Traditions from around the world

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• Syrup-soaked biscuits (Melomakarona)
• Shortbread cookies with icing sugar (Kourambiethes)
• Honey-soaked Walnut Cake (Karydopita)
• Christopsomo: Greek Christmas Bread

Melomakarona. Kourambeithes. Karydopita and Christopsomo.

Try to pronounce these and you may feel your mouth is sealed shut with a thick, doughy, syrupy delight.

Taste any one of the four Greek Christmas baked goods and the result will be the same.

Greek desserts are sweet and syrupy. Legend has it that the sweetness helps fill your soul with anticipation as you await the birth of Christ and allows you to greet your guests with love and affection throughout the holiday season.

Not much has changed in the centuries that have passed.

According to Nancy Athan-Mylonas, artistic director for the Greek Community of Toronto, preparing for Christmas in the Greek home is one of family and ritual.

"These are traditions and recipes that have been passed on from mother to daughter over the years," she said. "It was a whole ritual. They had to get the yeast, put it in water, and watch (the dough) rise and they would gather the children around. The grandmother would start the whole process and her daughter would be there helping as the children watched."

Athan-Mylonas said traditionally Greeks didn't consume many sweets during the year, but when it came to the high holidays of Christmas and Easter, baking was joy.

"The custom was for the house to smell nice and to make it feel like the holiday season was coming up."

Traditionally Greeks fast for 40 days leading up to Christmas. The rich desserts serve as a celebratory delight as Greek Orthodox Christians break their fast in honour of the birth of Christ.

Athan-Mylonas said religion and culture go hand-in-hand in the Greek home.

"The most important (treat made) for Christmas is the Christopsomo which is a round bread and on it there's a cross and it's in honour of Christ's birth,' she said.

While Greeks in Canada try to maintain the traditions of their homeland, Christmas customs in Greece are very different.

Many offices, businesses, restaurants, and other amenities may be closed or keeping unusual hours during the Greek Christmas season. Greeks visit neighbour's homes and sing the Kallanda, a multi-versed song celebrating the holiday.

While the Kallanda are similar to Christmas carols, you won't find the commercialism that is common with North American Christmas celebrations. Lights, decorations and enticing sales are almost non-existent as the original meaning of the holiday remains the primary focus.

To get a real taste of what Christmas in the Greek home is like, try the following recipes for Melamakarona (syrup-soaked biscuits with crushed walnuts), Kourambiethes (shortbread cookies with icing sugar), Karydopita (honey-soaked walnut cake) and Christopsomo (Christmas bread).