Χρόνια πολλά!  (Hronia polla, many greetings)

Today is New Year Eve and children go from door to door singing carols (κάλαντα, kalanda), in order to wish people “Καλή Χρονιά” (Kali Hronia, Happy New Year) and to get a tip. This is a custom dating from the Byzantine years.

The word κάλαντα (kalanda, carols) derives from the latin word Kalendae (kalends the first days of the month in the Roman calendar). They are sung in καθαρεύουσα (katharevousa, puristic language  enriched by the local idioms and phonetic elements of each region, or in a dialect.)

This is a selection of some traditional New Year Carols. They may sound strange and funny to the ears of a foreigner, but they are part of the Greek tradition.

Καλή χρονιά σε όλους! (Kali hronia se olous, Happy New Year to all)

Από την Κέρκυρα (apo tin Kerkyra, from Corfu)

Από την Ικαρία (apo tin Ikaria, from Ikaria)

Από την Κρήτη (apo tin Kriti, from Crete)

Από την Κύπρο (apo tin Kypro, from Cyprus)

Από τα Δωδεκάνησα (apo ta Dodekanisa, from the Dodecanese)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj62uP4Nq6A

Από τη Χίο (apo ti Hio, from Chios)

Από τον Πόντο (apo ton Ponto, from Pontus)

Από την Καππαδοκία (apo tin Kappadokia, from Cappadokia)