Christmas Customs in Peloponnese

Dominant elements: pomegranate and bread of Christ “Christopsomo”

• The morning of the New Year, the family goes to church

And the housekeeper carries with him a pomegranate to “be blessed."

When returning home, he must hit the doorbell – he must not open

himself with his key - so he can be the first to get into the house to do

good omen (“podariko”), while keeping the pomegranate in hand.

• Getting in to the house with the right foot he breaks the pomegranate

behind the door, ie he throws down with power to break it and be

thrown berries everywhere and at the same time he says:

"With health, happiness and joy in the new year and as many berries

has pomegranate, so many pounds let us have I our pocket all year. "

•The strong and beautiful are the berries, both joyful and blessed will

be the new year.

“Breaking pomegranate - omen”

• The kneading of Christopsomo requires the most expensive materials,

such as fine sieve flour, rosewater, honey, sesame, cinnamon and

cloves. During kneading they say and wish:

"Christ is born, the light goes up, the yeast to rise”.

• They mold the dough and take half of it and make a loop. With the rest

of the dough they make cross strip and they put in the center an

unbroken walnut or an egg, symbolizing fertility.

• For the Christmas table, Christopsomo is blessed, since this will support

the life of the household and family.

The cut it on Christmas Day, with many blessings.

Bread of Christ “Christopsomo”