiness of giving and receiving. It is a special moment that brings family and friends closer, creating warm memories.

Here are the children’s drawings of Christmas gifts!

We hope you enjoyed this journey through our Christmas traditions! It was very special for us to share our customs and the children’s artwork with you. We are proud of our little artists and the creative way they presented their festive celebrations.

We look forward to seeing your projects and learning about your traditions too. 

May this experience inspire joy, curiosity, and new friendships across Europe!

Warm wishes from all of us,

Elounda Kindergarden