Chubby, with a red uniform, and a shaky laugh, that’s how our children have learned that Santa Claus is. But our “Santa”, the Greek Orthodox Agios Vassilis, is different and comes with his presents in the night of January 1. Our “Santa” comes from Caesaria in central Asia Minor where …
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Greek Post: Red mailboxes for Letters to Santa are ready
The red mailboxes of the Greek Post, ELTA, are ready to receive the thousands of letters to Santa Claus – ‘Αγιος Βασίλης in Greek – also in 2022. The Hellenic Post Office is urging everyone to “Write a letter to Santa Claus” for the 31st year in a row, This …
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Santa candles get masked up in Greece in Covid-19 surge
A Greek candlemaker has come up with a novel way of highlighting the need to wear a mask to curb the spread of the new coronavirus; putting them on his Santa candles. Alexios Gerakis in the northern town of Thessaloniki has made decorative candles featuring Father Christmas, with a big …
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Kefalonia: Santa and Reindeer bring the Bride to the Church
A dream wedding over the festive days took place on the island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea. It was Santa Claus himself who brought the bride to the Church, on his Greek sleight and a kind of bizarre huge reindeer. kefaloniapress.gr Santa had a red cape to keep the …
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Santa brings presents to the fish in CRETAquarium (video)
Santa does not bring presents only to humans. In Irakleio on the island of Crete, he entered the local aquarium and brought presents also to fish! Santa’s sleight is not being pulled by reindeer but by sea horses. You can meet diver Santa in CRETAquarium until 6th January 2018 – …
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In Parga, Santa came from the sea, in Preveza on horse (video)
Greek children are double blessed as Santa comes twice per year. One time on Christmas Day and on New Year’s Eve. The latter is the original Greek tradition, the first has been adopted in recent years. In Parga, West Greece, it was not one but several Santas who came paddling …
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Heartbreaking letter to Santa: Greek child asks for “plenty of food”
All children that were asked to write a letter so Santa most probably asked the obvious: toys. Except for one child, 8-year-old Alexis. “Dear Santa, I am Alexis from the 4th grade. I was a good child. This year, I want you to bring plenty of food so that my …
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Larissa: Santa visits refugee kids in reception center
Smiles. Presents. Toys. Sweets. A nice surprise. Santa visited the refugee accommodation center in Koutsocherou, Larissa in Central Greece. And brought cheers to more than 220 children living there together with their families. The visit of Santa was upon an initiative of the local municipality. It doesn’t matter if you …
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Gotcha! Santa flew over Acropolis and Santorini
Although Santa is traditionally expected in Greece in the night of New Year’s Eve, Americans captured him passing by the Acropolis in Athens and the island of Santorini and thus in the night of the Christmas Eve. With a sleight full of presents and his famous reindeer. Video: norad.org embedded by Embedded …
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Thessaloniki: Santa arrested, deer confiscated
Greek police arrested a Santa and confiscated his deer after animal welfare organizations complained he was keeping live deer in his grotto. The man had set up a festive event with nativity scene and Santa’s house near the exhibition centre HELEXPO in Thessaloniki. The Christmas scenery included also a deer couple and …
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