Traditional New Year’s Customs in Crete
Traditionally New Year’s in Crete were the “signs” of the first day of the year that “guided” the people in the new year.
The custom of carrying water and stone by the householder, and the cross fermented by the householders were for the Cretans and especially for the inhabitants of the villages some of the most characteristic customs of the New Year.
According to tradition in many areas of the island, it was believed that on New Year’s Eve the first thing you should see is a mountain and a healthy neighbor so that you too can live healthy and many years, as much as the mountains. If you see the sea then you will be constantly agitated like the sea.
Let’s dive into the traditional New Year’s customs in Crete.
Christopsomo – Christ’s Bread with a Cross made of dough Photo Credit: Jason Hollinger
Water and Stone
On New Year’s morning, the man of the house went to fetch water from a pitcher and a stone. He sprinkled the outside and inside of the house with water, saying: “As this water runs, so should the good ones run in my house”. He puts the stone under the bed, saying: “As strong as this stone is, so strong is my house.” The stone remained under the bed until Epiphany.
Being the First to Enter a House
On New Year’s morning, Cretan families go to church. The custom of being the first to enter a house is of great importance in Crete, even today. In Greek this is called “podariko” meaning, the first person to set foot in the house after the entry of the new year. This person must be lucky to bring luck to the house.
A Cross made out of Dough
On New Year’s Eve, many housewives make a cross out of bun dough and hang it on the doors. In a few villages, they put a bulb plant in the houses and in others a carob branch because the carob tree is a tree that gives many fruits, always the same green as the bulb and they symbolize abundance. Many households on New Year’s Eve, which is at the same time on the eve of the feast of St. Basil, leave a glass of wine with food or a dessert for the Saint to come to leave his gifts, to eat, drink, and rest.
pomegranate holiday fruit Photo Credit: RitaE
The Breaking of the Pomegranate
An old custom that is still preserved today is the breaking of the pomegranate in the house for good luck.
The Single Ladies
In the old days, unmarried girls threw olive leaves in the fireplace. As they believed, if the leaf turns upside down, they will marry the one they want. Others took three beans, one baked, the other whole, and the other peeled. With their eyes closed, they choose a bean. If they select the baked one it means that they will marry a widower, the peeled one a poor man, but if they choose the whole bean, it means that they will marry a young and rich man.
“The Farmer Saint”
New Year is also the day that Saint Basil celebrates. The tradition of Crete wants Saint Basil as a farmer. So, whoever is a farmer and wants to have the blessing of the Saint must plow his field.
Traditional Vasilopita by chef Akis Petretzikis Photo Credit: Akis Petretzikis
The “Good Hand”
It is customary to give a sum of money as a gift to children who will visit a house on New Year’s Eve. These are usually grandchildren or nieces. Some decades ago, the “good hand” was the only gift children received on New Year’s Eve and in many cases was just a treat as there was not much money.
“Onions” for Good Luck
The Scilla Maritima is a common plant in Crete. It grows wild and looks like a large onion. Animals do not eat it because it has venom, which can cause skin irritation from contact. Even if you take it out of the ground and hang it, it does not stop producing new leaves and flowers. The people believe that this great vital force can be transmitted to the living and the inanimate. This is why they hang it in their homes on New Year’s Eve.
It is an ancient custom of good fortune that dates back to the 6th century BC. However, today it is not practiced as much.
Vasilopita and the Coin
Vasilopita translates to “King’s Pie”. Cutting the “royal pie” is one of the few ancient customs that survive. In Kronia (feast of the god Kronos, which was worshiped in Greece and Saturnalia of Rome), they made sweets and pies. In which they put coins and whoever got the piece with the coin, was in for a lot of luck.
The orthodox tradition connected the same custom with the Vasilopita. So on New Year’s Eve, when the clock strikes midnight, we cut the vasilopit. When it’s time to cut the pie, the whole family gathers. The head of the family officially begins to cut the pie. The first piece goes to Christ, the second to the household, and then to those present. Whoever gets the piece with the coin, that person will have luck for the rest of the year!
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Feature Image by svetlanabar found on pixabay