Greek Folk

On New Year's Eve in Greece, there is the custom of choosing a "at home" person who will perform the Pomegranate rite on the first day of the year!

The chosen one will enter by taking two steps forward and then two steps backwards, to bring in the good luck and bring out the bad luck. Then he will throw a pomegranate on the ground so that it breaks: this is considered a gesture of good luck!

Another Greek tradition has it that at the stroke of midnight, the lights go out and then immediately turn on the lights again to hunt the old year and say goodbye to the new one.

Instead on January 6, which commemorates the Baptism of Christ by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Greek tradition has it that the water should be blessed and purified. A popular belief tells that the water of the sea becomes sweet so that evil spirits move away from the earth and a cross is thrown into the waters to purify it. This beautiful custom is especially celebrated in ports where ships when the cross touches the water sound the sirens and the young people of the place dive to retrieve the crucifix considered a much-loved prize.Finally, an ancient popular saying tells that making a wish on Epiphany day will certainly be fulfilled because on this particular day the sky is open and receptive to everyone's hopes and thoughts.

At this point then... wide space to our desires!