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South Side
As this year draws to a close, everyone agrees that Christmas 2023 feels “a bit like our Orthodox Easter”—in other words, a moment of spring. This impression is further reinforced by the mild weather, especially in the south, between the Peloponnese and the Aegean islands. “The Nativity, in all its Light,” as the priest in this Peloponnesian village puts it, in his own way.
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Christmas in Thessaly
Thessaly is a historic, largely agricultural region of Greece, situated in the northern part of the country—south of Macedonia and east of Epirus. Its vast plain is encircled by mountainous terrain, including Mount Olympus to the north and the expansive Pindus massif. As of December 2023, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, the region is part of the 14% of Greek territory currently covered in snow—a figure well above the average recorded since 2004.
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The journey of the poets
What specific pleasure from the pre-war era do you miss the most? – This was the question posed in 1942 to the 31-year-old poet Odysseas Elytis by the talented journalist and man of letters, Fanis Kleanthis. It took place during the Italian, German, and Bulgarian occupation of Greece—a grim period spanning from 1941 to 1943. The interview was part of a survey conducted among numerous writers and poets for the magazine Bouketo – The Bouquet; however, it was not published at the time, but rather thirty years later.
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Christmas Pig
In every traditional culture, time is defined by the meaning it holds for human beings, in connection with the tasks they must carry out throughout the year. Life is paced by the cycles of day and night, the seasons, and the harvests. This relationship between humanity, nature, and weather conditions—along with the impact these factors have on the means of subsistence—largely shapes the unfolding of daily time, as well as the structure of the calendar, which is then termed “traditional”.
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Last book, final poem…
The first Greek Nobel laureate—Yórgos (or Georges) Séféris (1900-1971), the pen name of the poet and diplomat Yórgos Seferiádis—continued to surprise, captivate, and—when necessary—shake us, right up to the very end. It was during the regime of the Colonels (1967-1974) that Séféris died from post-operative complications on September 20, 1971; two days later, his funeral served as a major political demonstration. Once again, he defied the odds.
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The Egg Monastery
Greece, like so many other countries, is dotted with unusual places that are well worth a visit. These include natural sites—often steeped in history and memory. Among the most remarkable of these is the Monastery of Saint Demetrius also known as Moní Avgoú, literally “the Monastery of the Egg”, located in the Argolis region, in the northeastern Peloponnese.