THESSALONIKI FRIENDS OF MUSIC SOCIETY YOUTH & CHILDREN'S CHOIR: CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Greek and world Christmas carols
The roots of the Greek Christmas carols, kalanda in Greek, date to the time of Homer and the ancient custom of Eiresion, when children would go door-to-door singing carols to bring good fortune and abundance. Between 15 December and 15 January, a time which coincides with the ancient month of Poseidon, children sung in the streets carrying the eiresioni (from the word eiros meaning wool thread): an olive or laurel branch hung with fruit, nuts and threads of wool.
Similar songs existed in Roman times, when Romans and Greeks celebrated Saturnalia or Kronia and the Calends of January. Pagan customs like the kalanda were initially strongly objected to by the Christian Church but in time were adopted by Christianity and are now an integral part of the 12-day Christmas celebrations, the period between Christmas and Epiphany.