Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy New Year - from Greece

Yes, we are in Greece dear reader! An amazing Christmas celebration in Norway is over, but our holiday is luckily not! We are ready for our next stop! So, we came to Greece just in time for jumping in to 2014 with our family here! Here are some moments from our first days in Greece!

The first glimpse of Greece - Athens - from air. Sunny and bright. Here we changed airplane and headed for our home town - our Kavala.

New Years Eve started off with a looooong meal with our Greek family. We are talking stuffed turkey, sausages, meatballs, meat, vegetables, potatoes, rice, tirosalata, kotosalata, salad and-so-on..:-)



Traditional Greek sweet - kourabiedes:-) 
When the clock ticked towards midnight, we closed every single light in the house - a symbolic gesture to get rid of all old bad things from the past year. Then the lights came back on - together with the new fresh year 2014! Time for some champagne and to cut the vasilopita. a sweet bread with one coin hidden inside. The one who gets the coin, is the lucky one for the new year. We cut one piece for each member in the family, one for Agios Vasilis (the Saint who brings gifts for the children in Greece) and one piece for the home.



So, what do we do in the first hours of the New Year? Some play cards or games, some go celebrating at the bouzouki clubs and some have a quiet relaxed welcome of the New Year. We are just so happy to be here with our family and friends! What a great start of 2014! I hope you had a wonderful start of the new year too, dear reader! Wish you all the best, and stay tuned for more Greece tales:-)

The sea... winterly dressed..
In Greece we put lights on the boats for the holidays:-)
Winterly scenery and empty beaches in Greece - but still beautiful..

18 comments:

  1. happy New year Eli.. Wish all your dreams comes true.. I can see you are chilling with ur loved ones at Greece.. Enjoyy :)

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    1. Thank you so much:-) Yes, wonderful time here:-) Happy New Year to you also Smitha! All the best

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  2. Hello Eli Maam,
    Wish U and Ur Loved Ones a very Happy New Year 2014..and do wish all there the same from mumbai...... Just enjoy the days as comes...Once again a very happy New year 2014
    Regards
    Bhavikk shah

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    1. Thank you so much Bhavikk. Your kind words make me happy:-) I wish you all the best for the New Year 2014 too!

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    2. Your Most welcome Maam Enjoy :)

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  3. Oh wow! I so wish to travel to Greece some day :) Lovely post. Wish you a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you dear Megha! Yes, Greece is wonderful:-) All the best for the New year for you also:-)

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  4. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    We did the vasilopita tradition last year but not this year. I love that tradition.

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    1. Yes, me too, great tradition:-) Thank you and Happy New year back to you and your wonderful family:-) Hugs

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  5. It's so interesting to read of Greece's New Year traditions. Happy 2014, Eli!

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    1. Thank you so much Cindi:-) I wish you a Happy New year! All the best

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  6. Oh my, my stomach is grumbling at the mention of all of that delicious Greek food! Happy New Year / Godt Nyttår Eli!

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    1. Ha ha ha - yes, it is so yummy!! Happy New year Jay! All the best:-)

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  7. Dearest Eli,
    That is a great family visit, Greece after Sweden. Not that the weather is that great during winter but the reason is FAMILY! We know that too well. Who got the lucky coin?
    Wishing you and all your loved ones a Happy and Healthy 2014!
    Hugs,
    Mariette
    PS have you read Traude's blog; she is enamored with India quite a lot too: http://rostrose.blogspot.com/2014/01/sudindien-3-kapitel-mysore-teil-1.html
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Yes, we so enjoy hanging out with friends and family:-) The most important:-) The lucky coin ended up with one of my kids this time! Oh joy:-) All the best to you and your loved ones, dear Mariette, and thank you so much for all your sweet words. I so appreciate them:-) Big hugs

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  8. Hi Eli,
    Happy New year! I wish to visit Greece some day. We simply love Greek food and all this food is making me crave it. Hope you are having fun!

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    1. Hi dear Asmita! Yes, hope you can come - you would love it:-) We have a great time, and hope the same for you dear:-) Warm hugs your way:-)

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  9. Omg!pictures look so very tempting.Loved the winterly dressed sea.Happy New year dear.

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