Christmas customs, Ionian Islands
In Kefalonia, according to the custom that has been preserved since antiquity, the last three days of the year, the locals go out into the countryside in order to uproot the ‘agiovasilitsa’ (with the official name: Drimia maritima or Urginea maritima). It is a plant with a brown bulb and green leaves that symbolize the regeneration of time, because it dries out in March and is bud again in October. The name of this plant is due to the celebrator, Agios Vasileios (or Santa Claus) who celebrates on New Year's Day and is also known as ‘askyonokara’.
At the same time, the children who say the carols offer this plant to receive a tip, while all want to hang it at their house, business or shop in order to bring them good luck all year round.
On the last day of the year, from early in the morning, companies of all ages chant the Kefalonian carols with mandolins, violins and accordion in the neighborhoods and streets.
In Argostoli, all the locals rest at noon in order to be ready for the great "battle" that begins at Lythostroto once it darks.
Within a festive atmosphere that the bands and choirs have been created, all the young and old people begin the "drenching". Everyone has small "sprinklers" of scented water and tries to drench his/her neighbor.
According to the custom, all those who are in Lythostroto have to come back home wet, so no one escapes. In fact, a barrel of scented water is set up in the square in order to have enough.
At ten o’ clock in the evening, the feast ends as all return to their homes to welcome the New Year Day, breaking a pomegranate at the entrance and making so many wishes that the seeds are released.
In Lefkada, before dawn the first day of the New Year, young people, along with groups of musicians, circle around in the neighborhoods, singing joyful songs and make mischieves as goblins.
Nothing is scheduled, but it is planned at the time of the meeting. For example, a boat was pull from the harbor last year and they went it to the market singing.
With the first light of the day revives the custom of "Diana", which is estimated to come from the Venetian Domination.
"Diana" means "Eothinos", a morning hymn, which plays along with other joyful songs the Lefkada Philharmonic in all the neighborhoods of the city. Together with the band, all the locals, young and old, giving wishes for each other for the New Year’s Day.
On the eve of the New Year's Day, the locals hang some wild boars that are called ‘koutsounes’ in their homes while the women make the traditional ‘vasilopita’, which is an oil pie with flour, honey and oil that is cut off with the change of the year.
In Corfu and Zakynthos, the festive color is given by the Philharmonic and the serenaders. On both islands, on the New Year’s Eve, in the streets of the market and in the squares, all sing the traditional carols. Today, in the island of Zakynthos, the Philharmonic wanders in the city early in the morning and ends at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
In all the Ionian islands, it is a customary to decorate the houses with wild strawberry branches that are loaded with red fruits as well as myrtle trees.
In the villages, on the evening of the New Year’s Eve, the housewives make "pancakes" of water, flour and yeast. The pancakes complement the New Year's Day treat and are served with honey and walnuts.
