KEEPING TRADITIONS & KEEPING TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS ALIVE!CUSTOMS ALIVE!

by Cathy Vezou - Zack Vezos - Angela Vezou

Straw BearStraw Bear

Straw Bear (Strawboer) Day is an old English tradition held on Straw Bear (Strawboer) Day is an old English tradition held on the 7th of January. It is known in a small area of Fenland. the 7th of January. It is known in a small area of Fenland.

This day is believed to be the traditional start of the agricultural This day is believed to be the traditional start of the agricultural year in England. A man or a boy wears a straw costume covering year in England. A man or a boy wears a straw costume covering him from head to toe. He goes from house to house where he him from head to toe. He goes from house to house where he dances. As prize for his dancing, people give him money or beer.dances. As prize for his dancing, people give him money or beer.

CarnivalCarnival

The Carnival in Greece is called "Apokries". The festival lasts The Carnival in Greece is called "Apokries". The festival lasts for two weeks and ends on the first day of Lent, on Clean Monday for two weeks and ends on the first day of Lent, on Clean Monday (Kathari Deutera). (Kathari Deutera).

Everyone is costumed and parties take place in the streets and Everyone is costumed and parties take place in the streets and bars, where the people throw coloured confetti to each other. The bars, where the people throw coloured confetti to each other. The most famous Carnival Parade takes place in the city of Patra. most famous Carnival Parade takes place in the city of Patra.

The Carnival is believed to come from the old festivities for the The Carnival is believed to come from the old festivities for the worshipping of Dionysus, the god of wine andworshipping of Dionysus, the god of wine and feast.feast.

Women’s Christmas Women’s Christmas / Nollaig na mBean/ Nollaig na mBean

January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany and is traditionally when January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany and is traditionally when the Irish finish celebrating Christmas. It is also known as Nollaigh na the Irish finish celebrating Christmas. It is also known as Nollaigh na mBean in Irish (Women’s Christmas).mBean in Irish (Women’s Christmas).

Tradition has it that women get the day off and the men of the Tradition has it that women get the day off and the men of the house get to do the housework, cook and take down the Christmas house get to do the housework, cook and take down the Christmas decorations. Women meet up, have a day out and treat themselves.decorations. Women meet up, have a day out and treat themselves.

Bed Setting CeremonyBed Setting Ceremony

The Bed Setting Ceremony or “The Krevatia” is a Greek wedding The Bed Setting Ceremony or “The Krevatia” is a Greek wedding tradition which blesses the marital bed and the couples fertility.tradition which blesses the marital bed and the couples fertility.

The marital bed is decorated for the wedding and money is thrown on The marital bed is decorated for the wedding and money is thrown on it by the relatives of the new couple as a gift for their new beginning and it by the relatives of the new couple as a gift for their new beginning and common life. common life.

The bed setting ceremony takes place a couple of days before the The bed setting ceremony takes place a couple of days before the wedding and sometimes it includes a tradition known as the “flipping of the wedding and sometimes it includes a tradition known as the “flipping of the baby”. A baby is placed on the wedding bed as a symbol of fertility and baby”. A baby is placed on the wedding bed as a symbol of fertility and blessing, a girl if the couple wants their first baby to be a girl, or a baby boy blessing, a girl if the couple wants their first baby to be a girl, or a baby boy if they wish their first child to be a boy.if they wish their first child to be a boy.

Horse races on Horse races on St. Stephen’s Day St. Stephen’s Day

Saint Stephen is the patron saint of horses, and Saint Stephen is the patron saint of horses, and horse races on St. Stephen’s Day have become a horse races on St. Stephen’s Day have become a tradition in Ireland. The races in Leopardstown in tradition in Ireland. The races in Leopardstown in south Dublin, attract almost 20,000 people every year.south Dublin, attract almost 20,000 people every year.

In Ireland, going to the races is a chance to get In Ireland, going to the races is a chance to get out of the house, stretch your legs and have a drink out of the house, stretch your legs and have a drink with friends.with friends.

Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes

Four hundred years ago, in 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes and a group Four hundred years ago, in 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes and a group of people attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London with of people attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London with barrels of gunpowder placed in the basement. They wanted to kill King James barrels of gunpowder placed in the basement. They wanted to kill King James and the king’s leaders.and the king’s leaders.

Guy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of Guy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5th November, soldiers gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. He was taken to the discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. He was taken to the Tower of London. He was tortured and questioned about his friends. To start Tower of London. He was tortured and questioned about his friends. To start with, he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he with, he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he started to tell the truth.started to tell the truth.

In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5thth November. November.

Christmas Day SwimChristmas Day Swim

Christmas day swims take place all over Ireland on Christmas Christmas day swims take place all over Ireland on Christmas morning, but probably most famously at the Forty Foot Rock, just morning, but probably most famously at the Forty Foot Rock, just south of Dublin. On Christmas Day hundreds of people can be seen south of Dublin. On Christmas Day hundreds of people can be seen jumping off the rock into the Irish Sea wearing only their swimming jumping off the rock into the Irish Sea wearing only their swimming costumes.costumes.

The water in the Irish Sea on Christmas Day is usually around The water in the Irish Sea on Christmas Day is usually around 1010ooC. Unfortunately, the temperature outside the water is usually far C. Unfortunately, the temperature outside the water is usually far below that. This is certainly not for the weak.below that. This is certainly not for the weak.

Pamplona Running of the BullsPamplona Running of the Bulls

The San Fermin Festival is held every year from July 6–14. The The San Fermin Festival is held every year from July 6–14. The first bull running is on July 7 at 8 am in the morning and is followed by first bull running is on July 7 at 8 am in the morning and is followed by one on each of the following mornings of the festival.one on each of the following mornings of the festival.

The festival started in the 16th century and is also known for its The festival started in the 16th century and is also known for its all-night street parties.all-night street parties.

Each morning, six fighting bulls head from stables to the ring Each morning, six fighting bulls head from stables to the ring where matadors (bullfighters) will star in late afternoon bullfights.where matadors (bullfighters) will star in late afternoon bullfights.

The fiesta attracts tens of thousands of young people eager to The fiesta attracts tens of thousands of young people eager to mix alcohol with the adrenaline of running alongside the massive mix alcohol with the adrenaline of running alongside the massive bulls. Dozens of people are injured each year.bulls. Dozens of people are injured each year.

HalloweenHalloween

Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st, which is the Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st, which is the evening before the Christian feast of All Saint’s Day.evening before the Christian feast of All Saint’s Day. Halloween is a festival Halloween is a festival of fun for kids. An occasion to dress up as little monsters, ghosts or witches. of fun for kids. An occasion to dress up as little monsters, ghosts or witches. They go They go from house to house from house to house knocking on doors and shoutingknocking on doors and shouting “trick or “trick or treat”. People then give the children apples or buns and later candy to keep treat”. People then give the children apples or buns and later candy to keep from being tricked.from being tricked.

HalloweenHalloween is is celebratedcelebrated by millions of people in multiple countries. It by millions of people in multiple countries. It is a fun time for kids but it is also known as a time of witches, goblins, and is a fun time for kids but it is also known as a time of witches, goblins, and ghosts.ghosts.

GlossaryGlossary

agricultural = agricultural = αγροτικόαγροτικόattempt = attempt = απόπειρααπόπειρα basement = basement = υπόγειουπόγειο bless =bless = ευλογώ ευλογώ bonfirebonfire = υπαίθρια φωτιά = υπαίθρια φωτιά cellarcellar = κελάρι = κελάριceremony = ceremony = τελετήτελετήeager =eager = ανυπόμονος ανυπόμονοςEpiphany =Epiphany = Θεοφάνια Θεοφάνια fertility = fertility = γονιμότηταγονιμότητα festivity = festivity = εορτασμόςεορτασμόςfiesta = fiesta = γιορτήγιορτήfusefuse = φιτίλι = φιτίλι

goblin = goblin = καλικάντζαροςκαλικάντζαρος gunpowder = gunpowder = πυρίτιδαπυρίτιδαlent = lent = νηστείανηστείαmarital bed = marital bed = νυφικό κρεβάτινυφικό κρεβάτι massivemassive = ογκώδης = ογκώδηςmatador = matador = ταυρομάχοςταυρομάχοςparliament = parliament = βουλήβουλήpatron saint = patron saint = προστάτης, πολιούχοςπροστάτης, πολιούχος plotplot = πλοκή = πλοκή strawstraw = άχυρο = άχυροtorture = torture = βασανίζωβασανίζω treason = treason = προδοσίαπροδοσίαworship = worship = λατρείαλατρεία