Another year has reached to the end. A fresh new year is coming. Let’s hope this year will bring real peace, health and happiness all over the world!
This post will be on the New Year’s carols and the Christmas boat. There are so many customs relative to Christmas and the New Year’s arrival. In any city you may be for the Christmas period, you will experience something different.
Identically to the Christmas carols the children start early in the New Year’s Eve morning to sing the carols. If you have read my post on Christmas carols you already know everything. If you haven’t, here is the link for it.
Like with the Christmas carols, the New Year’s carols differ in some cities. These are the common carols for the New Year.
Αρχιμηνιά κι αρχιχρονιά
ψηλή μου δεντρολιβανιά,
κι αρχή – κι αρχή καλός μας χρόνος,
εκκλησιά – εκκλησιά με τ’ άγιο θρόνο.Αρχή που βγήκε ο Χριστός
άγιος και πνευματικός,
στη γη – στη γη να περπατήσει
και να μας – και να μας καλοκαρδίσει.Aγιoς Βασίλης έρχεται
και δεν μας καταδέχεται
από – από την Καισαρεία
είσαι αρχό – είσαι αρχόντισσα, κυρία.Βαστάει εικόνα και χαρτί
με το Χριστό το λυτρωτή,
χαρτί – χαρτί και καλαμάρι,
δες και με – δες και με το παλικάρι.Source: http://www.greeksongs-greekmusic.com
Arhiminia ki arhihronia
psili mou dentrolivania,
ki arhi – ki arhi kalos mas hronos,
ekklisia – ekklisia me t’ agio throno.Arhi pou vgike o Hristos
agios kai pnevmatikos,
sti gi – sti gi na perpatisei
kai na mas – kai na mas kalokardisei.Agios Vasilis erhetai
kai den mas katadehetai
apo – apo tin Kaisareia
eisai arho – eisai arhontissa, kiria.Vastaei eikona kai harti
me to Hristo to litroti,
harti – harti kai kalamari,
des kai me – des kai me to palikari.
It’s the beginning of the month, beginning of the year
High incense tree
Beginning of my good year
Church with the Holy SeatIt’s the beginning of our Christ
Saint and spiritual
He got out to walk on earth
And to welcome usSt. Basil is coming
From Caesarea
And doesn’t want to deal with us
May you long live, my lady
He holds (St. Basil) an icon and a piece of paper
With the picture of Christ our Savior
A piece of paper and a quill
Please look at me, the young man.
Christmas boat
You may have seen in some photos of Greece or in television a decorated boat instead of a Christmas tree. This is a Greek tradition that has been changed during the last 35-40 years. The Christmas tree has been imported in Greece as a foreign custom. However, many cities keep the tradition and decorate a boat instead of a tree in the central squares. For example in Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), the second biggest city in Greece, both Christmas tree and Christmas boat are decorated.
In older times before the arrival of the Christmas tree, children used to carry a small boat when they were singing the carols.
Χρόνια πολλά και καλή χρονιά! (Hronia pola kai kali hronia)
Many happy returns and a happy new year!
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