Greek Holiday Carol Traditions
Every holiday season in Greece, children go carol singing door to door on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Epiphany Eve (January 5th). This custom is called κάλαντα (kalanda) —Greek Christmas carols—and it remains one of the most joyful traditions for children and families across the country.
What Are the Kalanda?
Early in the morning, groups of children go from house to house carrying small metal triangles, drums, or sometimes even traditional instruments like the santouri or melodica. They knock on doors and ask, “Να τα πούμε;”—“Shall we sing them?” If the family agrees, the children perform the carol for that specific holiday, wishing health, prosperity, and good fortune for the coming year.
When they finish, households traditionally give them a small reward. In the past this might have been sweets, nuts, or dried fruit, but today it is usually coins or small amounts of money and maybe some melomakarona.
Where Did the Tradition Begin?
The roots of the kalanda go back to ancient Greece. In antiquity, children would go door to door singing songs called ειρεσιώνες (eiresiones), wishing for a fruitful harvest and carrying a decorated olive branch. Over time, these pagan customs blended with Christian celebrations, forming the kalanda as we know them today.
The lyrics of Greek carols often combine Christian messages with folk elements. Many versions have been passed down orally through generations, and different regions of Greece have developed their own melodies, rhythms, and verses.
How Are the Kalanda Celebrated Today?
Despite modern lifestyles, the kalanda tradition remains strong. Children still wake up early, excited to sing with their friends. Many families consider it good luck to welcome carolers, believing the children bring blessings into the home.
Today, kalanda also appear in: school celebrations, where students perform regional versions of the songs, community events and cultural festivals.
For Greek families living outside Greece, singing the kalanda has become an important way to keep cultural identity alive and share the spirit of the holidays with younger generations.
Why the Kalanda Still Matter?
Beyond music and tradition, the kalanda represent connection: between old and new, between children and the community, and between Greece and the global Greek diaspora. They remind us that even simple acts—singing at a neighbor’s door—can carry centuries of heritage.
As long as children keep asking, “Να τα πούμε;”, this beautiful Greek custom will continue to ring every holiday season.
🎄 Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων (Christmas carols)
«Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες,
αν είναι ορισμός σας,
Χριστού τη θεία γέννηση
να πω στ’ αρχοντικό σας.»
🎆 Κάλαντα Πρωτοχρονιάς (New Year’s carols).
«Αρχιμηνιά κι αρχιχρονιά
ψηλή μου δεντρολιβανιά,
κι αρχή καλός μας χρόνος
εκκλησιά με τ’ άγιο θρόνος.»
