Greece

Image Source: Flags of the World. CIA: The World Factbook. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from @https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html

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Christmas Tradition
The celebration of Christmas is a joyous occasion for Christians within the country of Greece, and is marked by many distinctive cultural rituals. A variety of traditions are similar to those recognized in Christian countries throughout the world, such as a period of fasting, religious mass attendance, and the anticipation of a holiday figure who brings gifts to the children of Greece.

Source
Holiday Traditions: Greece This source, provided by the Museum of Science and Industry, details the importance of decorations within the home during the holiday season. St. Basil is discussed as the bearer of gifts for the children of Greece. The importance of fasting is discussed, as well as the unique cakes which are created for symbolic reasons, such as Christopsomo and Vasilopeta.

Food
Image Source: Greek Christopsomo Bread. (2007). The Fat Lady Sings. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from @http://www.fatladysings.us/the_fat_lady_sings/food_and_drink/

The Christopsomo bread, also known as Christ's bread, is a sweet bread that is used to represent the family's profession, as an ornament which represents this trade is baked into the center of the bread. The traditional way to serve this bread during the holiday season is with dried fruits and nuts.

Image Source: Vasilopeta-St. Basil New Year's Eve Cake. (2007). Aki's Kitchen. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from @http://www.akiskitchen.ca/recipes_cakes/vasilopeta/vasilopeta_1.html

The Vasilopeta bread is also known as St. Basil cake, and is served not on Christmas, but on New Year's Eve in Greece. A coin is baked inside of this cake, and is divided into several pieces, distributed as follows: for St. Basil, for Christ, for the family, for the animals, and one piece to symbolize material possessions. When this cake is eaten among the family, the person who finds the coin in their piece of the cake is believed to have good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Reference Museum of Science and Industry. //Greece: Holiday Traditions Around the World.// (2004). Retrieved October 20, 2010, from @http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/greece.html

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