Greek Christmas Elves - Kalikantzari

GREEK CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

It’s the Christmas season so I thought you all would be interested in this excerpt from “The Greek News Agenda” online bulletin.

“Christmas Elves”

Kalikantzari are little creatures that live deep down inside the earth and together with the legends of Greece, play an important part in the customs and traditions of this holiday.

From Christmas until the Feast of the Epiphany, residents in Epirus place twelve spindles in front of the fireplace so that the kalikantzari see them and do not climb down the chimney.

On Christmas Eve, in the town of Grevena, the followers place a large log in the corner of the house and set it alight.

As the fire burns, lasting until the Feast of the Epiphany, it protects the family from the kalikantzari.

Good luck with your Greek family genealogy research.

Georgia Keilman nee Stryker (Stratigakos)

http://HellenicGenealogyGeek.com