It’s celebrated on the first of January.

• New Year parties are hosted in the various clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels or homes and continue till the break of day.

• Extensive fire work shows are arranged all over the country at the different cities in Greece.

• Concerts take place on central squares of cities and the mayor welcomes the new year after the count down.

• Children sing St Basil’s carols.

Immediately after midnight we turn on the lights previously turned off and sing a song.

We kiss and hug one another and wish for health and happiness.

We open a champagne bottle.

This date is the Name Day of Vassilis (Basil) and men named Vassilis or women named Vassiliki will receive a gift and wishes on this day. All

churches or monasteries named for this saint will offer special services and a celebration including food and drink.

Children, open their presents on New Year's Day: On the 1st of January children in Greece receive their presents brought by St Basil( Father Christmas).

In Greece, it is considered lucky to gamble on this day, whether you win or lose, and traditionally, people would gather to play cards.

• A plant called the Scilla Maritime (big A plant called the Scilla Maritime (big onion) is hung by people in their houses onion) is hung by people in their houses

• They smash a pomegranate as a symbol They smash a pomegranate as a symbol of abundance throughout the year.of abundance throughout the year.

• Both “kremmida” and pomegranate Both “kremmida” and pomegranate carry heavy symbolic meanings from carry heavy symbolic meanings from ancient times representing prosperity, ancient times representing prosperity, abundance in the family, and also bring abundance in the family, and also bring good luck to one's descendants.good luck to one's descendants.

Another tradition is that the Greeks consider the first guest entering their homes on a New Year Day to be very lucky. Therefore, they always tell a relative on the New Year Eve whom they consider to bring luck to visit their house as the first person on the New Year Day. The people generally prefer a child to be the desired guest as children are innocent at heart and are never envious of anyone's prosperity.

A special cake, St. Basil's Pie (Vassilópita), savoury or sweet is baked with a small coin concealed in it. Whoever gets the piece with the coin can expect especially good luck in the coming year.