If you have spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day you must be familiar with the most common Greek customs. Do the following quiz to test your knowledge, or to learn new things.

Ερώτηση 1

In New Year’s Day, people eat a sweet pie which is called:

α) Καρυδόπιτα

β) Βασιλόπιτα

γ) Μελόπιτα

δ) Γαλακτομπούρεκο

Ερώτηση 2

In New Year’s Eve, the children visit their neighbors and sing the carols. They also play an instrument. This instrument is:

α) ένα τρίγωνο (triangle)

β) ένα βιολί (violin)

γ) μία φλογέρα (flute)

δ) ένα τύμπανο (drum)

Ερώτηση 3

The children who sing the carols get:

α) κεράσματα (treats)

β) παιχνίδια (toys)

γ) χρήματα (money)

δ) τίποτα (nothing)

Ερώτηση 4

Usually, when the New Year starts, people play:

α) τάβλι (backgammon)

β) σκάκι (chess)

γ) χαρτιά (cards)

δ) τρίλιζα (ticktacktoe)

Ερώτηση 5

In New Year’s Day, the owner of the house throws a fruit in the entrance in order to have good luck and money. The fruit is:

α) ρόδι (pomegranate)

β) μήλο (apple)

γ) λωτός (persimmon)

δ) πορτοκάλι (orange)

Ερώτηση 6

There is no Santa Claus. The Greeks honor a saint of the Orthodox Church who, according to the tradition, brings children presents in New Year’s Day. This saint is:

α. Άγιος Ιωάννης

β. Άγιος Βασίλειος

γ. Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος

δ. ‘Αγιος Νικόλαος

Ερώτηση 7

If a Greek asks you to be the first person to come to their house  in New Year’s Day it means that you are:

α) αστείος / αστεία (funny)

β) πλούσιος / πλούσια (rich)

γ) ειλικρινής (sincere)

δ) γουρλής / γουρλού (someone who brings good luck)

Ερώτηση 8

If you are at the central square of a big city when the new year starts, you are likely to see:

α) πυροτεχνήματα (fireworks)

β) κομφετί (confetti)

γ) ψεύτικο χιόνι (fake snow)

δ) το έλκηθρο του Άγιου Βασίλη (Santa’s sleigh)

Ερώτηση 9

There is a custom called Καλή Χέρα (Good Hand): the children who visit a house in New Year’s Day will get a present. This present is:

α) ένα βιβλίο (a book)

β) ένα γούρι (a lucky charm)

γ) γλυκά (sweets)

δ) χρήματα (money)

Ερώτηση 10

In Cyprus, people throw leaves in the fire and sing a song asking Agios Vasilis to reveal them the people who love them. The leaves come from:

α) μία ελιά (an olive tree)

β) μία καρυδιά (a walnut tree)

γ) μία λεμονιά (a lemon tree)

δ) μία ροδιά (a pomegranate tree)

Traditional carols from Cyprus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kZe-_Tsl0

Καλή Χρονιά σε όλους!