What is kalanta?

What is kalanta?

Kalanta are the Greek carols sung at Christmas and at New Year’s. Children would go from house to house and sing the Kalanta, however, in the diaspora, the Kalanta are now often sung at church, at Greek school, and at family celebrations.

What are 5 Christmas carols?

We’ve donned our Christmas hats and found the most enduring Christmas carols, and the most beautiful performances of them.

  1. O Holy Night.
  2. Silent Night.
  3. In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Gustav Holst version.
  4. In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Harold Darke version.
  5. Hark!
  6. O Come All Ye Faithful.
  7. O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
  8. Coventry Carol.

What is kalanda Greece?

Caroling (kalanda) has roots in ancient Greece. Children would carry small boats (Christmas boats or “karavaki” meaning little ship) and sing songs honoring Dionysius. Greek Christmas carols date back to the Byzantine times. After singing for the household, the children would often be invited inside for a refreshment.

What are the easiest Christmas carols to sing?

Easiest Christmas Songs To Sing For Beginners

  • White Christmas.
  • Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.
  • Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.
  • Jingle Bells.
  • Winter Wonderland.
  • We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
  • Driving Home For Christmas.

What are the Christmas traditions in Greece?

Here are five common traditions practiced in Greece throughout the holiday season!

  • Christmas Boats and Trees.
  • Children Sing Kalanta.
  • Cookies Become Their Own Food Group.
  • Gifts Aren’t Exchanged on Christmas.
  • Kallikantzari Tease Villages.

What is the name of Christmas in Greece?

Kala Christougenna
In Greek Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘Kala Christougenna’. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. In Greece, presents are often brought to children by Aghios Vassilis / Άγιος Βασίλης (Saint Basil/Saint Vasilis) on the 1st January as that is St Basil’s Day.

What is the world’s most popular Christmas carol?

Jingle bells
Jingle bells is undoubtedly the most popular Christmas carol. It is also the easiest one to get the little ones all cheered up. It’s traditionally sung at Christmas in most parts of the world.

What Christmas song is sung by a children’s choir?

The Twelve Days of Christmas Another nativity staple, this is the perfect performance piece for a children’s choir – especially if someone is willing to sacrifice their dignity and dress up as a partridge in a pear tree. Read more: What are the lyrics to The Twelve Days of Christmas?

What is the easiest Christmas song to play on the piano?

We Wish You A Merry Christmas
1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas. One of the easiest Christmas songs that you can learn to play on the piano is “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” It is fairly easy to learn because it consists of a verse then chorus then verse then chorus. It is also a wonderful song to encourage family members or guests to sing along.

What is Santa called in Greece?

Ayios Vassileios
The Greek Santa Claus is known as “Ayios Vassileios” in Greek. He is like the father of Christmas; also an old man with a white beard, who is wearing a red cape.

What is the main symbol Christmas in Greece?

The karavaki is the symbol of Christmas in Greece. After all Greece is country that has a rich tradition of seafaring and a deep appreciation for its seas. This is a Christmas tsoureki. Tsoureki is actually a traditional sweet bread baked during Easter.

What Christmas carols do people in Greece sing?

Some popular Greek songs for Christmas are: Lampis Livieratos – Ta Hristougenna horis esena Thanos Petrelis – Simera ta Fota Efi Sarri – Christougenna Protochronia Glykeria – San Xristougenna Antzi Samiou – Ta pio glyka Xristougenna Konstantinos Xristoforou – Einai Xristougenna Thanos Kalliris – Ta Xristougenna me sena Tamta – Efxes apo t’ asteria Eirini Merkouri – Agie mou Vassili

What are some Christmas traditions in Greece?

Christmas Celebrations in Greece. One of the main Christmas traditions in Greece is that the kids go from house to house, offering good wishes and singing kalanda – the equivalent of Christmas carols. The songs are often accompanied by small metal triangles and little clay drums.

What are some Christmas customs in Greece?

Greek Christmas = Hristougenna. However, there are many common Christmas customs, such as the Christmas tree, the 40-days fasting before Christmas and the Christmas Carols sung in every neighborhood in Greece these days. Going to the church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is also common, especially to older people or smaller villages and towns.

How do people celebrate Christmas in Greece?

Christmas celebration in Greece. One well-known custom is hanging a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross in a shallow wooden bowl. Once during the day, a family member, usually the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house.

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